Adaptability vs Agility

Adaptability and agility are two words that are used interchangeably, often in relation to resilience, but there is a subtle difference. Adaptability is mostly centred around considering all possible options, identifying opportunities and devising a plan, whereas agility is more about having the confidence to take swift and decisive action in the face of unexpected change. So in simple terms the former is about planning for the future, and the latter is about taking swift action in response to unforeseen events. 

How good are you at changing direction? Photo neonbrand cmz-06 Unsplash

I recently attended a webinar, for some CPD, run by Jenny Campbell, founder of “The Resilience Engine”. She highlighted at this event how many of the people she meets are swinging from just about coping to feeling ‘fine’ but never really reaching their optimum resilience. When people ask ‘How are you?’ we often reply ‘fine’ without really thinking about it. Many people are not really fine. Many are just about coping, or possibly struggling. They keep doing what they are doing, even though they know it’s not really working for them, because the thought of doing anything else is too exhausting. They are trapped on the hamster wheel; not a great place to be.

Resilient people are genuinely well, not just ‘fine’. They are enjoying their life, achieving their goals and overcoming unexpected obstacles with relative ease. They are adaptable, seeing opportunities in the evolving world around them, and they take action to overcome unexpected obstacles in an agile way. They understand the importance of continually building their resilience and aim to spend around a third of their time (roughly 35%!) working on their adaptability and openness to change.

Many people find change difficult, and too much of it at once can leave some feeling broken. Has the pandemic, and all the (often unwelcome) change it’s brought, left you at breaking point? If so, perhaps it’s time to focus on rebuilding your resilience reservoir.

Adapting to change can take time; it’s a mental journey. To the untrained eye it might look like procrastination, but that is no bad thing. It’s important to take time to weigh up all the possible outcomes, spot the opportunities, and come up with the best possible plan. Plans do need to be flexible though, and this is where agility comes in. If something suddenly changes, you may need to respond by quickly changing tack. Clarity of thought and confidence in decision-making are critical. Resilient people are better placed to respond well in an agile way, without dither and delay.

We often need to balance our head, heart ad gut before making a decision. Photo 1acy-Varlan4 Unsplash

 Finally, it’s important to be self aware and reflective, and ask honestly, ‘is this working?’. If not, it’s time for a re-think. Don’t get stuck on the hamster wheel, staying on the same track and getting nowhere fast.

If you are interested in finding out more about developing your resilience, why not get in touch? I’d be happy to help.