Adaptability Quotient: Tips to Improve AQ
According to Inc., Adaptability Quotient (AQ) is “the ability to adapt and thrive in an environment of change. ForbesBooks describes it as “the ability to modify course, product, service and strategy in response to unanticipated market changes.”
Although the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is an intelligence measure and the Emotional Quotient (EQ) is an emotional intelligence measure, the Adaptation Quotient refers more to resilience.
The exponential complexities of our world and the rapid speed of change are catapulting AQ to the podium position as the top ability that employers seek in high-performance talent.
A key aspect of AQ is the ability to learn continuously and quickly.
An IBM study found that owing to automation, 120 million people worldwide would need to be reskilled. In just a few years, the skills we have learned and honed over decades will become outdated. It is essential that individuals constantly question themselves and reinvent themselves to maximize future opportunities. It’s no longer just a matter of competitive advantage: we have to adapt or become obsolete; the ones who don’t move with the times are left behind.
AQ is about being able to more than just learn and adapt to new knowledge. It can also decide what’s important, surmount challenges, and discard obsolete information. It’s about being able to read and respond on early signs, and making a deliberate change effort. In our current climate, when so many of us are saturated with pointless information, this is particularly important. We have to be sifting through the waste to concentrating on what’s really important.
How to improve your Adaptability Quotient
The importance of adaptability quotient cannot be overemphasized…It is something everyone should improve upon; the question now is, how do we improve it?
To some extent, your AQ is down to personality. After all, some of us thrive on change and facing new challenges, while others prefer things to remain the same. But even if you’re someone who naturally shies away from change, that doesn’t mean you can’t develop your AQ.
Just like your IQ and EQ, AQ can be improved through commitment and practice. Think of it like a muscle: the more you exercise it, the stronger and more efficient it becomes.
Highlighted below are are ways you can improve your adaptability quotient;
Be curious
There are three ways to improve your AQ according to Natalie Fratto, vice president at Goldman Sachs. The first is to ask yourself “what if …” questions. Asking yourself these questions allows you to preempt what may happen before it actually happens. This forces our brains to get into gear which helps us better adapt to changes. Since we know change is inevitable, it can give us a great advantage to think about what the transition could look like and how we’ll manage it.
Become an active un-learner
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn“.
Alvin Toffler.
“Active un-learners seek to challenge what they presume to already know, and override that data with new information”. While it’s understandable you might feel wary about the idea of unlearning old information while simultaneously taking in new data, remember that the more you do this, the easier it gets. “Our adaptability is not fixed, each of us has the capacity to improve through dedication and hard work.”
Prioritize exploration over exploitation
“There’s a natural tension between exploration and exploitation.” “Collectively, all of us tend to overvalue exploitation.” If you think about achieving something at work, it’s natural to look at past victories and try to mirror the same winning formulas as before – but this could stifle your ability to evolve. Instead of exploiting past successes we should be exploring new ones, striving to be in “a state of constant seeking”: What’s around the corner? What struggles might we face? How can we improve?
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Culled from: Memory.