Why adaptability is the key competence for the future world of work

There's a big game of Test cricket going on in Pakistan this week. Where the deciding match of the three game series will be held.?Playing in the sub-continent is an extreme test of physical and mental skills for most cricketers based outside of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.?

The pitches are different. Often flatter, but with the potential to spin. The weather is hot and oppressively humid, making it physically harder to operate at your best and mentally difficult to concentrate. The food is dramatically different, although team nutritionists have reduced the risks of stomach bugs. This all makes the sub-continent somewhere only the best teams visit and win a Test series.

To be able to win and perform at their best any team needs to be able to adapt to the changes in the environment in which they will operate. Last week England didn’t. After preparing a pitch to suit their skills (as is their right) Pakistan beat England easily. Bot teams used the same wicket but Pakistan adapted better to the conditions.?

Adaption is a core competence for everyone

The ability to adapt is just as important in life, business and in sport if people and businesses are to survive and thrive. In 1858 the anthropologist Alfred Wallace wrote “only those individuals most adapted to their environment survive”. Kodak and Blockbusters are just two businesses that should have heeded that advice. New threats came along in the form of digital cameras and downloading services. Those two long established and successful organisations didn’t or couldn’t adapt quickly enough, leading to their bankruptcy.?

Great, so what does this theory mean for me??

Well, innovation and change are happening at a faster pace. Faster I would argue than many people can comfortably handle. Job roles are evolving and industries are changing as technologies such as A.I. are replacing or will replace many tasks and roles as soon as it’s possible. Business follows increased margins (cost savings), as consumers generally follow the cheapest options. Some people will?think that they can’t be replaced by A.I. or technology. I can point you in the direction of thousands of bookmakers who said Betfair would never replace them.?

But in some ways, focusing on A.I. is unfair, because while its A.I. today, it will be something different in 5-10 years. The majority of us need to work on and develop our capacity to be adaptable, because that core competence will continue to be critical to extend our economically productive lives. As the father of two young adults just beginning in the world of work, I want them to be adaptable so that they can thrive in the future world of work. No matter what that looks like today.?

What can we do now?

Like with all changes, taking action is key. We can fret and do nothing, or we can choose to begin even a minor change. As a starter I'd suggest the following:

1. Don’t wait to take action on improving your ability to manage and adapt to change - If you wait until a big change occurs you may get caught up in your reaction and emotion to that situation, rather than identify future opportunities. Working with someone now to talk through how you currently respond to change can help you identify some areas that will benefit from skill development now. Making the time to talk around your ability to adapt will often uncover information you didn’t realise you knew and will help you start to take proactive action.
2. Develop a growth mindset and regularly invest time in learning new things - Whether it’s skills like languages, art, or guitar playing or new work skills. If you regularly work outside your comfort zone you will improve your mental strength, train your resilience and improve your adaptability. This will help get you match fit for any situations that need you to be adaptable. You wouldn't attempt a 5k run without training.
3. Stay up to date with the latest trends and the direction of travel of your industry - Look at areas where your current skills could add value. If this is difficult, working with a coach can help you to reframe the skills you currently have. You may think you only have skills in one particular area, but another perspective may help you reframe where your strengths lie. I remember reading about a seamstress that lost her job. That traditional skilled craftsperson now works in the satellite industry. Her skills were adapted to work on fabrics used in spacecraft. What a wonderful adaptation of skills.??

Next Steps

So in summary, change is a constant and sooner or later it will impact us all at work or at home. Therefore there is risk in waiting for change to happen to us before taking action, as our emotions may take over rather than our rational brain when the change occurs. That's why continually developing our adaptation skills will get us ready to take advantage of the new opportunities that are on offer. Even if the world today looks very different in 10 years.

If you are still unsure about the scale of change, I suggest you take ten minutes to reflect on the everyday brands and roles that are no longer around from your childhood and teenage years.?

Let’s hope that England win the toss and bat first. Because as quickly as they can potentially adapt they have a hard few days ahead, because change is rarely comfortable.

My Performance Coach offers Executive and High Performance Coaching for individuals and teams based on lessons learned from sport and business. If you would like to discuss more about how My Performance Coach could help you or your team, please book a free introduction to coaching meeting . Where we can discuss your challenges in further detail or follow our Newsletter .