Careers Done Write Workshop on the Go: Soft Skills Part III: Adapatability

General

Dec 26

This month we have been discussing soft skills. We were prompted by Millennial Branding’s survey of 225 employers using Experience Inc.’s data pool of over 100,000 U.S. companies. Of the employers surveyed, 92% said that adaptability is one of the top five skills they are seeking in new employees. We all adapt in the workplace. We have no choice. The issue is how we adapt. Let’s say your company implements new software. A highly effective adapter jumps in and learns the software and does not miss a beat. A reluctant or less-skilled adapter complains, tries to avoid using the software, delays learning, and ultimately decreases productivity. This person will not be successful! We must adapt to cope with change and adapt to succeed! How we manage situations and create opportunities defines our value to our clients and employer.

Employers are seeking employees who are able to:

Confidently and proactively adapt to changing circumstances and environments.
Accept new ideas and concepts with a positive outlook.
Rise to the challenge of dealing with the unfamiliar and unexpected without missing a beat.
Anticipate possibilities and prepare to succeed in a dynamic environment.

Aspects of adaptability:

Intellectual adaptability – Being intellectually able to understand and cope with situations not unfolding as you expected. Ability to accept and analyze new information to formulate new plans and behave in an effective manner.

Open to change and new ideas – Accepting change and new ideas with a positive attitude. Demonstrate eagerness to learn new things and change behavior/actions. Have a “can-do” attitude rather than a “that will never work” attitude. Make suggestions rather than being a roadblock. Shift priorities in response to the demands of a situation.

Proactively innovative – Continuously search for new opportunities, better ways of operating, and methods to solve problems. The extreme display of being proactively innovative includes change-seekers who may forecast a change on the horizon or may actually instigate a positive change.

Fearless progress - Willingness to experiment with, improvise, and test new strategies or processes. This also involves recovering quickly from set backs or failures. Greater efficiency can come from unexpected change because it is an opportunity to optimize operations.

How to become more adaptable:

Some of us are fortunate to have a natural capacity to adapt. Some of us enjoy and flourish in dynamic, quick-changing environments. However, if you are most comfortable with routine and stability, you will need to train yourself to become more adaptable. Experience and a conscious effort to change your mindset and behavior will help you become more adaptable. Set the following goals for yourself.

Accept that differences as differences, not insurmountable problems.
Be open to change and new opportunities.
Train yourself to anticipate change and expect that change will happen.
Prepare contingency plans to effectively cope with changes.
Practice creative thinking. With more experience thinking freely, you will be better equipped to solve problems and adapt to change.

Chaos, unexpected change, and crisis happen in any industry. In an era of instant communication and global markets, we can expect business to become even more dynamic. Highly adaptable employees will be the ones that rise to leadership positions. Those that cannot cope in this environment will struggle and their career opportunities may be limited. Be the one to effectively manage change and adapt to succeed!