Adaptability & flexibility are skills that are highly sought-after by employers. This blog explains exactly what it means to be adaptable, why it\u2019s so valuable in the workplace and how you can develop your adaptability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Being adaptable and flexible is about your ability to quickly and effectively adjust to changing circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It means you can switch easily between tasks at work, for example, or adjust your working style according to the people you\u2019re collaborating with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re adaptable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some of us are more naturally adaptable than others, it isn\u2019t just about innate ability; adaptability is a skill that you can learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cognitive Flexibility<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cognitive flexibility can be seen as the engine that powers adaptability: it\u2019s about your ability to switch from one train of thought to another or between concepts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that, when faced with a new piece of information or a new scenario, you\u2019re able to shift your way of thinking to accommodate this change. The quicker and better you can do this, the more responsive you\u2019ll become and the easier it will be to juggle different tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It will also help you to become more agile as you\u2019ll be more prepared to navigate changes and problems when they do arrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning Mindset<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n To be truly adaptable you need to have a willingness to learn. New situations often require you to develop new skills and approaches, so you need to be able to take on the challenge and expand your capabilities accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy curiosity towards things you don\u2019t know is definitely a plus, but it\u2019s mostly about having the right attitude and believing that, with the right level of effort and dedication, you can develop the attributes you need to successfully manage whatever work, or life, throws at you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resourcefulness<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resourcefulness is about your ability to come up with quick, clever and creative solutions and ideas, by making connections and using tools or resources that others might not think to make or use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resourceful people are a big asset to an organisation\u2019s ability to adapt because they can navigate and mitigate potential obstacles with speed and agility, effectively and efficiently preventing delays and allowing the organisation to maintain its course or choose a better one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Resourcefulness combines creativity and innovation with tenacity \u2013 a determination to find a solution by looking at the situation differently from those who have resigned themselves to the circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Versatility<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The more versatile your skillset, the more likely you are to embrace challenges with confidence, handle a variety of different tasks and successfully adapt to changing circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s not all about skills; versatility in the way you communicate with others, your working style, your outlook and the perspectives you can bring, your leadership style and how you behave in different team settings all support your adaptability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why these skills are important to you and employers<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of your everyday performance, adaptability skills help you to be as productive as you can be, allowing you to switch between different tasks more seamlessly and more effectively handle changes whether that\u2019s to your to-do-list, a project you\u2019re working on or your responsibilities at work. As a result, you\u2019ll become a more effective and confident team member and leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking at the bigger picture, being adaptable is key in supporting your career well-being and development as it pushes you to keep learning and evolve as you go along. It also plays a key role in allowing you to work through changes and challenges, which, in turn, helps you become more resilient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s no wonder then that companies are increasingly looking for candidates with strong adaptability skills as they are the ones that have the potential to grow in their roles, thrive in an ever-changing workplace and help drive innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The increasing speed of technological change that companies are now dealing with also means that having people on board who are able to adapt to new processes and systems has become more important than ever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay tuned for part 2 which will cover how you can develop these skills…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to find out more about jobs that suit your skills?<\/p>\n\n\n\n