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Written by: Jean L. Serio CEIC, CPC, CeMA, CSEOP
Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions, environments, situations or changes in circumstances. It involves being flexible, resilient, and open-minded in response to challenges, opportunities, or unexpected events. And why most companies have pushed it to the top of their list of soft skills necessary to perform any job. In fact, soft skills are rising to the top of the most-wanted skills list.
"Change is the only constant in business", according to Mark Cuban. The skills you develop when you start a job may not be relevant in five years, even if you're still in the same position. However, companies want employees who can flow with changing times. Demonstrating that on your resume shows employers you're a good long-term investment.
Overall, adaptability is a crucial skill which enables employees to thrive in dynamic work environments, navigate challenges effectively and contribute to the long-term success of an organization. All that said, you can easily understand why companies are eager to hire individuals with adaptability skills.
Here are 10 adaptability skills:
1. Flexibility - the ability of being able to adjust plans, priorities and approaches in response to changing circumstances or unexpected events.
2. Resilience: Having the ability to bounce back from setbacks, failures, or challenges and maintain a positive attitude.
3. Problem-solving: Being able to identify issues, analyze situations, and generate effective solutions, even in unfamiliar or rapidly changing contexts.
4. Creativity: Thinking outside the box and finding innovative solutions to problems or - on the other hand opportunities.
5. Open-mindedness: Being receptive to new ideas, perspectives and feedback plus being willing to consider alternative viewpoints.
6. Adaptation to technology: Being comfortable with learning and using new technologies and tools which may be introduced in the workplace is an absolute necessity today.
7. Communication: Your ability to effectively communicate with colleagues, clients and stakeholders - in various formats and across different mediums - is also necessary in todays busy and changing workplaces.
8. Time management: Prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines and allocating resources efficiently - especially when faced with shifting priorities or unexpected demands - should be at the top of your list.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent.- It is the one that is most adaptable to change." Charles Darwin
9. Collaboration: Working effectively as part of a team, able to adjust to a variety of unique and different working styles is an absolute necessity. Not to mention the ability to foster positive relationships with colleagues and clients.
10. Self-awareness: Recognizing one's strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement - being open to self-reflection and personal growth - should be near the top of your list.
Developing and honing these adaptability skills can help individuals thrive in dynamic and evolving work environments, navigate challenges effectively, and seize opportunities for growth and success.
Note:
Mentioning several of these skills, during an interview, will serve you well. More than likely an interviewer will mention several soft skills such as these. However if they don't, take a moment to sprinkle one or two into your comments regarding the job or when answering a question. Tell a brief story about how you utilized a soft skill and the results.
Having the right soft skills can significantly boost your career prospects. While hard skills can often be learned through training, soft skills are more inherent personality traits. The greater your repertoire of soft skills, the more likely you are to secure your desired job.
Soft skills play a vital role in guiding your career path. Therefore it's essential - when crafting your resume and crucial - to highlight how you've applied these skills in previous roles. This can give you an edge over candidates who rely solely on hard skills.