One of the single most important abilities to have in today’s shifting business world – one of the Brass Tacks, if you will – is adaptability.
We need to be our own Swiss Army knives more than ever, cultivating a diverse set of concrete and soft skills that we can tap in varying combinations as the circumstances demand. Having diverse strengths has always been a bonus, but we’ve been able to get by with a fixed set of abilities or specialties more so in the past than we can today. Those around you that you see as successful are employing everything from shrewd business acumen to honed writing skills and the soft, subtle world of human sociology and psychology to make their way in the world.
They’ve sharpened their instincts to know which skills are needed when (and what’s overkill). It’s the age of the generalist rather than the specialist, and I think it can be explained pretty well by the traditional serenity prayer:
[Insert Higher Power of Choice] grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Accepting the things you can’t change…
There are things – many things – that simply are what they are. We aren’t in control of the players, circumstances, or nature of these things, nor are we likely to be. So instead, the adaptable learn to maneuver within, around, or in spite of them, and continue along their own course.
It’s the ancient idea of being water around obstacles, or in this case, circumstances over which we have no sway. Those that continually succeed largely do so because they’re able to identify the things that aren’t within their control and figure out how to incorporate or avoid them.
Changing the things you can…
Focusing your energy in the places where you can make a difference is one part of finding paths through the chaos. Applying your knowledge, skills, or curiosity to those situations is always going to net you something more than slamming away at an immovable object.
The second part is knowing which of your skills to apply to a particular changeable circumstance. You can hammer a nail with brute force, or with delicate precision, depending on the nature of the project. Sometimes changing things requires a particular set of knowledge, sometimes it’s a matter of navigating the complex waters of human dynamics. We need more people who can question not just whether there’s a solution to a problem, but why the solution is needed and the myriad ways it might be achieved with what variations.
Adaptability means that you not only aim to affect change, but that you’re patient enough to select the right tools, pace, and approach for the job.
Knowing the difference…
There is so much turmoil in humans when we can’t tell a solvable problem from a fixed one.
We rail against immutable laws of human dynamics, like cliques we’re not part of, instead of spending energy on forging relationships that matter to us. We judge other people for their perceived shortcomings rather than focusing on honing our own skills and exploring our own values. And while what we observe around us can and should absolutely shape what we think and feel, the one and only path we can walk is our own, and then figure out how to intertwine it with others.
This is a hard thing for us to accept sometimes. I’m guilty of it, too. But the more I observe, the more I think that those who are nimble, adaptable, and capable of improvising from a broad toolbox are the ones that will continue to thrive. Evolution keeps proving it over and over again.
Next time you’re frustrated or up against an obstacle, ask yourself whether or not you can change it, and if not, what you can do to work around it. You might just find yourself capable of solving more problems and making more progress than you might have imagined.
These are words to live by and your application here is brilliant! Nice work.
I love this last bit you left with us here: “Next time you’re frustrated or up against an obstacle, ask yourself whether or not you can change it, and if not, what you can do to work around it. You might just find yourself capable of solving more problems and making more progress than you might have imagined.”
I’ll be taking those words with me today. Thanks for the insight!
So being a jack of all trades isn’t as bad as previously expected?
Nice advice Amber and true today more than ever. I often think about how employment circles have changed … we once had life time jobs and could carry the same profession for as long as we wanted. Now people move every few years and skill sets seem to change every few months.
I like the quote “Live as if you’ll die tomorrow, learn as if you’ll live forever” (or something like that). We need to keep learning and adapting.
This is something I have always struggled with: Narrow skill vs a broadening one
Thanks for shining the light on this Amber, has really helped look at both sides of the equation
That I can agree with. I have become accustomed to the process of adapting to situations I may encounter on a day to day basis. It has not only made me better at handling things, but allows me to grow my skill set to know about many things.
I would also like to add great You’ve Got Mail movie quote that I think fits perfectly here: “The Godfather is the I Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom. The Godfather is the answer to any question. What should I pack for my summer vacation? ‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli.’ What day of the week is it? ‘Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.’ And the answer to your question is ‘Go to the mattresses.’ You’re at war. ‘It’s not personal, it’s business. It’s not personal it’s business.’ ”