8 Important Adaptability Skills For The Workplace (And How To Improve Them)

One of the realities of the workplace is that things don’t always go according to plan. Because of this, companies want to hire employees who have shown themselves to be adaptable so that they can trust them to respond appropriately when things go awry.

In this article, you’ll learn what adaptability is, examples of adaptability skills, and how to grow in this area.

Key Takeaways

• Adaptability is the ability to respond to unexpected change with grace and to be able to accomplish a task even if things go wrong.

• A few of the top adaptability skills are communication, quick learning, problem-solving, organization, decision-making, resourcefulness, leadership, and stress management.

• Adaptability skills are important to have because they show employers that you can be trusted.

What Are Adaptability Skills?

Having adaptability skills means embracing change with optimism and a problem-solving mentality to create an ideal outcome. Consider a stressful work situation, such as a co-worker quitting without notice and leaving a lump-sum of work behind.

An employee with adaptability skills embraces this inconvenient change as a challenge, rather than a frustrating issue. It gives them the opportunity to showcase their problem-solving and delegation skills.

Adaptability is an impressive soft skill to include on your resume because it speaks to your initiative and leadership abilities.

Examples of Adaptability Skills

Being flexible to change involves a series of soft skills that allow a person to effectively adjust. Consider the examples of adaptability skills below to see if any apply to your work style.

1. Communication Skills

   While many factors contribute to an organization’s success, one of the most essential is strong communication. This is true when changes are occurring, as well as when everything is going according to plan.

   Adapting to change can’t be done through a single employee individually. You must be able to effectively communicate your ideas and reservations with coworkers and supervisors when adapting to change.

   Communication skills incorporate more than just explaining your plans for moving forward to others. It involves utilizing multiple tools including:

   • Active Listening

   • Asking Questions when unclear

   • Emotional Intelligence

   • Paying attention to nonverbal cues

   • Coordinating with others

   • Respectfulness

   • Self-Awareness

2. Ability to Learn Quickly

   A huge part of being adaptable is about openness and the ability to learn new information. No matter how exceptional you are at your job now, there’s always the possibility that the ways things are done can change. Technology, standards, and systems in the workplace are constantly evolving. Being able to learn and incorporate these advancements into your work is a valuable adaptability skill.

   Learning Skills Involve:

   • Openness

   • Observation

   • Curiosity

   • Research

   • Critical-thinking

   • Creativity

   • Attention to detail

   • Patience

3. Problem-Solving

   One of the big reasons that adaptability is a desirable trait is that it enhances problem-solving abilities. While we’d all like to work in an environment free from issues, every once in awhile we’re going to come across a few. How you deal with arising problems or unforeseen circumstances greatly contributes to the quality of your work. Candidates who take on problems with a positive mindset and adapt accordingly are in high-demand because they maintain office productivity no matter the circumstance.

   Examples of Problem-Solving Skills Include:

   • Data Analysis

   • Brainstorming

   • Coordination

   • Teamwork

   • Negotiation

   • Decision-making

   • Experimentation

   • Logical Reasoning

   • Creative thinking

   • Evaluation

4. Organization

   Being organized at work is generally a good idea to have your days run smoothly. This is especially true when adapting to change. It’s extremely difficult to form an effective plan or solution if you’re disorganized. Being organized at work means that it’ll be less stressful to adapt to change and make you a more prepared employee in general.

   Organizational Skills Include:

   • Time Management

   • Planning ahead

   • Record Keeping

   • Strategic Thinking

   • Scheduling

   • Using Resources

5. Decision-Making

   A huge part of adaptability involves discussion and brainstorming, however, it’s of equal importance that you can make final decisions. There are many great options for how to go about handling a project or situation, but it comes down to following through with a definitive course of action. A plan can never grow to fruition if it’s never started. Being able to act on your plans is an important skill involved in adaptability.

   Decision-Making Involves:

   • Critical-thinking

   • Problem-solving

   • Leadership abilities

   • Delegation

   • Teamwork

   • Organization

   • Risk Assessment

   • Evaluation

6. Resourcefulness

   Being resourceful is a very helpful skill when it comes to adaptability because it allows you to consider all possible options.
   Resourcefulness means using all the tools at your disposal to get a job done. These resources may not always be so obvious or outlined. Sometimes, you need to use a little bit of creativity to reach an end goal in the best way possible.

   Resourcefulness Involves:

   • Open-Mindedness

   • Communication

   • Innovation

   • Confidence

   • Persistence

   • Building Rapport

   • Research

   • Prioritization

7. Leadership Skills

   Adaptability insinuates strong leadership skills. If you’re seeking a management position, or hope for your career to move in that direction, having adaptability skills can be crucial. Out of everyone involved in a project, it’s most important for a supervisor to be flexible. This is because their attitude will affect the whole team.

   Have you ever worked for a manager who became stressed out at every minor inconvenience, and in turn, the entire team was continually on edge?

   This is a negative environment to work in, and it’ll show in the quality of work and productivity.

   On the other hand, consider a time you worked under a supervisor who always kept their cool and found solutions, even when faced with considerable difficulty.

   An adaptable leader motivates their team to do better, and that can greatly improve overall work performance.

   Leadership Skills Include:

   • Strong Communication

   • Delegating

   • Decision-making

   • Organization

   • Dependability

   • Confidence

   • Honesty

   • Giving and Receiving Feedback

   • Interpersonal Skills

8. Stress Management

   Adapting to change can be stressful, even if you’re a seasoned professional when it comes to flexibility. Being able to effectively manage stress and channel it into finding a solution is a vital adaptability skill. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the workplace when the unexpected happens, but crucial to maintain a calm, and professional attitude.

   Stress Management Involves:

   • Keeping an Optimistic Outlook

   • Confidence

   • Logical Reasoning

   • Setting realistic goals

   • Time Management

   • Emotion Regulation

   • Accepting what you can’t control

Why Adaptability Skills Are Important

Adaptability skills are important to applicants at any level. An adaptable applicant will provide higher quality to their work, and be a better employee to work with. For entry-level candidates, adaptability skills can demonstrate a candidate who will thrive regardless of difficulties and has room to grow with more responsibilities.

When applying for a management role, it can make your application stand out immensely to explain a time you handled a workplace change productively.

Being adaptable is crucial for supervisors because their team is going to be following their approach. A leader who establishes a tone of panic or stress during a period of change will surely pass this energy onto their staff.

When employers are hiring, they aren’t just seeking an applicant who has the necessary experience to fill the role adequately. They want the whole package, which includes relevant soft skills in addition to former experience.

Adaptability skills can be just as important for you as it is for your employer. Changes always happen, and flexibility can make your life a lot less stressful when it does.

Tips For Improving Adaptability Skills

Adaptability skills can be improved upon, like any other ability. Despite your position or field, working on these skills can greatly enhance the success of your resume. If you only have the time to work on one of your soft skills, make it your adaptability.

Consider implementing one or more of the following tips to upgrade your adaptability skills.

1. Ask Many Questions

   It’s impossible to perform to the best of your capabilities without a clear understanding of what’s expected. Asking questions when needed gives you a better idea of the task at hand, and creates a better chance of you coming up with successful plans.

2. Accept and Analyze Failures

   Not every plan or idea pans out exactly the way you picture it in your head. Failures don’t have to be negative. They give you the chance to learn, grow from your mistakes, and be more successful in the future. Analyzing where things didn’t go as well as expected and figuring out why that happened can help you improve for the next time.

3. Do Things Differently Than Usual

   You may be used to doing things a particular way if you’ve been in an industry for a long time. While it may seem more convenient to stick with the way you’ve always done it, consider different ways of doing things. Even altering the system of small tasks at work can improve productivity and stimulate creative thinking. Already being familiar with switching up your plan can be very helpful for when unexpected situations arise and you need to act quickly.

4. Take Risks

   Adaptability and success are about experimenting with new ideas. Always walking on the safe side could be limiting your adaptability. While you should never take mindless risks, assess what reasonable risks could be a benefit to you and the organization you work for. Stepping outside of your comfort zone makes room for a great deal of innovation.

5. Get More Comfortable With Change

   Dealing with change has a bit of a learning curve. It can be difficult and even scary. Getting comfortable with change and accepting it as an eventual given can greatly improve your adaptability skills when you’re faced with an unexpected situation.

6. Be Willing to Learn

   Nobody knows everything. Especially in the everchanging world we live in. In order to improve your adaptability skills, you must always be open to learning more. This can mean anything from doing a little extra research in your free time to attending courses to extend your current knowledge. Curiosity drives improvement. An eagerness to learn more will always make you a stronger and more adaptable employee.

7. Improve On Your Listening Skills

   There are many strengths associated with adaptability, however, listening skills might be one of the most crucial for improving your skills in this area. Active listening involves full comprehension of what your coworker is explaining through both verbal and nonverbal cues. Improving your listening skills can impact your adaptability by increasing your overall understanding of responsibilities, conflict, and the environment.

8. Be Positive

   One of the best ways you can enhance your adaptability skills is by maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of difficult circumstances. Throwing in the towel and drowning in a sea of complaints never solved anyone’s problems. The first step to developing a productive plan of action and adapting to the situation is to look at the issue through an optimistic lens.

How to Highlight Your Adaptability Skills

If you don’t mention your adaptability skills in your resume and job interviews, they won’t do you much good as far as helping you get a job.

Write your best adaptability skills in the “skills” section of your resume, and in your interview, work in anecdotes of how you adapted to situations. You may even be able to include a few in your resume if they connect with your role responsibilities.

The best way to show hiring managers that you’re adaptable is to be adaptable, so if something goes wrong or something unexpected happens during your interview, use that opportunity to demonstrate your skills firsthand.

How to Highlight Your Adaptability Skills

1. What are examples of adaptability skills?

   Examples of adaptability skills include:

   • Communication.

   • Being able to learn quickly.

   • Problem-solving.

   • Organization.

   • Decision-making.

   • Resourcefulness.

   • Leadership.

   • Stress management.

2. How do you show adaptability in the workplace?

   You show adaptability in the workplace by responding to unexpected challenges or changes with grace and a can-do attitude. By not becoming flustered by the unexpected and finding a way to still accomplish the task you had set out to do, you’ll demonstrate adaptability.

3. Why is adaptability an important skill?

   Adaptability is an important skill because it shows that you’re trustworthy and makes you an easier person to work with. When you’re adaptable, your employer will be able to trust you with more responsibility, since you’ve shown that you can solve problems, are resourceful, and won’t be derailed by something going wrong.

   In addition, being adaptable makes you a generally more pleasant coworker, as you are typically reliable and calm.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.