Adaptability: A Needed Skill and Five Coaching Strategies | College of Executive Coaching
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Adaptability: A Needed Skill and Five Coaching Strategies

January 13, 2025
By Jeffrey E. Auerbach, Ph.D., MCC, NBC-HWC

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Adaptability: A Needed Skill and Five Coaching Strategies

What is a top characteristic needed for professional and personal success? I have seen a clear need for adaptability in clients as we face accelerating change.

As executive and life coaches, it's important to not only embody adaptability but also to help cultivate it in our clients when it becomes one of their top goals. Recent data from LinkedIn highlights adaptability as the "skill of the moment," emphasizing its growing importance in the face of technological advancements and shifting workplace dynamics. Adaptability goes beyond flexibility; it's about maintaining composure and effectiveness in the face of change. Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn VP, says, "Adaptability is the best way to have agency right now." This characteristic empowers professionals to be open to smart change and seize new opportunities as they arise.

Adaptability has proven to be a skill that makes a bottom-line difference. According to a study by McKinsey & Company, companies with adaptive leadership saw a 23% improvement in overall performance metrics compared to their less agile counterparts. As Albert Einstein noted, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." This sentiment is echoed by best-selling author Brian Tracy, who emphasizes the urgency of adaptability in leadership: "In an era of rapid change, standing still is the most dangerous course of action."

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Building upon the concept of adaptability as a valuable quality, it's worth examining how this mindset is viewed through the lens of strengths assessments. The Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment identifies Adaptability as one of its 34 talent themes, placing it within the Relationship Building domain. According to Gallup, individuals with strong Adaptability talents naturally excel in navigating change and uncertainty, embracing the present moment and responding flexibly to new circumstances.

This aligns closely with our earlier discussion on the importance of adaptability in today's workplace. While Adaptability is not explicitly listed as one of the 24 character strengths in the VIA (Values in Action) Classification, it shares commonalities with several VIA strengths, particularly those under the virtue of Wisdom. For instance, the VIA strength of Perspective, which involves providing wise counsel to others, can be seen as an aspect of adaptability in helping others navigate change.

Although these assessments demonstrate how some individuals possess a talent that makes adaptability come easily to them, if a client wants to develop their adaptability muscle they can with intention and effort.

For coaches, fostering adaptability in clients is about helping them experiment with the tools to thrive amidst change, try out different perspectives and be willing to take action outside the traditional path. Here are five practical coaching strategies or homework activities to help your clients develop greater adaptability:

Embrace the Growth Mindset
Encourage clients to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. This shift in perspective is fundamental to adaptability.

Homework: Clients can keep a "Growth Journal" for two weeks. Each day, they write down one challenge they faced and how they could view it as an opportunity for learning or improvement.

Practice Cognitive Flexibility
Adaptable individuals can easily switch between different modes of thinking. This skill allows for creative problem-solving and the ability to see situations from multiple perspectives.

Homework: Challenge clients to approach a recurring problem in their life or work from three different angles. They could brainstorm solutions for each perspective, no matter how unconventional they might seem.

Develop Emotional Intelligence
Adaptability is one of fifteen factors that make up emotional intelligence. High emotional intelligence enables individuals to manage their own emotions and understand others' reactions during times of change.

Homework: Clients can do a weekly "Emotion Check-In" where clients reflect on their emotional responses to changes or challenges. They can identify the emotion, its trigger, and how it influenced their behavior and evaluate whether it is the behavior they want to demonstrate.

Cultivate a Diverse Skill Set
Having a diverse skill set enables adaptability and job security.

Homework: Clients may want to identify and start learning one new skill that's outside their current professional domain but could be valuable in the future. This could be through online courses, workshops, or self-study.

Build Resilience Through Mindfulness
Mindfulness practices can enhance resilience, a key component of adaptability. This helps individuals stay grounded and focused even amidst chaos and change.

Homework: Introduce a daily 10-minute mindfulness practice. This could be meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindful walking. Clients could note how this practice affects their ability to handle unexpected situations.

As coaches, it's helpful to model adaptability in our practices. This might mean exploring new coaching approaches or technologies, adjusting our methodologies based on client feedback, or staying abreast of emerging personal and professional development trends.

Remember that developing adaptability is an ongoing process and easier for some than others. Encourage your clients to view it as a journey rather than a destination. By consistently practicing these strategies, they can build the "muscle of adaptability."

As our personal or professional worlds evolve at a rapid pace, adaptability will be an incredibly important skill. By helping our clients cultivate it, we're not just preparing them for the current moment—we're also helping them for their future. As coaches, our role in fostering adaptability is one of our most valuable services.


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