Adaptability
Being adaptable means being able to maintain effectiveness when things change.
Adaptability in a hurry
- Maintain effectiveness in varying environments and with varying tasks, responsibilities, or people
- Respond quickly when new data becomes available
- Respond positively when asked to change plans/goals
- Keep working effectively if targets/goals/ resources alter
- Adjust style of operation to the needs of the situation
Adaptability in detail
Positive examples
- Responds quickly when new data becomes available
- Responds positively when asked to change plans/goals
- Keeps working effectively if targets/goals/resources alter
- Adjusts style of operation to the needs of the situation
Negative examples
- Work performance/output easily affected by change
- Wants to adhere to original plans/targets, even when the reason for change is explained
- Prefers working on similar tasks or projects, and in the same way
Developing adaptability
- Consider and write down new or alternative ways of solving problems
- Offer to take a different role in meetings (e.g. leader, ideas generator, action proposer, etc.) and seek feedback afterwards
- Consider requesting a short secondment into another team/department
- Consider a minimum of three approaches to solving problems with pros and cons for each, before deciding which is the most appropriate
- Volunteer to work on different roles and projects, which involve working with different people
Helping others to develop adapability
- Encourage the individual to consider and write down new or alternative ways of solving problems
- Give positive feedback for adapting, even if not entirely successful
- Encourage the individual to take a different role in meetings (e.g. leader, ideas generator, action proposer, etc.) and review afterwards
- Consider offering a short secondment into another team/department
- Ensure that the individual has objectives covering new ground
- Ask the individual to deputise for you in specific areas
- Encourage the individual to consider a minimum of three approaches to solving problems with pros and cons for each, before deciding which is the most appropriate
- Ensure the individual has a variety of roles and projects, which involve working with a variety of people
- Ask the individual to recommend changes to a process and present at a team meeting
- Encourage the individual to discuss reactions to change with another person in the function who is perceived as very adaptable (a "role model")