Benefits to Adaptability in the Workplace

In today’s ever-changing and fast-paced world, adaptability is a necessary skill that will help to sustain ongoing success and growth for yourself and your business.

Adapting accordingly to unforeseen events can be the difference between getting ahead of the market curve and falling behind.

Adaptability Quotient is one’s ability to adjust to unanticipated changes in the workplace environment. It also refers to the ability to constantly reinvent oneself, your products, services, and brand as the environment evolves. The adaptability of an organization is evident from its response to change and disruption.

Organizations with a high AQ thrive on change and disruption and NEVER rest on their laurels.

At ProVantage, we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt and overcome any obstacles that get in our way. One of our Core Values we practice daily, Innovate to Elevate, states: “Embracing creative solutions to be leaders in our ever-changing industry.”

So how does one become more adaptable?

Because humans are creatures of habit, we often display a low AQ. People often resist new ways of thinking or doing because they want to protect themselves against the unknown. In our brains, our fight-or-flight response is located in the amygdala, which is the oldest part.

The hardwiring of our brains cause us to think and react in certain ways to certain situations. But leaders can profoundly impact the AQ of their followers and the organization simply by understanding how the brain functions. Knowing how to go against your instinct may allow you to think critically and outside the box to find that breakthrough solution that leads to growth.

You and your peers must understand that market paradigms are not concrete or permanent — but dynamic. With this knowledge, you and your team will be more ready to handle any change and the adversity that comes with it.

When confronted with new information that contradicts prior beliefs and ideas, the brain tries to find a way to reconcile that with prior learning. This is called cognitive conflict.

Cognitive conflict causes a fight-or-flight response, which should be anticipated and preempted by change-savvy leadership. The brain is elastic — so its willingness and ability to adapt to new situations can be influenced by using brain-compatible strategies:

Autonomy in a change situation — the ability to give input and make choices — will radically elevate AQ. A high AQ organization has a positive relationship with change. Positively accepting change opens your mind to new ideas, makes you question the status quo, and gives you the willingness to go against convention.

Emotional connection is a powerful mechanism for eliciting new customers. It is important to know your audience. That way, you will know what kind of content will get you the best response. Knowing which emotion to target to elicit the best, most valuable response will help your company thrive.

We must prioritize self-reflection in the change process because it’s a higher-level brain function that encourages adaptation. By doing so, personal growth and improved self-esteem can occur through successful self-reflection and change.

The brain and heart want purpose. Fill both with your organization’s purpose, and you will accelerate adaptation and progress!

An organization’s ability to adapt to the current-day, rapid-fire change environment — their adaptability quotient — is the most important trait for survival and growth.

As Charles Darwin said, “In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”

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