Adaptability seems to be the new buzzword. What does it mean in terms of work, how to measure it, and can you actually train it?
I replied to the questions I hear most often.
See them below.
1. What is adaptability?
“Adaptability is the quality of being able to change or be changed in order to deal successfully with new situations.”
Oxford dictionary
In other words, it means when, how and to what degree you are able to change while facing something you haven’t faced before. Not only your skills, but the environment you’re in, or your character can influence how and if you’ll be able to adapt in this particular situation.
What’s even more important – to be fully adaptable, you need to respond, not react to change. Now let me explain what I mean by that. Reaction is something that happens when a doctor takes a tiny hammer and hits your knee. If the knee pops up – it’s a reaction. At work it looks like your typical reaction to stressful situation. For example, you learn about some unexpected changes in the project you’re working on, and it causes you get angry or anxious, and vent.
Not the most productive thing to do, isn’t it?
So we need to learn how to catch that first impulse to vent, we need to embrace those emotions, and become the rulers of our own minds and bodies, by actively choosing to do something else that helps us more. For example, brainstorming ideas, asking for help, experimenting how to solve the new problem. That’s a response.
2. Can you give some examples of adaptability at work?
Sure:
- New laws have been pulled through (for example, GDPR in European countries), and, because of that, you have to adjust your work or business.
- You are used to working in a software and the company has decided to change it for a more efficient one. That’s why you need to learn how to use the new one instead.
- You are promoted as a manager. It’s because you’re great with analysis and planning. However, you see that as a manager, you also need to inspire the team and be a visionary. You have to figure out how to make it happen – the team is already getting unmotivated.
- Your business has been successful, and the systems you’ve set work perfectly. Now the sales go down quarter after quarter. If you don’t figure out what to do differently, you’ll go out of business.
- You plan your dream project. The budget is approved. You have already planned everything to the detail. However. When you start taking action, reality is totally different. When you keep pushing, the chaos only gets bigger. Therefore, something has to be changed.
The examples can go on, so make sure to follow me on Insta or LinkedIn where I’ll talk about adaptability in work more.
3. How do I measure my adaptability at work?
You should take a look at yourself from 3 different dimensions*:
- Abilities (what specific skills you use to adapt);
- Character (what makes you You);
- Environment (what the bigger systems you are a part of and that affect to what degree and when you can change).
So, it would be more precise to say “how, when and where I adapt the best at work”, rather than “am I good (or bad) at it at all”.
Each of the 3 dimensions is divided in subdimensions. Together you’ll see your results in 17 different subdimensions.
*It is called “A.C.E. model” and has been developed by AQai. It is used to measure your AQ.
4. AQ? What is AQ?
AQ – it stands for Adaptability Quotient. Just like IQ,after taking an assessment, it shows a “score”, only this time it measures your adaptability at work.
It measures your score from 3 dimensions we were just talking about:
- Ability,
- Character,
- Environment.
These 3 dimensions are divided in 5 smaller subdimensions each, that explain the results in detail.
For example, you’ll see the score of your mental flexibility, grit, resilience and unlearning skills within the Ability dimension. That will tell you how prepared you are as an individual to deal with change, in general. You’ll also be able to learn how team support, work environment, work stress affect IF you can adapt at your existing workplace from the results in the Environment dimension.
AQ is a new, science-based model. One of the most holistic ways to understand what helps you adapt to change and challenges at work, and what stands in the way. Sometimes you’ll understand that you are more adaptable than you think, and simply will be able to start using the strengths you already have to deal with chellenges at work in a more healthy, successful way.
5. How can I know if I’m highly adaptable or not?
One way – by taking an AQ assessment.
6. Where can I take an AQ assessment?
Here! If you do it before June 2024, you’ll get a bonus – a consultation with a certified AQ practitioner (me, Elina). I’m glad to be among the first 160 people in the world to get certified as an AQ practitioner to help others thrive in the dynamic, fast-paced world.
7. What’s the difference – to take the AQ assessment with or without the AQ practitioner?
AQ practitioner will help you understand your strengths and areas to improve on in a way you couldn’t alone. Why? Well, because it doesn’t always mean that “the higher the score the better.”
For example:
- “Grit” – it’s one of the abilities measured in your AQ. It is an ability to push through obstacles. Seems to be good to have, right? But, to some people, in some context, high results in this subdimension would mean it’s actually stands in their way to adapting at work.
The results need to be viewed within a context. Certified AQ practitioner will guide you through a process that will help you understand your adaptability from angles you wouldn’t consider alone.
As a result, you’ll be able to make smarter decisions on what are your strengths already, and create a practical roadmap how to improve.
8. Taking the AQ assessment – how does it look like?
Before the assessment I:
- give you access to the AQ assessment,
- explain how to navigate the software,
- answer any of your questions.
After you take the assessment we:
- meet online for 60 min;
- analyse the results of your AQ assessment in depth,
- find areas that you can use to support you in change,
- find areas where you can improve,
- I also guide you through the process that helps you define the next actionable steps to take.
This meeting is recommended to organise 1-7 days after you take the assessment.
9. Can you also help me improve my adaptability at work?
Yes, if you decide that you can benefit from adaptability skill (ability) training. In that case I develop a personalised program to train the precise combo of the skills you need.
10. How do you train adaptability skills?
By practical and simple exercises, some of them you will have to do daily (for 1-3 mins a day, I’ll help you to find out the easiest ways to do it, not changing anything about your daily routine). Step by step, you’ll train the skills that will let you adapt to the unknown smoother. Most clients report the first noticeable changes in 2-4 weeks.
The training is online.
11. How long is the adaptability skill training program if I decide to go for it?
It depends on your results and goals with the training, usually 8-10 weeks.
12. What will I gain from such training?
Most clients report that their mind starts to think quicker; they feel better in general; they notice that they get ideas on how to solve certain situations at work that previously seemed unsolvable and made them anxious (sometimes they see multiple ideas at once); they stay more focused in unexpected situations, have healthier attitude towards mistakes and setbacks, and, therefore, they notice they’ve become more courageous.
This is the most common feedback from clients, however, the benefits don’t stop there, because each case is different.
13. How often would we meet to train adaptability skills?
Once a week, 1-1,5h (depending on your results).
14. What should I NOT expect while working with you?
- I am not a psychologist, therefore, it will not be a therapy session, nor will we treat burnout or depression. For that I recommend contacting certified professionals in your area.
- I will also not tell you how to solve your problems at work. You’ll go through the process that helps you find answers yourself and/or trains the skills that help recover from setbacks quicker.
Why is the latter important? If you want to improve your adaptability at work, you HAVE to gain trust and confidence in your own ability to solve problems and challenges, or you’ll need me/other coaches or trainers as crutches forever (that would be good news for the specialists – they’ll have jobs, yay! – but not so good for you. Imagine how many trips to your dream country you could take, if you finally didn’t need to spend a couple of hundreds per month to a new ‘crutch’! You can do this.)
My goal is that you don’t need me anymore. That’s how you’ll know you’ve gotten the best service.
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