People high in the adaptability theme live in the moment, and are very calm in the face of changes or challenges.
Description of Adaptability
Here’s the description of Adaptability from the Gallup Business Journal:
You live in the moment. You don’t see the future as a fixed destination. Instead, you see it as a place that you create out of the choices that you make right now. And so you discover your future one choice at a time. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have plans. You probably do. But this theme of Adaptability does enable you to respond willingly to the demands of the moment even if they pull you away from your plans. Unlike some, you don’t resent sudden requests or unforeseen detours. You expect them. They are inevitable. Indeed, on some level you actually look forward to them. You are, at heart, a very flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are pulling you in many different directions at once.
Theme Insight
One of the insights I learnt from people with high Adaptability is that others may find them somewhat nonchalant, as if they didn’t care much when things happen.
This is perhaps due to their ability in handling changes, and when things happen they appear unaffected. However, this does not mean that they do not care.
One of my friends with high Adaptability and Responsibility will always get the job done, although some people are worried that he wouldn’t because he seemed so relaxed about things. So one thing that he learnt to do when it worked with new people, is to keep them updated about the progress of things that he is doing.
Application
Do you have Adaptability in your Top 5? Are you aware of how people around you are perceiving you? What are you doing to manage the perceptions?
Here are some tips:
- Let others know that one of your themes is Adaptability. You are able to go with the flow and may give others an impression that you do not care. Assure them that you do.
- Keep others updated on tasks that you are responsible for, so that they know there is progress.
- Being adaptable may mean you are ok with any changes that comes your way. Make an effort to provide some input or share your thoughts around changes that happen. Agreeing with changes too often without sounding out what you think or feel may give others the impression that you don’t really care what happens.
