Week 8: Adaptable Supporters

Highlight the value of supporters who are adaptable and open to change.

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher.” 
               – Chinese Proverb

Photo by mrjn Photography on Unsplash

Some moments in your life require you to change or adapt to the incoming situation. Change is a constant, and many times it is unnerving. Those supporters that develop skills to appropriately maneuver through change, or position themselves so change is beneficial for them, will excel over others. Adaptability is critical in the modern business landscape, where rapid changes and uncertainties are the norm. This article explores the significance of adaptability, its benefits to businesses, and the distinctions between individuals who are open to change and those who resist it. 

Adaptability refers to individuals and organizations “suited by nature, character, or design to a particular use, purpose, or situation” (Merriam-Webster). A person who adapts will adjust to new conditions, embrace changes, and thrive in dynamic environments. This enables you to remain productive. It provides you with a position to stay relevant to whatever your business requires. Navigating uncertainty in today's business world, characterized by technological advancements and economic fluctuations, adapting is indispensable for navigating uncertainties and staying competitive.

Sources used in this article:

1. Matthews, Dona (2007) "Book Review: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Dweck, C. S. (2006), "Gifted Children: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 7.

2. Hughes, M., & Beatty, K. (2005). Becoming a Strategic Leader: Your Role in Your Organization's Enduring Success. John Wiley & Sons.

3. Creasey, Tim, Prosci. (2023). Change Management Best Practices Guide. Prosci Inc. https://www.prosci.com/blog/change-management-best-practices. 

4. Grant, A. M. (2013). Rethinking the Extraverted Sales Ideal: The Ambivert Advantage. Psychological Science, 24(6), 1024–1030.

5. National Museum of the United States Army, accessed on 20 February 2024, https://www.thenmusa.org/armyinnovations/rhinotank/#:~:text=Curtis%20Cullin's%20hedgerow%20cutter%2C%20or,was%20also%20the%20most%20famous.

6. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, accessed 20 February 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/.

The Benefits of Adaptability.

1. Enhanced Problem-Solving:

Adaptable supporters excel in problem-solving, demonstrating a capacity to approach challenges with creativity and resilience. This is a key skill to strategic thinking. Strategic thinkers look at the long-term schemes that focus on what will benefit the organization. Short-term goals are still important, but strategic thinkers inculcate those short-term wins into long-term successes such as resource optimization and increased market share.

Adaptive problem-solving must first identify that change is needed. When you have a closed mind, you rarely come to this conclusion. Supporters who do not see the need for change do not assist their leaders to see change either. They are easily stuck in the rut of showing up to work and wonder why they are passed over for promotion or their sales diminish. When a supporter sees change, and think through the problem to solve it, they help develop viable processes to affect everyone in their organization. Supporters can also help during the decision-making process, with innovative concepts that benefit the outcomes.

2. Increased Innovation:

Innovators use new ideas to achieve solutions. I once ran a planning session in Afghanistan which involved all of the Brigade staff. As we developed a new way of supporting operations in the South and West of the country, a staff judge advocate junior Soldier spoke up and provided an idea that made everyone listen. His innovative solution to a problem became the standard for support for our Brigade in this operation. Also, no one asked why junior Soldiers were included in Brigade planning.

Throughout my military career, I used to tell the story of a World War II Soldier who is considered to have had the biggest effect on the Allied push through France, as it was stalled due to thick hedgerows. “Sgt. Curtis Cullin’s hedgerow cutter, or Rhino device, affixed to a Stuart Light Tank, Normandy, 1944. The invention earned its nickname due to the prongs’ resemblance to rhinoceros horns. The most effective solution was also the most famous” (National Museum of the United States Army). Supporters can influence great success if you let them. Adaptability fosters a culture of innovation as individuals are more likely to embrace new ideas, technologies, and methodologies.

Rhino Tank

3. Improved Employee Morale:

Supporters who learn adaptability create a positive work environment, boosting employee morale and job satisfaction. Supporters who adapt to change and have a “growth mindset … are happier, healthier, more fulfilled, and more successful in school, work, sports, business, love, friendships, and life” (Matthews, Dona, 2007). Success and flexibility to change generate a massive morale boost.

Adaptability increases supporters' resilience. A resilient person can bend but not break from external pressures. Challenging work can be rewarding but also straining. A supporter who can adapt to high pressure and resist tunnel vision will find ways to move past rigid work and succeed. The ability to remain resolute through tough situations is a key element to success. Anyone who studies General George Washington fighting the American Revolution will see resiliency leading to success in application.

4. Agility in Change Management:

Organizations with adaptable teams are better equipped to manage and implement changes efficiently, reducing resistance and increasing overall effectiveness. Adaptive supporters understand that change management is a learning process to develop a better organization. “The reality is that organizations must learn and those that have the best learning practices in place have a significant competitive advantage” (Hughes, M., & Beatty, K., 2005). We will discuss change management principles and adaptive strategies more below.

Open to Change vs. Closed to Change.

As we discussed above, open individuals embrace new ideas, seek opportunities in challenges, and view change as a chance for growth and development. “Ambiverts are likely to be more flexible in how they engage with customers, drawing from a wider repertoire of behavioral options to find the appropriate balance between selling and serving” (Grant, A. M., 2013). Adaptive supporters will increase productivity and business opportunities. They use change to become better, build better systems, and adapt to customer needs.

Conversely, supporters who are closed to change fix organizations to their current situation. A supporter resistant to change may exhibit reluctance, fear, or skepticism toward new initiatives, clinging to familiar routines and processes. Hughes, M., & Beatty, K. (2005) discuss the failures of Digital Equipment Corporation, which was sold off to Compaq and Hewlett Packard, in “Becoming a Strategic Leader'' as an example of not adapting to changing markets. While producing a good product, the lack of adaptability of their electronics to work with other platforms and meet market demands was the company's downfall.

Strategies for Adaptive Supporters.

I now want to discuss insights into the characteristics of adaptable supporters. Supporters who learn these strategies will excel in change management as well as increase their morale.