Why adaptability is an essential skill for all employees

What does adaptability mean in the workplace? As the world around us changes, we must change with it. Our workplaces are moulded by new systems and ideas that are designed to improve the way we work. With that said, we must be able to adapt to these new systems and ideas.

This is a skill that can be improved with training and practice. There are many benefits of developing this skill for both employers and employees, all of which will be explored below.

What is adaptability in the workplace?

Adaptability is a person's ability to adjust to changes in their environment. This is a valuable skill to have in the workplace as it enables employees to be more productive, from reacting and responding to unexpected situations efficiently to changing their role in the workplace to fit business needs.

Unexpected situations could mean a change in management or an updated protocol, where an employee would need to adapt to these changes and ensure a smooth transition. Employees may also be required to change their role in the workplace if the business needs them to do so. The ability to change from one position to another effectively is a recognisable skill that all workplaces value tremendously.

The three types of flexibility

When thinking of the question, ‘what does adaptability mean in the workplace?’ there’s not a one size fits all solution or answer. There are many ways to demonstrate adaptability. It’s in the way our employees solve problems or look into alternative solutions to help your business. 

When considering improving adaptability and flexibility in the workplace, focusing on these three components can help:

Cognitive flexibility - The ability to think about multiple concepts at one time.

Emotional flexibility - The ability to respond flexibly to changing emotional circumstances.

Dispositional flexibility - The ability to remain optimistic and realistic

Adaptability Skills 

If you’re looking to improve your team's adaptability and make them into team players, then the importance of adaptability in the workplace is clear. 

What do you need to upskill in your team to achieve this? Here are some of the most well-known adaptability skills that your team needs:

• Communication 
• Interpersonal 
• Resilience 
• Problem Solving
• Collaboration
• Resourcefulness

The importance of adaptability

When an employer looks at their employees, they want to be able to see this skill in all of them. It makes them a valuable asset to the workplace for many reasons.

This can highlight many leadership traits in a person's work and show employers that they are better equipped to face new challenges and progress. 

An improvement in morale and happiness also comes with good adaptability skills. If an employee can anticipate and embrace change, they will be better able to adapt and not stress about the transition.

How can employees become more adaptable?

There are some practical ways that employees can become more adaptable. By experimenting without fear of making mistakes, employees can try to overcome tasks and situations using a different approach. 

Adaptability In The Workplace Example

Suppose employees push themselves to leave their comfort zone and try something new or attempt to learn a new skill. In that case, this can be beneficial in improving their adaptability skills as this is a situation that could arise in the workplace.

By collaborating with colleagues, employees can share knowledge that can help improve adaptability skills. Advice, guidance, and support can be communicated, creating a positive workplace environment.

How can employers make employees more adaptable?

• Consider asking employees to take on a new role or responsibilities, this could be a manager or supervisor within the business.
• Make a commitment to personal development in the company and explore training opportunities for your team to take. 
• Brainstorm on how you can improve work processes to demonstrate the team's initiative and show they can adapt to changes. 

Adaptability in the workplace can mean a lot of things but these strategies have worked for businesses time and time again for them to upskill their employees or give them more responsibilities.

Online Soft Skills Training

Adaptability is just one of the many soft skills that can hugely benefit all employees. Here at iHASCO, we offer a range of online Soft Skill Training courses that have been designed for all types and levels of employees.

They can each be completed on any device and provide the user with the information they need to understand the importance of working on each soft skill and how they can practice it.

Claim a free, no-obligation trial to any of these courses today! Alternatively, request a bespoke quote and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your training needs.