Adaptability Skills: The Importance of Being Adaptable in Business

Benefits of adaptability in business

Adaptability is the quality that influences how you respond to change. People with high adaptability are often described as being flexible, team players or able to go with the flow.

McKinsey research found that adaptability is a crucial factor for success when businesses are facing major changes. The ability to adapt enhances learning speed and effectiveness, while helping people focus on potential opportunities rather than just obstacles. However, the researchers found an interesting contradiction: situations that most require adaptive thinking often trigger anxiety that causes people to retreat to comfortable, familiar approaches.

Additionally, McKinsey found that employees with high adaptability are 2.5 times more likely to have higher performance and contribute more to the organization’s success. 

Here are some more benefits:

You’ll be more valuable to your business or employer.

An organization’s ability to adapt can be considered a competitive advantage. The same is true for individuals: Employers increasingly want workers who can adapt to an ever-changing workplace. Someone who’s adaptable is open to new ideas and doesn’t need to do things a specific way just because that’s how they’ve always been done. They can anticipate changes and don’t panic when things don’t go according to plan.

Employers already value this trait, but it’s become even more important with the rise of remote work and artificial intelligence. HR directors and recruiters are actively looking for new hires who can display adaptability as a top soft skill. If you want to gain a competitive edge over fellow job seekers while securing marketable skills for the future, start practicing adaptability now. 

You’ll be a better leader.

Adaptable people excel as leaders. They earn the respect of their peers, inspire those around them to embrace change, and help grease the cogs in the wheel of even the stickiest transitions. As a leader, you’re bound to face situations that require you to make quick decisions. If you can pivot quickly and get the rest of your team on board, you can mitigate the potential adverse effects of the change. This ultimately benefits the organization as a whole. 

Learn how to test for leadership ability.

You’ll be happier and more satisfied with life.

Adaptability has positive psychological impacts. You’ll be happier when you’re comfortable adjusting to meet evolving needs and demands. Being adaptable means not feeling hopeless and helpless in the face of change. If you can tell yourself that you have the skills and ability to change yourself even if you can’t change the situation, you’ll find contentment regardless of your circumstances.

Importance of adaptability skills in business

Being adaptable has many benefits in the workplace. Here are some of the top advantages.

Competitive advantage in hiring

An organization’s ability to adapt can be considered a competitive advantage. The same is true for individuals: Employers increasingly want workers who can adapt to an ever-changing workplace. Someone who’s adaptable is open to new ideas and doesn’t need to do things a specific way just because that’s how they’ve always been done. They can anticipate changes and don’t panic when things don’t go according to plan.

According to research from the University of Illinois, “Performance should concentrate on adaptability and a broader interconnected skill set”. 

The research found that adaptability is a key driver in helping companies grow and meet goals. This is especially important as strategies shift to meet changes in how business is conducted.

Employers already value this trait, but it’s become even more important with the rise of remote work and artificial intelligence. HR directors and recruiters are actively looking for new hires who can display adaptability as a top soft skill. If you want to gain a competitive edge over fellow job seekers while securing marketable skills for the future, start practicing adaptability now.

Enhanced leadership effectiveness

Adaptable people excel as leaders. They earn the respect of their peers, inspire those around them to embrace change, and help grease the cogs in the wheel of even the stickiest transitions. As a leader, you’re bound to face situations that require you to make quick decisions. If you can pivot quickly and get the rest of your team on board, you can mitigate the potential adverse effects of the change. This ultimately benefits the organization as a whole.

Improved psychological well-being

Adaptability has positive psychological impacts. You’ll be happier when you’re comfortable adjusting to meet evolving needs and demands. Being adaptable means not feeling hopeless and helpless in the face of change. If you can tell yourself that you have the skills and ability to change yourself even if you can’t change the situation, you’ll find contentment regardless of your circumstances.

In the McKinsey study, researchers discovered that in the workplace, higher levels of adaptability are associated with greater levels of learning ability and better performance, confidence, and creative output. Adaptability is also crucial for psychological and physical well-being and is linked to higher levels of social support and overall life satisfaction.

Career resilience and growth

If you were to suddenly lose your job due to a decline in your industry or your business unexpectedly needed to shut down, what would your first move be? Would you give up and resign yourself to unemployment? Or would you take stock of your current skill set and consider repositioning yourself to find a new opportunity?

When you’re adaptable, you’ll learn how to manage and lessen the stress resulting from a career change. You’ll stop putting off whatever you need to do to set yourself up for future success. Adaptable people are more willing to explore outside their comfort zone, take risks and embrace uncertainty, with the understanding that transitions are a normal part of life.

A 2024 study published in BMC Psychology found that workers with greater adaptability tend to be more engaged at work. The research indicated that when employees’ values and goals align well with their company’s culture, it helps explain why adaptable people perform better in their roles.

Building resilience

Bad things happen to all of us. But if you’re adaptable, you take adversity in stride, never letting it destroy you. Instead, you adjust your thoughts and expectations to suit your new reality rather than dwelling on what could have been. Being adaptable means being resilient, and resilience will get you far in life. Challenges won’t seem all that challenging when you’ve built a tolerance for accommodating changing circumstances.

Research-backed benefits for organizations

Adaptability should be encouraged in the workplace to help create a thriving work environment. While the benefits above focus on the individual, the importance of navigating change well also reflects on your business and company culture.

Enhanced innovation and creativity

Adapting to change comes with its share of challenges. Frequent changes can help your team expand its knowledge of a subject and brainstorm unconventional solutions. Using their creative sides, employees can lead a business onto paths you would have never thought possible. While quick decisions may have some fallout, they can lead to less overthinking and more action.

Research on innovation shows that the most innovative companies deliver higher shareholder returns and build resilience through their innovative efforts. An increasing number of companies are starting to recognize the benefits of innovation, with 79% ranking it among their top three priorities, according to a Boston Consulting Group survey.

Improved team dynamics

People who are afraid of growth and reluctant to seek help limit their adaptability. Having long-term goals and leaning on mentors can motivate your team to explore ideas and turn them into reality. Curiosity and attention to business processes, expansion and employee culture can help you outperform your competition.

Delegation is crucial when you’re ushering in a series of changes. Utilizing each team member’s strengths allows you to pivot with little downtime and few bottlenecks. By delegating tasks, you can achieve your goals faster, moving your business forward as everyone adapts to the new plan.

Cultural transformation

Workplaces that teach and promote adaptability inspire their workforces to grow mentally and emotionally. Teams that adapt well to change can improve collaboration, communication and the overall daily working environment. Employees who are part of a positive company culture are more likely to be loyal workers, maintain better physical and mental health, and aspire to become leaders within your organization.

How to develop adaptability

If you want to become more adaptable in the workplace or have been told you need to be more flexible, realize that the above benefits are well within your reach, but they may take a little practice. 

One way is via the C+MAC, which breaks down adaptability into four key skill areas. Published in the academic journal PLOS One, this model helps organizations understand what makes employees more adaptable:

• Thinking skills (Cognition): How well you solve problems, plan and organize information. This includes expertise in your field and the ability to analyze details and work with numbers.
• Drive skills (Motivation): Your inner motivation to take charge of your career, stick with challenges, stay positive and embrace change.
• Doing skills (Action): How proactively you take initiative, achieve goals, build professional networks and influence others.
• People skills (Connection): Your ability to understand others, work well in teams, adapt to different cultures and focus on helping colleagues and customers.

This framework gives individuals and organizations a clear roadmap for building adaptability skills that can be measured and improved over time.

Practical strategies to build adaptability

Here are tips to develop your adaptability:

Challenge yourself to find solutions

Challenge your brain to come up with innovative solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems. When you believe there’s always a solution to your problems, you train your brain to think about resolutions instead of roadblocks. You begin seeing the opportunities and silver linings — instead of the burdens and problems — in difficult situations. This mindset switch will improve your critical-thinking skills.

Read related article: Give Your Brain a Boost with Books Guaranteed to Make You More Intelligent

Take a leadership role in change

Changes in the workplace are inevitable. How you handle those changes can show whether you’re a leader or a follower. Help team members see the positive side of change. Show confidence in decisions instead of worrying about the outcomes. Focus on increasing communication to keep people on the same page and improve efficiency. Take an active role in what’s going on rather than letting things just happen.

Practice self-care and well-being

The more you embrace change, the easier it will be to deal with, but you may still hit a low point now and then. Reach out for support when needed, take a personal day to regroup and let others know it’s OK to need assistance through transitions. While you deal with the practical implications of the change, ensure that you still meet your own needs.

Self-care can improve productivity, so being mindful of your well-being can help you professionally.

Take calculated risks

If your business is growing quickly, your team is expanding or unexpected opportunities come your way, don’t shy away from those changes. Taking risks can be scary when you rely on a steady paycheck and have established routines, but the alternative can be that you’re left with what-ifs and regrets. Instead of seeing change as overwhelming and all-encompassing, take it one step at a time and consider all that you have to gain.

Maintain an open mind

Your business may thrive on tried-and-true processes, but an unwillingness to try new things can prevent growth, stifle creativity and hurt morale. Having an open mind is essential in business, where circumstances change daily. Being open-minded makes you a better listener, less judgmental and able to think outside the box. This open-mindedness will help you build critical-thinking skills.

Set aside your ego

While the ego is not good or bad, it is naturally self-centered. Removing this perspective helps you see other viewpoints and deal with change more efficiently. Sometimes we like to control every situation, but setting your ego aside allows you to welcome other outcomes — possibly better ones. Accepting outcomes beyond your control can help you adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances.

Get out of your comfort zone

Staying comfortable and steadfast to routine can make you less adaptable when there are changes beyond your control. Diversify your daily experiences so you don’t get stuck in a rut. Even trying a new restaurant or taking an impromptu personal day can help renew your creative spirit. Business owners need to control their stress, which may mean adopting new practices and making last-minute adjustments instead of remaining in their comfort zone to their own detriment.

Learn how stress impacts productivity.

How to measure adaptability

One way to measure adaptability is via the Career Adapt-abilities Scale (CAAS), which measures four key dimensions: 

• Concern (planning for future career)
• Control (making career decisions)
• Curiosity (exploring career options)
• Confidence (overcoming career obstacles)

This scale has been validated across different cultures and populations, providing a reliable way for individuals and organizations to assess adaptability levels and track improvement over time.

Assessment and development process

Organizations looking to build adaptability can implement a structured approach:

1. Assessment: Use validated tools like the Career Adaptability Scale to establish baseline measurements 
2. Skill development: Focus on the four key areas of cognition, motivation, action, and connection
3. Practice opportunities: Create safe environments for employees to practice adaptive behaviors 
4. Feedback and coaching: Provide regular feedback and coaching to reinforce adaptive mindsets 
5. Measurement: Track progress using the same assessment tools to measure improvement

The future of adaptability

As we move forward, adaptability will only become more crucial. Businesses and employees who prioritize adaptability development will be best positioned for success in an increasingly dynamic business environment where technological change, evolving market demands and new ways of working continue to reshape the workplace.

The research is clear: adaptability is not just a nice-to-have skil l— it’s essential for thriving in today’s dynamic workplace. By developing the cognitive, motivational, action-oriented and connection skills that support adaptability, you can turn uncertainty into opportunity and change into competitive advantage.

Shirley Tan contributed to this article.