The One Soft Skill You Absolutely Need For Career Longevity And 5 Ways To Build It

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There’s a reason Charles Darwin said, “it is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”

Do you know the only thing scarier than change? NOT changing. That sort of rigidity will not serve you well in business and can kill your career.

In the business world, change happens a lot — and not just during a pandemic. Between mergers and acquisitions, market fluctuations, and strategic pivots, those who remain flexible hold the key to career success.

Enter the soft skill of adaptability, the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions. Adaptability is about being open and flexible instead of fixed in your mindset and how you do things, which is essential for your professional longevity.

Here are five ways to build your adaptability:

1. Resist “because we’ve always done it this way” thinking

Bad news: If you’re someone who likes to wax on about the good ol’ days and are fond of saying “things were better back when we ___,” you’re likely seen as an inflexible curmudgeon who’s stuck in a career rut. Challenge yourself to consider new possibilities instead of falling back on “because we’ve always done it this way” thinking. When you’re adaptable, you’re open to changes that could help you be more productive and efficient with time and financial and human resources.

2. Continue to offer up alternative solutions

Inflexible people hold firm to their problem-solving idea and then get bummed out if it’s passed over. Adaptable people continue to offer up alternative solutions, even — and especially— when their initial thoughts are turned down. They understand that thinking through and offering many possible scenarios will help them arrive at a favorable option, even if it’s not the first suggestion.

3. Keep calm under pressure

If you freak out every time things deviate from the original plan, you probably need to work on your adaptability. When faced with unexpected challenges and changing circumstances, adaptable leaders respond by keeping calm and confident under pressure. Modeling this adaptability also sets the tone for their teams, who often take their cues from management.

4. Reject a one-size-fits-all management mentality

If you’ve fallen into the trap of trying to be “fair” by employing the same management methods with every member of your team, regardless of their needs, expecting them to conform, you’re doing yourself and them a disservice. People are individuals with unique needs. Some require lots of guidance and feedback to perform at their best. Others would rather you give them plenty of room to do their jobs but be available should they have a question or need backup. Move away from a one-size-fits-all style when managing your direct reports, and instead, take the time to learn about what they need and then adapt your style to serve them.

5. Look for opportunities to stretch yourself

If you notice you’re not asked for your ideas, it could be a red flag that you’re seen as someone irrelevant who lacks vision, skills, and knowledge for the future. To combat that, demonstrate that you’re willing to stretch yourself by volunteering for new assignments and proactively developing your skillset and knowledge base. By looking for opportunities to showcase your adaptability, you’ll increase your experience and reputation as someone adept at change.

Maintaining the ability to adapt your thinking and actions to handle unforeseen circumstances can help position you as an indispensable team member who can roll with the punches.

Because in today’s ever-evolving global marketplace, possessing adaptability isn’t just a nicety; it’s essential for survival.

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