There is no doubt the world we live in will continue to change – ongoing technological
advancements will keep us needing to evolve and adapt. Plus, most of you will want to try
your hand at various career paths and possibly even jump at the opportunity to work
aboard. To manage these constant changes successfully, one needs to be adaptable. Being
adaptable allows you to respond appropriately and quickly to new ideas and procedures,
changing responsibilities and expectations as well as fresh strategies and visions. To do so
you need strong interpersonal skills.
If you struggle with adapting to the world around you, consider working on critical soft skills
such as you communication skills, creative thinking skills, analytical skills, problem-solving
skills, the ability to work well in teams and organisational skills.
These skill bases are fundamental in assisting you manage changing landscapes with ease
and adjust accordingly. However, one also needs to be open to change to be adaptable. To
be open to change you need to be:
✓ Willing to learn
✓ Inquisitive
✓ Observant
✓ Open-minded
✓ Collaborative
✓ Positive
✓ Say ‘Yes’ more than ‘No’
Being adaptable and moving down a new path is not always easy, so you need to show
determination and the ability to keep moving even if you reach a kink in the road. Mistakes
are inevitable, it is the learning and insight we take from them that keeps the journey
relevant.
Being adaptable is said to be the ‘new competitive advantage’, the X factor that employers
are looking for in the next team of rising leaders. Future leaders need to be able to exercise
flexible thinking across various frameworks.
Strong planning and organisational skills will assist you in adjusting to change effectively and
efficiently. So, if these skills are not the best, find ways to improve your planning and
organisational management. The same applies to holding strong skills in your ability to
analyse data and assess solutions. These key problem-solving skills are essential to become
an adaptable person.
To improve your problems solving skills try the following:
✓ Search the problem creatively
✓ Think about the problem for lateral perspectives
✓ Ask relevant people for fresh opinions and ideas
✓ Research as much as you can
✓ Don’t give up, even if you reach a hurdle
✓ Trust yourself, keep level-headed
Remember being adaptable is not just your willingness to adapt but also the vital
component of your versatility and actual ability to manage the adaption successfully.
“The most important factor in survival is neither intelligence nor strength but
adaptability.” —Charles Darwin