How to improve adaptability skills

Have you ever taken a vacation only to have your plans keep getting disrupted? Maybe your taxi got lost, and you ended up late for a tour. Or perhaps a rainstorm blew in on the one day you had planned to go to the beach. 

You could let situations like these ruin your trip, or you could be open-minded and adaptable. When challenging circumstances come up, it’s up to you to remain calm and focus on new possibilities.

To overcome challenges big and small, you need adaptability skills. Learning how to improve adaptability skills to build resilience and mental strength. With better adaptability skills, you can thrive in almost any environment, no matter what changes come your way. 

Some of life’s greatest blessings arrive via unexpected pathways. If you get upset when things don’t go as planned, it’s hard to enjoy the serendipity of life. Opening your mind to unanticipated changes can transform your perspective. 

Becoming more adaptable can also lead to success and well-being. Adaptability enables better learning and can even serve as a protective factor against stress. If you’re struggling at a new job, becoming more adaptable could be helpful in reducing burnout.

When you adapt to a situation, you no longer allow it to overpower you. Instead, developing adaptability allows you to become the author of your own narrative. As a result, life’s obstacles seem less intimidating. You feel freer, which can help others feel more at ease around you.  

Types of adaptability

There are many types of adaptability skills, and you’ll find that all are useful throughout your life. 

• Personality-based adaptability is the capability to adjust your behavior according to new situations. Say one of your coworkers gets promoted to leadership. You will likely adapt your behavior by showing them a different type of respect. This adaptation recognizes that the delegation of authority has changed between you. 

• Cognitive adaptability allows you to adapt your mind to new information. While incorporating new info sounds easy, there are many instances where it can be hard to readjust your thinking. 

For example, consider the idea of a new health study contradicting how you’ve been living. Suppose it declares that your diet or exercise routine may have harmful effects. If you believed you were living a healthy lifestyle, you may feel inclined to brush this information off rather than accept it. 

The tendency to believe the earliest information you receive is called anchoring bias. You’ve likely seen this in other people, whether about health habits or politics. Denying information is sometimes easier than adjusting your reality. Cognitive adaptability starts with the self-awareness to recognize anchoring bias in yourself. 

• Emotional adaptability skills focus on your ability to bounce back after difficult circumstances. Having a solid support network is beneficial when trying to move on. The ability to pick yourself up after facing a challenge is known as emotional resilience. 

Rather than agonize over the past, emotionally adaptive people focus on how they can impact the present. This psychological flexibility is a valuable skill that shows inner strength. 

Shifting your mindset for greater adaptability

When encountering a new situation, your attitude is everything. Embracing change will set a positive precedent for the future.  

New circumstances and experiences may sometimes be outside your comfort zone. Finding approaches to overcome such challenges will help you embrace change. When things don't go to plan, try not to focus on any fear you feel. Remember that new circumstances can lead to exciting opportunities. 

If your office is switching from fully remote work to a hybrid work environment, you might feel stressed about changing your daily routine. You could instead see this increased time with coworkers as an opportunity to make friends at work. You may even learn some new skills from them. 

Remember to be kind and patient with yourself as you work to change your mindset. Struggling with control is a common roadblock to adapting to change. By learning how to let go of control, you free up space for positivity and fresh perspectives. 

Letting go takes time. You’ll need ongoing practice to develop adaptability skills. Examine your mindset on a regular basis and identify any obstacles you encounter. Learning to reframe your thinking will help you become more adaptable.

Developing practical skills to adapt effectively

Developing practical life skills allows you to adapt and build resilience. Improving hard skills and soft skills will help you build confidence so you can find solutions in challenging times. 

A strong skill set will also help you feel more prepared for change. When you encounter the unexpected, you won’t feel so thrown off course. With time, you can learn to use self-management skills when your routine is disrupted. 

Adaptable people tend to be sure of their problem-solving capabilities and don’t let the future worry them. If you have adaptability, you approach challenges with self-assurance. By building new skills in the face of adversity, you can trust in your ability to overcome obstacles.

Seeking new experiences to develop adaptability

Placing yourself in situations over which you have little to no control can serve as a sort of exposure therapy. While this doesn’t work for everyone, you may find it helpful. Surrendering control may help you adjust to future circumstances where things don’t go as planned. Examining past experiences may help you gauge whether exposure therapy could work for you. 

Remember, the inability to adapt may be the result of a lack of practice. Adaptability is a learned skill like any other. By putting yourself in new situations, you increase your tolerance for the unfamiliar.  

New experiences don’t have to be as extreme as skydiving or bungee jumping. They can be simple, everyday deviations from your routine. Some ideas to develop adaptability skills include:

• Going on a trip without any agenda
• Ordering something new at a restaurant
• Taking an improv class or going to an open mic night
• Offering to take on new projects or tasks at work 
• Reading a book about an unfamiliar topic 
• Opening yourself up to constructive criticism
• Doing an activity you typically wouldn’t, like going to an escape room or a play
• Setting healthy boundaries in your relationships
• Starting a journaling practice

Adaptability in the workplace

Collaboration at work is a required part of many job positions. According to a survey by the online recruitment company, Zippia, 75% of employees rank teamwork as highly important. 

You don't want to walk on eggshells when you need to approach someone with sudden changes to a project. You also likely don't want to be that difficult coworker who resists new tasks. The ability to tolerate change with a smile gives the appearance of a positive mindset. Positivity is a valued trait in many jobs, and you may even see it impact your performance review. 

Being adaptable might also increase your teammates’ appreciation for you. With adaptability skills, you can help create a resilient team and find creative solutions to problems. By learning how to be more flexible at work, you can become a good team player who is pleasant to work with.  

Becoming an adaptable leader

Leadership roles can be difficult responsibilities to take on. As a leader, your ability to respond to new challenges impacts not only you but also everyone on your team. 

Developing adaptability skills in leadership is an essential part of professional development. It shows your coworkers how to use problem-solving skills to embrace challenges. Confident and future-minded leaders can help set teams at ease during times of uncertainty.

Your ability to adapt as a leader also influences how well employees communicate with you. By showing your team that you welcome different and diverse perspectives, they’ll be more likely to share new ideas with you. This can lead to evolving types of innovation, experimentation, and creativity in the workplace.

How being more adaptable improves your life

Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed or stressed out by the little things? Adaptability skills make you a more laid-back, easygoing person. With time, you’ll likely see that becoming the kind of person who can adjust to new plans makes your life smoother. 

Adaptability also makes it easier for others to communicate with you. Not making a big deal about small details can improve your interpersonal relationships. 

Let’s say you’re out drinking coffee with friends, and the cafe is out of your desired drink. You could ask your friends to go elsewhere and upend everyone’s plans. Or you could use the situation to try something new.    

Adaptability can also benefit your professional life. A 2024 LinkedIn report says adaptability is the top skill of the moment. If you’re searching for a job, remember transferable skills like adaptability draw employers to you. This is because you need them in every position. 

By highlighting how adaptable you are to change, you might secure a job offer. Hiring managers know you’ll do what it takes to adapt and stay relevant. Adaptability is also a key characteristic of entrepreneurs.

Thrive in any environment by learning how to improve adaptability skills

When you learn how to improve your adaptability skills, you evolve as a person. Using tools to challenge yourself and build resilience is essential for success. You’ll become more relaxed and content with life as a result. You’ll be proud of yourself for how you’re able to adapt through every path of life. 

Becoming more adaptable is easier with people who support your journey. Working with a coach or therapist can help you identify areas where adaptability skills can make life better. 

Once you commit to adaptability, you can begin to thrive in any environment. With time and practice, you’ll see that great things lie beyond your comfort zone. Strong adaptability skills can help get you where you want to go.