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Assessing Your Level of Adaptability

We all like to think of ourselves as pretty adaptable. Adaptability is important in any job. But, we are looking for a deeper level of adaptability and using a broader brush stroke for this exercise. You will need to take stock of your transferable skills and their value in the current market. If you are, or have been, entrenched in a position that has a very limited market base, then you will need to step out of your comfort zone and look at other options. For instance, if you are a manager of a company that only has a limited market and there are only three other companies creating the same product, you are boxed into a niche. You will need to expand your skills to meet the needs of a broader audience.

This can also be true of markets that are very large. You may be a clerk in a department store that is eliminating positions. As you have read in the paper or seen on the news, many department stores are eliminating positions. You will need to expand on your skill base to adapt to a larger market than department stores.

It seems that the longer a person does the same type of job, the harder it is to assess adaptability. I have counseled individuals who felt they were very adaptable and could transfer their skills to many different markets. But, after a long discussion about what they would need to learn or change to go to another market, we found that their adaptability level was very low.

If you think that you will be able to maintain the skills you have and transfer those skills to another market without preparation, then you have a low adaptability level.

Rating Your Adaptability Level

Stepping out of our comfort zone is very difficult. But, it is necessary to do so if you wish to succeed in a business environment that requires very fast movement and decision. It is always best, whether you feel secure in your position or not, to continually revisit and enhance your adaptability to change styles, know your markets, and know where your markets are headed. The easiest way to begin is with a grid.

List your talents, skills and expertise on a piece of paper. On the right side have a rating scale of one to five. Some people like one to ten, it is totally up to you. Include in your list, not only the skills you have, but things like customer service, ability to communicate, sales ability, hobbies, interests, things you like to do. If you are on track with a career that is suited to you, you will find that your interests, hobbies, etc., will fall in line pretty well with the rest of your list. However, many people are doing jobs that do not have anything related to what they like to do, or are interested in. After rating yourself, and be honest with yourself when you do this, remember this is something for you, by you, and you aren’t going to share it with anyone. Some lists are pages long, others very short. Let’s look at an example of a list which shows a very low level of adaptability:

Typing-5; Writing-5,Customer Service-5, golfing-5, sales-1,reading-5,research-1,commitment-5,loyalty-5, everything else-5

This person is entrenched in their current profession. They have not researched other markets because they are in their comfort zone. This person will have a very difficult time adapting to any business environment beyond what they are currently in. In other words, this person is going to have a very difficult time adjusting if their company does a downsizing to compete with other companies in the same field that are also downsizing.

If the same list as above contained mostly 1′s and 2′s, there would be an indication of low self esteem, which would also indicate a low adaptability level. So, what is a healthy adaptability level?

There are some skills you will be very good at, and they should be fives. These skills are normally transferable and can be utilized in any business market. The two most important indicators on your list are “sales” and “research.” These two indicators are really what determines your ability to adapt.

We all sell ourselves at some time or other. Even if you don’t think you do, you had to sell yourself to get the position you are currently in, or have just lost. Sales involves research, good communication skills, a general liking of people, and an ability to empathize with the needs of those around you. If you took out the word sales from this sentence you would probably recognize yourself in your list. Most people think that they do not sell, but in reality you do so every day. It is not a bad thing. You are either buying something, or selling something every day in every way. If you are a parent, you have probably told your children, “If you do your homework I will get you an ice cream or other treat.” You are selling a treat, while your child is selling completion of a task. When you think about negotiation with co-workers, your boss, your family, you are selling an idea, concept or request every time you say, “If you do this, I’ll give you that,” or “If I do this, I want that.” Sales is an effective tool and if you acknowledge your ability at this skill you will open many doors to success in areas you never thought of.

Research

It is important that you research not only your market, but other markets. Look at companies with staying power and you will see endless resumes being sent to them by individuals who are attempting to become part of their team. But, when you look at your list after researching a company you will want to see if it fits you. This is where your interests, hobbies, etc., become very important. If you are doing something that you like to do, it is very easy to read about it, be up to date on the latest information and evolve with the product. But, if you are sending resumes to companies based on the skills you currently have and you really didn’t like what you did, or you didn’t feel fulfilled, then you are not going to find the kind of motivation to excel that you will need to succeed.

In many cases, you may be tempted to take the same type of job because the money will be close to what you make, or made at your previous job. Remember, that is what the average person thinks, and 97% of America is average. To open your opportunities for expansion you may need to take less money to start and cut corners in other areas in your private life until you succeed.

I heard an economist recently say that in order to survive the current economic upheaval we should have three months of pay in our savings. If you are like most of us, you just don’t have that. So you will need to figure out a stop-gap that does not include borrowing or credit cards to tie you over through this crisis. But, remember, it is a lot easier to eat macaroni every night and work a job you love, than it is to eat caviar and 1) hate what you’re doing, and 2) know that it could be gone at a moments notice.

Security and Research

In the last few years many companies have added a pre-employment form that when signed allows either party to end the employment at any time. Most of us do not think about this, especially if we have been at our jobs for several years. But, it is there for a reason. How much better for you to be prepared for change that to be hit by it. There is no such thing a job security anymore. Every position, at every level of industry is at risk. This is not bad news, just an opportunity for you to be proactive and create your own security. Which leads us to research.

It is important that you research those markets that fit your skill level and interests. This may mean that you must personally downsize to accomplish greater long-term results. But, it will be worth it to broaden your employment base. When you research markets, you will want to find out what they have to offer and change the way you apply and interview companies. In essence you are interviewing the company. A few red flags are those companies that offer only in-house training and support. These companies are not diversifying their portfolio. They are not encouraging staff to grow and be competitive. When they fold, you will fold. Another red flag is the limitations on the position they are discussing. If you are an innovative thinker and have worked in a cubicle for nine years and are interviewing for a job where you will be working in a cubicle, you are not going to be given an opportunity to excel at the skills you have listed on your grid, or utilize innovation in the position.

I had a friend who recently took a position such as the one above quite by accident. This person was told that the company was innovative, customer service oriented, all of the things that fit with the growth grid. However, after accepting and starting the position they found that there was no opportunity for innovative thought, for contribution or for partnership to grow the business. This was a terrible fit, and because the individual had been counseled and knew the company was not meeting any of the needs of the individual, they took advantage of the “either party can leave at any time” clause. I am sure that creating this form was not intended to allow employees to take advantage of the opportunity, but it is there and companies can be fired, just as employees can. A bad fit does not mean that you must give up parts of your opportunities for adaptability. It is important that you not see a bad fit as a personal failure. Many times a bad fit is just that, a bad fit. With this knowledge, and the knowledge that there is no such thing as job security anymore, it allows you the freedom to explore your options and find the fit that is best for you.

Building Adaptability

It is important that you take every opportunity to build your adaptability level. In this way you will be prepared for either promotion or voluntary movement. If your company is downsizing, or you see that they are tanking, don’t be naive enough to believe that you will be one of the few who stay through the bad times. Look at the dynamic of the leadership in your company. Are they all related? Are they all friends? Do they promote from within? (and I don’t mean the grandson who worked his way up from the mail room). Where does your companies loyalty lie. If you do not fall into the “protected” category in an obvious way, then don’t assume that you will be protected. Begin expanding your skills to meet the needs of other markets and customers. Perhaps you are in a position to begin your own company based upon your interests and hobbies. If so, now is the time to take courses to support that move. Training is of the utmost importance, growth is important, and the need to expand your sales skills is important.

Final Thoughts

Many people are at the edge at this time. Either they will take flight and soar like eagles, or they will fall and crash like lemmings. It is really a matter of choice. Changing careers or jobs, whether by choice or not, is very scary. It can be traumatic when we have others depending on us. But, remember, you can be part of the 3% that soar or the 97% that fall, that is your choice. If you need career counseling, training, or research data it is available. It is my belief that, given the correct tools, anyone can soar and I believe that by looking deep within yourself you will find the eagle just waiting to take off.

For more information on the subject you have just read or if you would like Spencer, Weldon and Associates Business Services Department to provide leadership,management training,team building of transition counseling email spencerweldon@comcast.net or visit our website at http://www.spencerweldon.vpweb.com

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