Think Adaptability: How to Manage Change (Part 1)

Consider how much your life has evolved in the past five years. Sure, you dealt with life changes that come with each year of being alive. But, you’ve also experienced a global pandemic, a real estate recession, political strife, people moving from in-office to remote jobs and then back to the office, and more. Each of these changes had a ripple effect, large or small, in your life, too.

Whether you invested in and then returned a stand-up desk for your now empty home office or had to rethink how you help buyers and sellers navigate changing markets, change begat change. How we adapt in these unavoidable circumstances defines our ability to be successful, happy, and become a better version of ourselves.

Why Do We Struggle with Change?

For the better part of human history, life was predictable and unchanging. Leadership coach Erika Andersen writes that until the past couple of generations, “people grew up where their parents had grown up, did the work their parents had done, [and] believed and knew things the previous generations had believed and know." Of course, there are exceptions to this. Hardships that force adaptation are not a new thing. However, for the most part, change was viewed as “an aberration and a danger."

We are hardwired to be comfortable when things go as planned and uncomfortable when unexpected change occurs. But change, almost laughably, is more common now (precedented times? Don’t know her). So being able to adapt is the name of the game if we want to thrive.

Andersen says that when change happens, people ask themselves three questions:

1. What does this change mean to me?

2. Why is this change happening?

3. What will it look like when the change has been made?

Answering these questions helps us determine how risky a change is to our lives. The higher the risk the more we fight.

If we determine that the change is going to be uncomfortable for us—or what Andersen categorizes as “difficult, costly, or weird”—it’s natural for us to struggle to adapt and hold fast to our established ideas and notions. But, if we can adjust our mindset to be more open and optimistic about what possibilities could come with a change, we can more quickly succeed on the other side of it.

The Benefits of Being Adaptable

Being adaptable benefits us in all areas of our lives: relationships, careers, our physical and mental health, and more. Instead of struggling to push against the inescapable, we can embrace change and use it to our advantage.

1. Adaptability makes better leaders, teammates, and partners.

When it comes to work and business, adaptability is key to good leadership. If we can navigate the murky waters of change and uncertainty, our team will respect us and lean on us for guidance into clearer seas. Being able to pivot, go with the flow, and embrace transformation are highly valuable skills.

Think about Andersen’s earlier questions about risk—from another perspective, they become questions about strategy. Being able to understand the “why” behind a change and the impact it can have enables us to act appropriately to the new landscape.

2. Adaptability breeds resilience, which breeds success.

Learning to bounce back from change often and quickly will make us more resilient. Building resilience is a crucial skill crucial for success in any environment. Chances are your path ahead is going to involve some type of grind anyway. If you can adapt to and embrace newness, you’ll be ready to get comfortable in the “new normal” while others struggle to pick up the pieces. As Gary and Jay write in SHIFT, those who adapt and maintain market share during tough times are actually taking market share.
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Being able to answer Andersen’s final question, “What will it look like when these changes have been made?” is actually a great way to discover a MOFIR.

3. Adaptability makes people happier.

According psychologist Guy Winch, adaptability is essential to leading a happy life. Winch says that people who are adaptable deal with life’s hardships by “paying attention to their natural response, then changing it when necessary.”

Adaptability makes us able to figure out what works and what doesn’t and act accordingly. When we can handle change and seek out the positive experiences in every situation, we end up with a happier and more fulfilling life. As Gary and Jay write in SHIFT, “No matter your circumstances, things can be easy or hard—depending on you. You decide.”

You’ll always be clearer if you think of any shift as a choice. Be adaptable. Think adaptability. You’ve got this.

The idea of unexpected or unwanted change may still make your stomach do flips. That’s totally natural. But there are ways to become more adaptable and work with change rather than against it. We will talk about that in our next newsletter, so make sure you stay tuned and check your inbox for all things KellerINK!