2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader

our thinking ou

Strengthen Your Adaptability

As a Leader
 September 2, 2020

Privacy - Terms

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 1/6
2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader

our thinking ou

As a leader, how do you react to change? Are you a tree, firmly rooted and
determined to brace for whatever comes? Or, are you a river, more fluid, able to
adjust course or carve a new path when necessary? Adaptable leaders, those who
can anticipate and even embrace change, are often better equipped to carry their
organizations through internal and external change, such as a merger, a shifting
marketplace—or our current situation, a pandemic. With a little practice and
experience, the following are a few ways leaders can strengthen their adaptability.

Ask “What if?”

Think back to the last time you packed for a trip. Maybe you asked yourself, what if
it rains? What if I spill something on my shirt? What if we go somewhere nice for
dinner? You essentially play through a series of possible scenarios so you can
ensure you’re prepared to adapt to changing circumstances. This same activity
applies to business.

“What if?” questions are a great tool for practicing mental dexterity and priming
our minds for change. Adaptable leaders have a flexible way of thinking and
approach situations with an open mind, examining from all angles. When we ask,
“what if?” we’re allowing ourselves to explore possible scenarios and outcomes
and organize/reorganize information to achieve a goal.

Learn to Unlearn

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 2/6
2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader

Knowledge isn’t permanent. Adaptable leaders recognize this and aren’t afraid to
let go of what they know in exchange for new information. Consider Dustin our thinking ou
Sandlin, an engineer and host of the YouTube series “Smarter Every Day.” He was
challenged to ride a backwards bike (when the handlebars are turned to the
right, the bike goes left, and vice versa). To achieve this, Dustin thought all he had
to do was apply his bike riding knowledge in reverse. Wrong. He had to
completely unlearn the nuances of balance and physics that make riding a
normal bike possible so he could adapt to the unique challenges posed by the
backwards bike.

Leaders can be guilty of holding on to thought patterns and processes they

consider immutable. For example, top performers make great leaders, or short-
term results are always good for long-term success. Unlearners seek to challenge
what they know. One way we can do this is by trying to prove ourselves wrong. If
we believe top performers make great leaders, what evidence exists that suggests
otherwise? Another way to unlearn is by collecting information from a wider
variety of sources. By integrating a multitude of perspectives into our thinking, we
can more quickly adjust our thought patterns and move from what we think we
know (short-term results are always good for long-term success) to new
possibilities (maybe some short-term results should be sacrificed).

Stay Curious

In the year 2000, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings approached John Antioco, the CEO
of Blockbuster, with a proposal to manage Blockbuster’s struggling online sales.
Antioco, who felt secure that his millions of in-store customers would carry his
company forward in perpetuity, declined Hastings’s proposal. The lesson: comfort
and complacency can hinder adaptability. When leaders become too entrenched
in their current state, it becomes challenging to see what’s coming next.

Leaders can combat complacency through curiosity. Actively seeking out

information, insights, and differing perspectives and experiences better equips us
to adapt to future possibilities because we can then use those inputs to guide our
“what if” thinking or help us unlearn and let go of dated knowledge. Steve Jobs,
who was arguably a genius in his own right, understood that the best way to
move Apple forward was to hire thought leaders and experts at every level and
embrace their thinking. His curiosity and desire to explore opportunities by
mining his team for insights enabled Apple to successfully evolve from a
computer company to the consumer electronics giant it is today.

Adaptability is critical for long-term leadership success. It is both a shield and

sword, allowing organizations to withstand and adjust to change or carve out new
ways forward. By playing through possible scenarios, challenging what we know,
and valuing curiosity, leaders can better prepare themselves for the next big
change coming their way.

RESOURCES:

https://www.ted.com/talks/natalie_fratto_3_ways_to_measure_your_adaptability_and_how_to_
https://www.td.org/insights/3-traits-of-adaptable-leaders
https://ed.ted.com/best_of_web/bf2mRAfC

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 3/6
2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
our thinking ou
 Facebook  Twitter  LinkedIn

PREVIOUS NEXT
 The Top 5 Ways to Oper… Vulnerability Spurs Inn… 

Stay in the Loop

Name

Email

SIGN ME UP

You might also

be interested in:

The Power of Project Management

How many people do you think would embark on an adventure – an excursion, a hike
through the woods, a trip to an exotic location

December 5, 2023

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 4/6
2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader

our thinking ou

Maximizing Retention: The Curve of Forgetting

What was the last thing you learned? Do you remember it? We all struggle with
remembering new information – and there’s a theory that explains

October 23, 2023

From the Inside Out: How Employee Experience Drives

Exceptional Customer Experiences
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on Think Up’s last 20 years and how we have grown and evolved
as an organization. I am filled with gratitude

August 15, 2023

7 Washington Park, Greenville, SC 29601

(864) ‍233-6926

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 5/6
2/29/24, 5:45 PM Strengthen Your Adaptability As a Leader

our thinking ou
About Us

Our Thinking
Our Thinkers
Our Culture
Our Clients
Think Tank
Contact

How We Can Help You

Strategy Development
Events
Change Management
Talent Activation
Interactive Engagements
Brand Delivery

Contact Us

Name

Company

Email

Comment

SUBMIT

© Copyright Think Up 2024. All Rights Reserved.

https://thinkupconsulting.com/strengthen-your-adaptability-as-a-leader/ 6/6