What Is Adaptability And Flexibility at Work?
One of the keys To Success is the ability to be adaptive and flexible. This is a key factor in being able to keep your cool when things unexpectedly go wrong. But what exactly are adaptability and flexibility at work?
Adaptability refers to how well we are able to adjust ourselves to the demands of a situation. So if our work takes us to Asia for a month, we should be able to quickly adapt and fit in within this new environment without any major problems.
Flexibility is how well we are able to change or expand our thoughts and concepts regarding work or other situations. For example, when you were younger you may have been able to work for 8 hours a day, whereas now you may have to cut back your hours due to family commitments. This is an example of having increased flexibility.
Adaptability Or Flexibility Difference
While both skills involve adjusting to new situations, adaptability focuses on learning how to do something in a better way or learning new things so that we are able to do our work more efficiently. Flexibility on the other hand involves changing your mindset regarding work and how you see your position within an organization.
What Is The Problem With Lack Of Adaptability and Flexibility?
The problem with having a lack of adaptability and flexibility is that it can lead to stress, burnout (mental, physical or both) as well as prevent us from growing professionally. Stress for example may arise when we have to do the same work over and over again because we can not adapt to new ways of doing things. Or maybe you are under so much pressure from various tasks that your job becomes difficult to handle due to lack of flexibility.
Lack Of Adaptability And Flexibility Symptoms
If you suffer from a lack of adaptability or flexibility, then you may experience some or all of the following problems:
* Since you are unable to react and respond well to new situations, you struggle with ever changing work processes.
* You find it difficult to imagine yourself in a different career role, which limits your chances for promotion.
* You feel as if the only way forward is by first taking on the job of someone who has left.
* You often feel frustrated or even angry about work, even though things are going well for you.
* You lack the motivation to do anything and just want to leave work when you get home.
Why Is Flexibility And Adaptability Important ?
It is important that we are both adaptable and flexible as the demands of the workplace constantly change with new technology being introduced, mergers of companies, restructuring etc. If we are able to handle change well then we will be more successful than our peers.
I have seen many really good employees get left behind, because they were too rigid in their approach to work and unable to keep up with these changes. In fact, we are always advised that flexibility is a critical factor if we wish to be promoted.
Two Advantages Of Being Flexible And Adaptable At Work
1) You’ll Get Promoted More Often
If you have these traits and qualities, then people are going to start noticing you. If they do, then they’ll start to think of you when it comes to promoti on time and promote you faster than your peers. Leading to the next point…
2) You’ll Get More Salary Increases And Bonuses
Because if you’re promoted more often, that means you’re doing a good job. Which also means you’ll get more salary increases and bonuses than your peers. This will help you to climb up the corporate ladder faster than they do.
If you want to be noticed for using these abilities, then it’s time for you to step up and demonstrate them!
What Are The Key Characteristics Of Flexibility And Adaptability?
There are a number of characteristics that can be attributed to people who are able to handle change well. For example, they will be open minded, adaptable and creative in their approach. These people are also good at putting themselves in other people’s shoes and understanding different points of view. They are more likely to see opportunities when others turn a blind eye.
Apart from the above, it is also critical that they have strong people skills and are able to build good relationships with their peers. This will help them through any difficult situations as there is a less likely chance of conflict.
What Are Some Of The Things That You Can Do To Become More Flexible And Adaptable?
The first thing to do is stop and think about the demand of your current work situation.
Are there new technological changes? In which case, can you learn them quickly without too much stress? Or would it be more advisable to get someone else to handle this for you?
Is there a merger with another company or office closure? What impact will this have on your work and do you need to change anything within your routine?
If you are able to answer these questions, then you will be able to better handle any changes the company may introduce.
I also recommend that if there is any training offered then take part in it as this will improve your chances of being promoted and give you some new skills and experiences that you can add to your CV.
Finally, if there is a particularly difficult situation at work, then it might be advisable to take a step back and think about the repercussions of any decision before actually making it. This will give you more time to consider all of the options available and avoid making mistakes.
Adaptability And Flexibility In The Workplace
The work environment is dynamic with constantly changing processes and even people. For example, new technologies come out that can completely change how certain tasks are completed in the office. Also, employees will often leave and be replaced by someone new who might have different ways of doing things or even bringing up issues that hadn’t previously been considered before.
It is important to keep your adaptability and flexibility at its highest levels in order to remain an effective team member in the workplace. The more you can adapt and be flexible, the higher your chances will be of receiving a promotion or even better, being invaluable to your current company so they won’t want to let you go.
One way that you can improve both your adaptability at work is by keeping up with any changes that might be happening within your company. For example, if you notice a new hire or see that an employee has left for another job, then immediately try to adapt and get along with this new person the best you can.
Another important way to improve your adaptability is by being open-minded towards others’ ideas. Although it’s great to be excited about your own ideas, sometimes other people may bring up even better ones that you can take advantage of.
Lastly, make sure to communicate clearly with your supervisors and co-workers at all times so nothing gets lost in translation. If you have an issue or concern then make sure to get it out on the table ASAP; no one like surprises and it can cause some serious rifts within your workplace.
How To Improve Your Adaptability And Flexibility Skills?
There are several ways in which we can improve our adaptability and flexibility skills, which will not only help us to better deal with new situations but also ensure that we are growing professionally. Here is how:
- Learn More About The Situation You find out as much information about the situation you are in as possible. This may be from your co-workers or official channels such as from a manager. This way you can gain a more “big picture” view of the situation and understand why certain things are going on. Once you have some clarity, it becomes much easier to adapt to any changes that may be occurring.
- Gather Information About The Situation You also need to gather information about the situation itself to see if there is any way to improve the situation. Maybe there are certain areas in work where you can gain a little more freedom, that will help you cope with any new developments.
- Look At The Situation From Different Perspectives By looking at the situation from different perspectives such as your manager’s, HR department and your co-workers, you may be able to develop a new mindset about work. You may find out that you have been taking things too personally or that there are improvements you can make in certain areas which will make the situation better for everyone involved.
- Focus On What You Can Control Situations where we lack flexibility and adaptability usually mean that we take on situations too personally, which results in a lot of stress for us. When we focus on what we can control however, this allows us to avoid taking on other people’s responsibilities and simply concentrate on our own tasks. This will also make it easier for you to be more flexible as you can do the best that you can within your current situation rather than feel frustrated about things outside of your control.
- Don’t Give Up And Seek Help If you are experiencing a lot of stress or feel like you lack the motivation to do anything, then something is going on that needs to be addressed . This could be because you lack the ability to cope with change due to your mindset or maybe there are other things in your life causing you stress which is spilling over into your work. If this is the case then you need to seek professional assistance as soon as possible, before it becomes a bigger problem that can’t be solved.
Summary
Lack of flexibility and adaptability has become one of the main reasons for people looking to leave their jobs, due to feelings of frustration and stress. Those of us who lack these skills however, can learn how to better cope with new situations by gaining more information about the situation we find ourselves in and simply focusing on what is within our control. Don’t give up on yourself if you feel stressed or don’t know where to go next as it’s important to realise that everyone suffers from this problem occasionally and with the right help, you can better cope with change in a way that will benefit you as well as your employer.
Flexibility and adaptability are skills that are important for everyone in the workplace, as well as outside of it. It is what helps us to get through a difficult situation without too much stress and worry. We should always try and adapt ourselves to the situation at hand and not put pressure on others by making decisions without considering all options available.
Now that you know how to develop adaptability and flexibility within yourself, put these skills into action in your workplace.
