by Becky Burroughs
“A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.” Helen Keller
Born in 1880, Helen Keller, author, political activist, and lecturer, was the first person born blind and deaf to earn a Bachelors Degree. Her exquisite ability to adapt set her apart.
Leaders with the skill of adaptability are open to change, and to exploring new possibilities. Change is not always easy, but it is inevitable.
Remember the flip phone? Eventually, we all adapted and learned how to use smart phones. Now, we cannot imagine life without them.
Throughout our lives, we are changing, growing, and evolving. Adaptation requires the willingness to learn, make mistakes, pivot, and learn some more. Adaptation doesn’t happen within my comfort zone, neither does learning and growing.
So, how do you spot a leader with the gift of adaptability? This leader has the following qualities:
- Open-minded – willing to try new things Not afraid of the unknown – willing to take risks
- A team player- willing to collaborate
- A non-anxious presence- able to find quick and effective solutions
- Positive- willing to accept and adapt to new circumstances
- Resourceful. If plan A doesn’t work, there is always plan B, and maybe even a plan C!
- Willing to try something new; there is always a workaround.
Does this sound like you? Have you developed the skill of adaptability?
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