Essential Words for the Future: Resiliency and Adaptability

In a review of hundreds of academic and organizational research articles related to the post-pandemic, resiliency and adaptability were the most frequently mentioned words associated with the future of work.

Resiliency refers to the ability to adjust to inherent life challenges, resulting in a healthy, productive, and happy self (Dolan & Brykman, 2022). It is often described as the opposite of the pole of stress. During the pandemic, resiliency was tested with unexpected challenges that required adaptation in when, where, and how work was done, as well as how to engage employees, customers, and suppliers.

Adaptability is the ability to learn flexibility and efficiently apply that knowledge across situations. Some think the term adaptability is a skill, but it’s a meta-skill. It refers to the ability to learn and consciously apply knowledge as needed. Decades of research show that adaptability is the critical success factor during transformational and systemic change periods. Being adaptable allows us to learn faster and orients us towards opportunities ahead, not just the challenges. Unfortunately, adaptability isn’t a natural skill but can be nurtured by individuals and organizations.

While resiliency and adaptability are related, they are different in several ways. Resilience describes how well we respond to a challenge. Conversely, adaptability moves us from enduring the challenge to thriving beyond it. Thriving requires evolving and changing in a positive and often new direction. It is the opposite of defaulting to what has worked in the past. Studies have shown that adaptability is linked to (Brassey et al., 2020):

• Positive coping skills

• A growth mindset

• Higher levels of performance

• Creativity

• Psychological and physical well-being

Some of the ways we can adapt and grow are to focus on these five areas of personal development:

1. Consider well-being as a foundation. Research shows that both leaders and employees have experienced anxiety and burnout symptoms at unprecedented rates (Moss, 2021). Based on recent APA studies, we can expect that the incidence of burnout symptoms will continue to rise. By investing in our well-being, we will be better prepared for whatever comes our way.

2. Take time to explore your purpose. In stressful and challenging times, we often fall into attending to urgent tasks instead of what is essential. The link between well-being and purpose is vital. Decades of research show that when we believe we are living in alignment with our purpose at work, we report much higher levels of well-being than those who say they are not.

3. Experience the world with a beginner’s mind. In stressful times, the tendency is to fall into default patterns of reacting and acting. The default patterns may protect us in the moment, but ultimately they are likely to hinder our ability to adapt and respond in ways that a new environment requires. Also, these default patterns are mindsets and beliefs that often unconsciously influence how we perceive the world and lead us to be less flexible and adaptable.

4. Develop strong interpersonal connections. During periods of uncertainty and stress, research shows that deep and diverse connections are fundamental elements feeding our well-being and learning (Mathieu et al., 2019). Some of the simple things we can do are:

   • Place our full attention on the person in front of us.

   • Show up as your authentic self and be willing to share your fears, concerns, and even your mistakes.

   • Show empathy, but don’t stop there. Take the time to understand the other person’s perspective so you can respond to others in a more nuanced and specific way.

5. Embrace learning and reframe “failures.” In a constant, stressful environment, we cannot be expected to respond and act in ways that have successful outcomes in every situation. While failure is emotionally challenging, we can learn to reframe failure and missteps as a learning opportunity. Dissecting problems and decisions with a learning mindset changes our focus and will help create an environment that allows everyone involved to feel more comfortable and honest. This type of environment builds an open, curious, and growth mindset (Zhou & Lin, 2016)

By viewing adaptability as a skill, we can continue to grow in this challenging environment, not simply to survive but to thrive. If you would like more real-life practices that will help you build the skills you need to succeed, look at my book, “Thriving in a Global Pandemic and Beyond“ available on Amazon.

References

APA Stress in America™
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/index?gclid=CjwKCAjwxZqSBhAHEiwASr9n9DUsEVJQZukq3BmExoIEDlcpQYLqa54up0TNlUYpPMMNti88pwkKzBoCft0QAvD_BwE

Brassey, J., Witteloostuijn, A. V., Huszka, C., Silberzahn, T., & Dam, N. V. (2020). Emotional flexibility and general self-efficacy: A pilot training intervention study with knowledge workers. PloS one, 15(10), e0237821.

Dolan, S. L., & Brykman, K. M. (2022). The Use of Dopamine to Enhance Resilience in a Post-COVID-19 Era. European Business Review.

Mathieu, M., Eschleman, K. J., & Cheng, D. (2019). Meta-analytic and multi-wave comparison of emotional and instrumental support in the workplace. Journal of occupational health psychology, 24(3), 387.

Moss, J. (2021). Beyond burned out. Harvard Business Review, 10.

Zhou, M., & Lin, W. (2016). Adaptability and life satisfaction: The moderating role of social support. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1134.