In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving ecosystem, one skill stands out as crucial for success: our AQ, or Adaptability Quotient. In this article, we will explore how to enhance our AQ, which refers to our ability to adapt to new situations and challenges. By embracing change, overcoming resistance to new ideas, and cultivating a growth mindset, we can learn from failures and setbacks to foster personal and professional growth.

 

Drawing insights from tennis

A while back, I made the decision to teach myself how to play tennis, primarily to spend quality time with my son and support his passion for the sport. However, my self-taught approach resulted in significant weaknesses in my game. I had an incorrect grip, an improper stance, and flawed technique overall.

Recognising that I had hit a plateau while my son continued to improve, I realised the importance of seeking professional guidance. It was only when my son’s coach approached me after a match and suggested, "Have you ever considered taking private tennis lessons?" that I decided to invest in professional training. With the coach's assistance, I underwent a complete transformation of my grip, posture, and serve – essentially, revamping my entire game.

It felt very uncomfortable!

 

However, the outcome was undeniably worthwhile, as my gameplay significantly improved. During this journey, I learned a vital lesson: when facing crucial shots, I would revert back to my old grip out of habit and comfort.

“When I needed my NEW GRIP the most, I went to my OLD GRIP.”


This realisation resonated with me, helping me understand why many individuals struggle to make lasting changes in their lives. Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions. It's all too easy to fall back into old habits, despite knowing that a new approach may yield greater long-term benefits.

“We often resist change, because we focus on 
what we have to give up instead of what we have to gain.”

 

However, similar to my tennis experience, when we invest effort into change, we can achieve our goals and overcome the comfort of our old ways. So, I encourage you to embrace the discomfort that accompanies change, because the rewards are truly worth it.

 

Deep dive into AQ

By developing our AQ, we cultivate the necessary skills to adapt to new situations, overcome challenges, and thrive in our ever-evolving world. A high AQ enables us to:

  • Determine what's relevant
  • Forget obsolete knowledge
  • Overcome challenges and adjust to change, in real time

 Head silouette with circle diagram of: 01 Learn, 02 Unlearn, 03 Relearn


Developing strong leadership skills requires a focus on AQ, encompassing three key aspects:

1. LEARN
 …new knowledge and skills.

 

2. UNLEARN
 … and letting go of outdated or irrelevant information.

 

3. RELEARN
 …which is our ability to overcome challenges and adjust to change in real time.

 

Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth. It involves acquiring new knowledge and skills to keep up with the dynamic world around us. To facilitate this process, we must be willing to unlearn outdated or irrelevant information. 

Therefore, we must give ourselves permission to unlearn what we think we know, to create space to relearn what we need to know in the new world.

 

As futurist Alvin Toffler once stated, those who will succeed in the future are not the most knowledgeable, but those who have learned how to learn, unlearn and relearn. 

However, letting go of what we have learned can be challenging (like my old tennis grip). We often cling tightly to familiar concepts, inhibiting our growth. As Jack Welch aptly noted:

“If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.” 
Jack Welch


Overcoming this mindset of "knowing it all" is crucial for embracing new possibilities and unleashing our leadership potential.

Old assumptions limit new possibilities.

Want to learn how to position yourself for success?

Check out the self-paced course 'Building personal resilience'! It burst with powerful strategies to improve your AQ to successfully overcome any obstacles you face.

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Kicking new goals

To move forward and achieve great success, we must reconnect with our vision and purpose (our magic place). Amidst the chaos and whirlwind of life, we often lose sight of our goals.

Understanding where we are currently (our comfort zone) and where we want to go (our vision) is essential. It's important to recognise that: What got us here, won’t get us there! Embracing new collective thinking becomes the secret ingredient, enabling us to better understand our challenges and develop improved approaches to tackle them.

Collaboration lies at the heart of this process. 

 

“The most valuable resource that we all have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.” 
John Meehan

 

Whether within a team, organisation, or community, coming together and making decisions collectively is crucial. By taking charge of our destiny, we position ourselves for success and gain a significant advantage in achieving our goals. Because if we don’t make decisions for ourselves, together, then somebody else will do it for us.

 

Positioning ourselves for success

We must resist being conditioned by external influences and instead position ourselves in the best possible space to ‘kick new goals’. 

Let’s explore another sports example:   When we watch a soccer game, we can observe that most people, especially the ones who start out, are where the ball is, following the ball around the field like a swarm of bees.

However, the greatest players are not where the ball is. The greatest players are where the ball is going to be. And the Ronaldo’s and the Messi’s don’t only know where they are on the field, they also know where everybody else is on the field. They are not too busy chasing the ball.

Just as great soccer players anticipate where the ball will be, leaders must also think strategically. It involves looking ahead and considering where we are, where others are, and where the future will lead us. This proactive mindset enables us to identify areas where we may need to learn, unlearn, and relearn to stay ahead of the game.

For instance, modern leaders might need to:

  • Learn new technologies
  • Unlearn traditional gender roles and bias
  • Relearn the importance of sustainability

 

  • Learn to adapt to changing customer preferences
  • Unlearn individualism and silos
  • Relearn the importance of community engagement

 

  • Learn to prioritise mental health and work-life balance
  • Unlearn a toxic workplace culture
  • Relearn a commitment to life-long learning (a cornerstone of leadership development)

 

Remember, old keys don't open new doors, and the same principle applies to our thinking. By strengthening collaboration and challenging the status quo, we open ourselves up to new possibilities. As Wayne Dyer wisely said:

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
Wayne Dyer

 

So, let's embrace adaptability, nurture our leadership skills, and make a positive impact on ourselves, our teams, organisations, and community. Through continuous learning, unlearning outdated practices, and relearning new approaches, we can enhance our leadership abilities, broaden our horizons, and make a positive impact on ourselves and those around us. Let's embark on this transformative journey, with the understanding that embracing change is a key ingredient to success.

 

Leadership. Success. Unpacked.

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