Take a moment to reflect on your ability to handle the unexpected. How have you changed course when faced with disrupted plans, disappointment and/or adversity? One’s ability to adapt in the moment, a valued leadership trait, requires flexibility, resilience and patience.
As you enter 2024, work on ways to adapt and reframe the unexpected as learning opportunities. To begin, consider what you might learn entering a new culture whether abroad or when starting a new position. Think about what novel insights you might gain to help build your flexibility muscles.
Recently on a trip to Italy, we put our adaptability to the test when we:
- Were pickpocketed on a crowded subway in Rome
- Missed a ferry from Naples lacking the mastery of Italian
- Jostled and fell face-first on a busy street, suffering a bloody split lip
- Experienced multiple train delays and train changes
Thankfully, rather than losing energy, we tapped into our flexibility and resourcefulness. The adaptive approach among our traveling companions helped us find humor, experience the kindness of strangers, appreciate diversity, and stay positive (Italian food and gelato helps). We were reminded of the importance of adaptability, especially when traveling in a foreign country where one’s language skills are sorely lacking.
Leaders and their teams also benefit when they demonstrate adaptability. Ever-changing circumstances require flexibility, resilience, a learning mindset and positivity. Leaders have to remain vigilant to shifts in the environment and seek out opportunities for innovation. The best leaders scan the horizon, consider changes needed, and adapt quickly to handle the unexpected. Below are a few of our lessons learned.
- Be ready to pivot when unexpected situations arise. Rather than wallow or mourn what might have been, change your schedule, cut your losses and move on.
- Reprioritize, while maintaining your focus on the bigger picture and your primary purpose.
- Commit to learning as you go. Seek others’ perspectives. Expand your pool of knowledge. Talk about what you learned so you’re able to apply it later.
- Experiment with different possibilities. If the first approach doesn’t work, try a second. If that doesn’t work, try something else.
- Most important of all, despite whatever happens, maintain a positive attitude. There’s always a silver lining. Your challenge is to discover it and help others embrace it, too.
For over 20 years, Innolect has earned a reputation for guiding and navigating organizations through changing situations. For a free consultation on how we can help, contact us today.
Becky Ripley, MS
Innolect’s Excursion Learning™ and Sustainable Legacies™ Practice Leader
Beckyr@innolectinc.com
Kittie W. Watson, Ph.D.
President and Founder
kittiew@innolectinc.com