January 31, 2024 • 18 mins
Adaptability is a way to see opportunity wherever you look, even if you feel like you've failed. In this episode of Mindset Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi share how they make adapting to unplanned professional change a little less daunting - especially in a fast-paced, ever-changing job market.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Mindset, a guide to getting out of your
own way and a blueprint for professional success. Today, Helen
McCabe and Jamila Risby are here to talk about inflexible beliefs,
how they can limit us and how to become more
adaptable and unlock a growth mindset.
(00:22):
Helen, the truth is that being inflexible at work or
being inflexible about your search for work can be really detrimental.
Is that something that you've observed either in yourself or
amongst others?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yes, I think, um, for many of our members that
come into the FW Jobs Academy,
Uh, they've had a pretty rough run. So they've, um,
taken career breaks, raised children, had some family violence or
a disabled child, or some quite complex caring needs, and
they've become quite hardened and tough, and they've had to be.
(01:00):
So when they've gone looking for work, um, have got
quite inflexible ideas about what work is and what that,
what it needs to be, uh, in order to work
within their caring responsibilities. So this is not intended to
be a criticism of them. It's completely understandable. Uh, and
what happens in the process of joining the academy is
(01:20):
that we open up their mindset to a range of
possibilities and ways of thinking about working in
The modern era, both, um, whether it be remote or
online or part time, um, and with a range of
new opportunities that are on offer, because of, um, substantial
skills gaps in key areas. So, I see it all
(01:42):
the time. Um, it doesn't last that long, um, because
these women are often incredibly unique and capable, uh, and
have an enorm.
An amount to offer. So it doesn't take that long, but, um,
that inflexibility is a period of time, uh, in terms
of their job search. And what we're attempting to do
in this podcast is to speed up that process and say, um,
(02:05):
these are the sorts of things you might be inflexible about,
and you don't need to be.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
And, you know, when it comes to the job search
process or you're trying to seek a promotion or, or,
or move ahead in the workforce, flexibility is really useful
and really important. And I think in a rapidly changing
work environment with technology and shifting markets and all sorts
of things right now, adaptability is in demand.
But when you're talking about individuals who have faced challenges
(02:32):
and inequalities like some of those you just described, being
inflexible is exactly what you have to be. You have
to be firm, you have to have boundaries, you have
to be really clear on what you will and won't do,
and what is and what isn't possible, what you can.
And can't afford at different points in time, emotionally and
financially and physically, to keep yourself safe and to keep
(02:52):
yourself well and to care for others. So if you've
been working and operating in an environment where it has
required you to be inflexible, then trying to move to
a place in the job search where you have to
embrace flexibility, that's always gonna be a little bit tricky.
It's absolutely doable, but that's always gonna feel a bit
uncomfortable when you first, when you first embark on it.
(03:13):
So maybe it's worth us, us pausing for a moment
and for saying, why is flexibility so important, um, not
just in the job search, but also in work, in
the paid workforce.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, so accepting that, um, you have had some difficult
circumstances and have reasons for inflexibility, let's look at the value, um,
where it's appropriate to being flexible. And that is, it's
super important for teamwork. You know, if you're gonna fit into, um,
A group dynamic, then you're going to have to show
(03:44):
flexibility because, uh, Jamila, it's something we work hard at
is encouraging differing views and different perspectives. Um, and that
requires flexibility. If, if, if you've got a whole bunch
of people with a whole range of diverse views, uh,
then being flexible to, to work through that and work
in that sort of environment is absolutely critical to the
(04:07):
success of your team.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, you're not always gonna agree with the
The outcome that the group comes to. That's the, the
reality of group dynamics. Similarly, the business landscape itself is dynamic.
So organisations, uh, really value employees who can grow with them.
And if you've got a really rigid mindset, that can
limit your ability to acquire new skills or take on
a new opportunity or to embrace change, and that's going
(04:30):
to impede your professional development.
It's also about change and, and innovation, I think, Helen,
as well, in that if you're someone who can embrace
new ideas and you're willing to have a go at
a new type of technology, for example, that's really critical
to staying competitive. And if you're someone who, uh, resists
that kind of change, then you can kind of find
(04:51):
yourself being left behind as the industry evolves around you.
The pace of
Speaker 2 (04:54):
change that we have seen.
In the last 20 years is only going to quadruple.
It is, um, unstoppable. So if you are struggling with
the updates on your iPhone or the, the latest, um,
Uber app, uh, technology, then strap in because that's not
slowing down. It's gonna get, um, more and more complex
(05:17):
and
Um, more and more demands for us to keep upskilling. So,
we're going to be asked to be adaptable more than
ever before. Um, I'd just say the flip side of
that is, things get easier and they get more intuitive.
So the technology actually, um, becomes easier to, to understand,
but you can't remain resistant to it because it's, it's unstoppable.
So if
Speaker 1 (05:36):
you are sitting there feeling
Personally victimised and attacked by us right now. If you're
feeling like maybe you are someone who is a bit stubborn,
a bit stuck in your ways, and if you're struggling
to move forwards in your career or to embrace options
that are maybe outside your comfort zone when it comes
to jobs, firstly, like, don't beat yourself up. Welcome to
the club. Like, we've all got a bit or even
(05:59):
a lot of that. Um,
Uh, the one of the best, uh, examples I can
give that I, I remember laughing about when I first
read it was a study that was done by Carol
Dweck around fixed and growth mindset. And she gave a
whole group of kids around age 7 or 8, I think, um,
a puzzle, and they all got to do their puzzle.
And then after it, she said, Do you want to
(06:20):
do the same puzzle again, or would you like to
do a different harder puzzle?
And almost all the kids were like, oh we want,
we want to do a different harder puzzle. And she
then redid the experiment with older and older kids, and
the older you got, the more likely you were to
want to do the puzzle that you already had had
a go at.
And that is an example of fixed mindset. We like
doing things where we're safe. We like doing things where
(06:41):
we know we're gonna be OK, where we've done it before,
where we feel like our experience and our skills are gonna,
are gonna mean that we're fine. We like familiarity, we
like routine. That's what humans are like. So, I think
you've got to be kind to yourself.
Don't beat yourself up about the fact that this is
something you struggle with, but with that kindness, you do
need to start challenging yourself a little bit and saying,
(07:03):
Where is this resistance to change coming from? Why am
I telling myself that there is safety in what I
already know? Because actually, when it comes to the job market,
There isn't safety in what we already know because this
market is changing so fast, and what's demanded of employees
is changing so fast. So you gotta go with it,
because staying stuck isn't
Speaker 2 (07:23):
gonna work. And it doesn't need to be scary. It
just needs to be, it just needs, it just means
you need to be on top of it.
Um, and just taking a little bit of time, almost
every week or every day, just to challenge yourself a
little bit, um, to keep following what the trends are
and what the releases are and where the market's going
so that you can start, because it's actually not scary.
(07:45):
It's just, um,
It requires a little bit of commitment.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, it does. So let's talk about the, the benefits
instead of the, the bits that are hard. Let's talk
about the benefits of cultivating your adaptability, because this is
a highly valued, uh, personal trait, it's also a highly
valued professional trait.
And if it's something that feels elusive to you, it
is something that can be practised. It's something that can
(08:09):
be cultivated. So, uh, Helen, maybe we, we start by
trying to explain why adaptability is such a positive. Uh,
Speaker 2 (08:17):
well, it is definitely identified as one of the, um,
transferable soft skills that will, that employers will, um, test
for and demand in, um, hires. So, firstly, um, just
get used to the idea.
The idea of adaptability. Just start talking about adaptability. That
would be, that would be my, my first tip. Um,
but navigating, um, change successfully is inevitable. Individuals who are
(08:42):
adaptable and can navigate transitions, whether they are related to
technological advancements or organisational restructuring, or shifts in personal circumstances
with a greater ease than the next person will be
likely to be the employee.
Um, that succeeds in the future. A study published in
the Journal of Business and Technical Communication emphasised the need
(09:05):
for professionals to adapt to changing industry requirements to remain competitive.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
That's right. Increased resilience, folks. So adaptability is really closely
linked to resilience. So that means you are better able
to bounce back from setbacks if you are adaptable. So
this is something that we can
And actively cultivate. I feel like resilience is one of
those words that just gets thrown around all the time,
and it's like, how do I get me some resilience?
(09:32):
How do I get my kids some resilience? Do I
buy something at the shop? No, you can't, but what
you can do is you can cultivate your adaptability and
you can work on becoming more adaptable. And that means
that when you are coming up against, um, unexpected obstacles
or setbacks or failures, you are going to be able
to adapt in those circumstances and find that positive attitude
that's gonna move you.
(09:52):
forward. So that's a, a, an element of psychological resilience,
and employees who demonstrate adaptability are better able to cope
with stresses and maintain their well-being in the face of
workplace challenges. You're gonna be a more resilient
Speaker 2 (10:05):
employee. Communication. So adaptability often goes hand in hand with
effective communication skills. Um, I can't stress this, um, enough either.
These are the skills that employers will be looking for
in the future, and they're also things you can kind
of get good at, um, rather than a
You know, a difficult maths degree, just get really good
at communication. Um, those who can adapt their communication style
(10:28):
to different audiences and situations are more likely to build
strong relationships and collaborate successfully with diverse groups of people.
Research published in the International Journal of Business Communication emphasises
the importance of adaptive communication in the workplace in particular.
The study highlights that effective communication, including the ability to
(10:52):
adjust communication styles based on the context, is crucial for
organisational success. And I think, Jamilla, we learned that through
the pandemic, where we had to communicate all fully virtually,
and we hired people that we never met face to
face for some years later. So
Speaker 1 (11:12):
true.
Uh, and finally, folks, career advancement in the professional realm,
adaptability is a really key factor for career success, for
getting you the job, for getting you the promotion. Employers
value employees who can adapt to changing roles, employees who
can learn new skills, employees who contribute positively, even when
the work environment is evolving. And I think we've all
(11:33):
worked in one of those environments where things are changing
fast and there's someone that's at the table or in
the office who's
Going, Oh, no, we shouldn't. No, we shouldn't. We should
stay where we are. We shouldn't do that. We shouldn't
do this. And it's difficult to manage someone who is
so anti-change. So, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs
report has highlighted consistently that adaptability is a key skill
(11:57):
for career advancement in the 2020s and beyond, and the
ability to learn new skills and adapt to changing job
requirements is going to be crucial as we navigate this
rapidly evolving job market.
So, Helen, I feel like we've definitely convinced everyone that
they need to be more adaptable, but the question then comes,
how do you do, how do you do that? How
do you become less rigid and more open to change, um, strategies, ideas?
(12:22):
How do
Speaker 2 (12:22):
you do that? Yeah, it is, it's a really good
one because, you know, you're just talking about the, the
colleague in the room that's always against change and change
makes them nervous. Um,
So, firstly, develop that self-awareness. Um, start to sit outside
yourself and go, are you likely to be that person who, well,
it wasn't done like that when I was working in
(12:43):
my twenties, why are we doing it now, the old ways, the, the,
the best, all that sort of thing. Um, so reflect
on your own attitudes and behaviours, identify areas where you
tend to be inflexible, and we all are.
Um, and understand the reasons behind why you're resistant to change.
Is it fear? Uh, is it lack of confidence, um,
(13:03):
or is it past negative experiences? And, you know, and I,
and I think I was definitely one of those people
who was resistance to change, and I'm actually got to
the other side of that now, and I, I love it.
I love change, yeah. I think it's great, it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Another way
You can become more adaptable. Everyone is to start to
challenge your assumptions. So this can be something that feels
quite uncomfortable, but is worthwhile. So, question your beliefs, question
your assumptions about the way things should be done. If
in your head, when change is happening at work or
changing in your search for work, if your brain is going, No, no, no, no, no,
but we've always done it this way. So this is
(13:36):
the wrong way, maybe
The current way is not the best way. We need
to really consider alternative perspectives, be open to the possibility
that there might be a different, equally valid approach. And that,
that's really complex when you're loyal to, to the way
things are currently done.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Don't ever be the person that you hear saying, that's
not the way we do it around here. And the
moment you feel that, think that,
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Time for the next thing.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Because, well, either leave or do that self-reflection. Um, seek feedback,
request feedback from colleagues, supervisors, mentors, um, anyone that you value, um,
about your openness to change, um, and use the constructive
feedback as a tool for improvement and
Speaker 1 (14:18):
growth. And try to set realistic goals. So, break down
your larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. If you're achieving small, uh,
successes along the way,
Making you a little bit more adaptable, not all at once,
but a little bit at a time. That is gonna
mean that you're more open to taking on the bigger
challenges when they come. And stay curious. Curiosity is such
(14:38):
an undervalued trait in, in, in my belief. Um, being
curious about new ideas, technologies, approaches, being curious about new
people coming into a workplace or new opportunities coming your way.
Um, that's a way to stay relevant, to stay engaged,
to stay interested. And there's nothing better than someone who's curious.
They're the most interesting
Speaker 2 (14:59):
people. Yeah, curious is different from questioning. Um, it, it's,
it is, uh, exactly as it sounds. Uh, it's not,
it's not judgmental, it's just interested, um, and it is
worth cultivating. You mentioned a growth versus a fixed mindset earlier.
(15:19):
You told us all about.
Fixed. What's a growth mindset? Yeah,
Speaker 1 (15:24):
good question. So this was me talking about the puzzles, folks. So, a,
a growth mindset, just to reiterate, is when you believe
that your intelligence and your talents can be developed over time,
that you can improve, you can get better, that your
capacity can expand. A fixed mindset means you believe, often subconsciously,
that your intelligence is fixed. So you think that if
(15:45):
you're not good at something, you're never gonna be good
at that.
And even as I say that, I can think of
all these things where I have a fixed mindset around them,
where I'm like, oh, no, I'm not good at that stuff. Like,
I've never been good at that. Uh, and I'm not
saying that you need to challenge every single element in
your life that perhaps, um, there's been something that you
didn't love and so you avoided it and you don't
(16:05):
want to go there. But where things are interacting and
intersecting with the work that you do, maybe it's worth
challenging it.
So, a growth mindset recognises that setbacks are part of learning,
that you do not have to be perfect at everything,
that you are allowed to get it wrong. And a
growth mindset is something that people who are quite courageous have,
people who are courageous who are comfortable with failing, comfortable
(16:28):
with trying again. They tend to be more resilient, more successful,
and more content. People with fixed mindsets tend to avoid
challenges in order to protect themselves from failure. So they
feel threatened by the success of others, others, and they
can easily give up.
There's a whole heap of ways that we can start
to nurture that growth mindset. So embracing new opportunities to learn,
even if you feel a bit scared. Um, when you
(16:50):
get feedback, try to think of it as a source
of information, not a source of personal criticism, and remind
yourself that to master something takes effort. I feel like
this is something I say to my eight year old
all the time, that we don't get born good at
doing something. We have to practise it.
And it doesn't come quickly. Mastery requires a long time
(17:10):
and a lot of work. And if you want to
be extraordinary at something, you gotta stick with it. You
gotta really put the effort in. Um, I go back
to that, to that, uh, study that I, I suggested before.
It's not often that studies feel pithy, but to me,
sometimes when I am really frustrated or don't want to
try something or feel anxious or scared or go, No, no, no,
(17:31):
that's not for me, I literally will say to myself
in my head,
Do the harder puzzle. Choose the hard puzzle. Stop doing
the same damn puzzle again. It's not fun. That's not fun.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's how you get growth. Um, I mentioned Turia Pitt
earlier in a podcast, um, and this reminds me of
talking to a coach of an AFL football team last week.
I'm in Melbourne, so it makes sense to Melbourne listeners. Um,
and they were talking about draught picks, and he was, um,
number 38, and
Um, that's a long way down, uh, in, um, you know,
(18:03):
day one, a draught pick, uh, hype. And he went
on to be, um, uh, one of the best players
in the competition. He went on to be a captain
of a team. He went on to win Grand Finals,
and he's now coach of a team. And, you know,
I was listening and he's not tall, and he was
not the fastest, um, but he worked harder than anyone else.
And that's a growth mindset.
(18:27):
Mindset is
Speaker 1 (18:28):
created by FW Jobs Academy with support from the Australian
government's Office for Women.
Welcome to Mindset, a guide to getting out of your
own way and a blueprint for professional success. Today, Helen
McCabe and Jamila Risby are here to talk about inflexible beliefs,
how they can limit us and how to become more
adaptable and unlock a growth mindset.
(00:22):
Helen, the truth is that being inflexible at work or
being inflexible about your search for work can be really detrimental.
Is that something that you've observed either in yourself or
amongst others?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yes, I think, um, for many of our members that
come into the FW Jobs Academy,
Uh, they've had a pretty rough run. So they've, um,
taken career breaks, raised children, had some family violence or
a disabled child, or some quite complex caring needs, and
they've become quite hardened and tough, and they've had to be.
(01:00):
So when they've gone looking for work, um, have got
quite inflexible ideas about what work is and what that,
what it needs to be, uh, in order to work
within their caring responsibilities. So this is not intended to
be a criticism of them. It's completely understandable. Uh, and
what happens in the process of joining the academy is
(01:20):
that we open up their mindset to a range of
possibilities and ways of thinking about working in
The modern era, both, um, whether it be remote or
online or part time, um, and with a range of
new opportunities that are on offer, because of, um, substantial
skills gaps in key areas. So, I see it all
(01:42):
the time. Um, it doesn't last that long, um, because
these women are often incredibly unique and capable, uh, and
have an enorm.
An amount to offer. So it doesn't take that long, but, um,
that inflexibility is a period of time, uh, in terms
of their job search. And what we're attempting to do
in this podcast is to speed up that process and say, um,
(02:05):
these are the sorts of things you might be inflexible about,
and you don't need to be.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
And, you know, when it comes to the job search
process or you're trying to seek a promotion or, or,
or move ahead in the workforce, flexibility is really useful
and really important. And I think in a rapidly changing
work environment with technology and shifting markets and all sorts
of things right now, adaptability is in demand.
But when you're talking about individuals who have faced challenges
(02:32):
and inequalities like some of those you just described, being
inflexible is exactly what you have to be. You have
to be firm, you have to have boundaries, you have
to be really clear on what you will and won't do,
and what is and what isn't possible, what you can.
And can't afford at different points in time, emotionally and
financially and physically, to keep yourself safe and to keep
(02:52):
yourself well and to care for others. So if you've
been working and operating in an environment where it has
required you to be inflexible, then trying to move to
a place in the job search where you have to
embrace flexibility, that's always gonna be a little bit tricky.
It's absolutely doable, but that's always gonna feel a bit
uncomfortable when you first, when you first embark on it.
(03:13):
So maybe it's worth us, us pausing for a moment
and for saying, why is flexibility so important, um, not
just in the job search, but also in work, in
the paid workforce.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, so accepting that, um, you have had some difficult
circumstances and have reasons for inflexibility, let's look at the value, um,
where it's appropriate to being flexible. And that is, it's
super important for teamwork. You know, if you're gonna fit into, um,
A group dynamic, then you're going to have to show
(03:44):
flexibility because, uh, Jamila, it's something we work hard at
is encouraging differing views and different perspectives. Um, and that
requires flexibility. If, if, if you've got a whole bunch
of people with a whole range of diverse views, uh,
then being flexible to, to work through that and work
in that sort of environment is absolutely critical to the
(04:07):
success of your team.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, you're not always gonna agree with the
The outcome that the group comes to. That's the, the
reality of group dynamics. Similarly, the business landscape itself is dynamic.
So organisations, uh, really value employees who can grow with them.
And if you've got a really rigid mindset, that can
limit your ability to acquire new skills or take on
a new opportunity or to embrace change, and that's going
(04:30):
to impede your professional development.
It's also about change and, and innovation, I think, Helen,
as well, in that if you're someone who can embrace
new ideas and you're willing to have a go at
a new type of technology, for example, that's really critical
to staying competitive. And if you're someone who, uh, resists
that kind of change, then you can kind of find
(04:51):
yourself being left behind as the industry evolves around you.
The pace of
Speaker 2 (04:54):
change that we have seen.
In the last 20 years is only going to quadruple.
It is, um, unstoppable. So if you are struggling with
the updates on your iPhone or the, the latest, um,
Uber app, uh, technology, then strap in because that's not
slowing down. It's gonna get, um, more and more complex
(05:17):
and
Um, more and more demands for us to keep upskilling. So,
we're going to be asked to be adaptable more than
ever before. Um, I'd just say the flip side of
that is, things get easier and they get more intuitive.
So the technology actually, um, becomes easier to, to understand,
but you can't remain resistant to it because it's, it's unstoppable.
So if
Speaker 1 (05:36):
you are sitting there feeling
Personally victimised and attacked by us right now. If you're
feeling like maybe you are someone who is a bit stubborn,
a bit stuck in your ways, and if you're struggling
to move forwards in your career or to embrace options
that are maybe outside your comfort zone when it comes
to jobs, firstly, like, don't beat yourself up. Welcome to
the club. Like, we've all got a bit or even
(05:59):
a lot of that. Um,
Uh, the one of the best, uh, examples I can
give that I, I remember laughing about when I first
read it was a study that was done by Carol
Dweck around fixed and growth mindset. And she gave a
whole group of kids around age 7 or 8, I think, um,
a puzzle, and they all got to do their puzzle.
And then after it, she said, Do you want to
(06:20):
do the same puzzle again, or would you like to
do a different harder puzzle?
And almost all the kids were like, oh we want,
we want to do a different harder puzzle. And she
then redid the experiment with older and older kids, and
the older you got, the more likely you were to
want to do the puzzle that you already had had
a go at.
And that is an example of fixed mindset. We like
doing things where we're safe. We like doing things where
(06:41):
we know we're gonna be OK, where we've done it before,
where we feel like our experience and our skills are gonna,
are gonna mean that we're fine. We like familiarity, we
like routine. That's what humans are like. So, I think
you've got to be kind to yourself.
Don't beat yourself up about the fact that this is
something you struggle with, but with that kindness, you do
need to start challenging yourself a little bit and saying,
(07:03):
Where is this resistance to change coming from? Why am
I telling myself that there is safety in what I
already know? Because actually, when it comes to the job market,
There isn't safety in what we already know because this
market is changing so fast, and what's demanded of employees
is changing so fast. So you gotta go with it,
because staying stuck isn't
Speaker 2 (07:23):
gonna work. And it doesn't need to be scary. It
just needs to be, it just needs, it just means
you need to be on top of it.
Um, and just taking a little bit of time, almost
every week or every day, just to challenge yourself a
little bit, um, to keep following what the trends are
and what the releases are and where the market's going
so that you can start, because it's actually not scary.
(07:45):
It's just, um,
It requires a little bit of commitment.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Yeah, it does. So let's talk about the, the benefits
instead of the, the bits that are hard. Let's talk
about the benefits of cultivating your adaptability, because this is
a highly valued, uh, personal trait, it's also a highly
valued professional trait.
And if it's something that feels elusive to you, it
is something that can be practised. It's something that can
(08:09):
be cultivated. So, uh, Helen, maybe we, we start by
trying to explain why adaptability is such a positive. Uh,
Speaker 2 (08:17):
well, it is definitely identified as one of the, um,
transferable soft skills that will, that employers will, um, test
for and demand in, um, hires. So, firstly, um, just
get used to the idea.
The idea of adaptability. Just start talking about adaptability. That
would be, that would be my, my first tip. Um,
but navigating, um, change successfully is inevitable. Individuals who are
(08:42):
adaptable and can navigate transitions, whether they are related to
technological advancements or organisational restructuring, or shifts in personal circumstances
with a greater ease than the next person will be
likely to be the employee.
Um, that succeeds in the future. A study published in
the Journal of Business and Technical Communication emphasised the need
(09:05):
for professionals to adapt to changing industry requirements to remain competitive.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
That's right. Increased resilience, folks. So adaptability is really closely
linked to resilience. So that means you are better able
to bounce back from setbacks if you are adaptable. So
this is something that we can
And actively cultivate. I feel like resilience is one of
those words that just gets thrown around all the time,
and it's like, how do I get me some resilience?
(09:32):
How do I get my kids some resilience? Do I
buy something at the shop? No, you can't, but what
you can do is you can cultivate your adaptability and
you can work on becoming more adaptable. And that means
that when you are coming up against, um, unexpected obstacles
or setbacks or failures, you are going to be able
to adapt in those circumstances and find that positive attitude
that's gonna move you.
(09:52):
forward. So that's a, a, an element of psychological resilience,
and employees who demonstrate adaptability are better able to cope
with stresses and maintain their well-being in the face of
workplace challenges. You're gonna be a more resilient
Speaker 2 (10:05):
employee. Communication. So adaptability often goes hand in hand with
effective communication skills. Um, I can't stress this, um, enough either.
These are the skills that employers will be looking for
in the future, and they're also things you can kind
of get good at, um, rather than a
You know, a difficult maths degree, just get really good
at communication. Um, those who can adapt their communication style
(10:28):
to different audiences and situations are more likely to build
strong relationships and collaborate successfully with diverse groups of people.
Research published in the International Journal of Business Communication emphasises
the importance of adaptive communication in the workplace in particular.
The study highlights that effective communication, including the ability to
(10:52):
adjust communication styles based on the context, is crucial for
organisational success. And I think, Jamilla, we learned that through
the pandemic, where we had to communicate all fully virtually,
and we hired people that we never met face to
face for some years later. So
Speaker 1 (11:12):
true.
Uh, and finally, folks, career advancement in the professional realm,
adaptability is a really key factor for career success, for
getting you the job, for getting you the promotion. Employers
value employees who can adapt to changing roles, employees who
can learn new skills, employees who contribute positively, even when
the work environment is evolving. And I think we've all
(11:33):
worked in one of those environments where things are changing
fast and there's someone that's at the table or in
the office who's
Going, Oh, no, we shouldn't. No, we shouldn't. We should
stay where we are. We shouldn't do that. We shouldn't
do this. And it's difficult to manage someone who is
so anti-change. So, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs
report has highlighted consistently that adaptability is a key skill
(11:57):
for career advancement in the 2020s and beyond, and the
ability to learn new skills and adapt to changing job
requirements is going to be crucial as we navigate this
rapidly evolving job market.
So, Helen, I feel like we've definitely convinced everyone that
they need to be more adaptable, but the question then comes,
how do you do, how do you do that? How
do you become less rigid and more open to change, um, strategies, ideas?
(12:22):
How do
Speaker 2 (12:22):
you do that? Yeah, it is, it's a really good
one because, you know, you're just talking about the, the
colleague in the room that's always against change and change
makes them nervous. Um,
So, firstly, develop that self-awareness. Um, start to sit outside
yourself and go, are you likely to be that person who, well,
it wasn't done like that when I was working in
(12:43):
my twenties, why are we doing it now, the old ways, the, the,
the best, all that sort of thing. Um, so reflect
on your own attitudes and behaviours, identify areas where you
tend to be inflexible, and we all are.
Um, and understand the reasons behind why you're resistant to change.
Is it fear? Uh, is it lack of confidence, um,
(13:03):
or is it past negative experiences? And, you know, and I,
and I think I was definitely one of those people
who was resistance to change, and I'm actually got to
the other side of that now, and I, I love it.
I love change, yeah. I think it's great, it's exciting.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Another way
You can become more adaptable. Everyone is to start to
challenge your assumptions. So this can be something that feels
quite uncomfortable, but is worthwhile. So, question your beliefs, question
your assumptions about the way things should be done. If
in your head, when change is happening at work or
changing in your search for work, if your brain is going, No, no, no, no, no,
but we've always done it this way. So this is
(13:36):
the wrong way, maybe
The current way is not the best way. We need
to really consider alternative perspectives, be open to the possibility
that there might be a different, equally valid approach. And that,
that's really complex when you're loyal to, to the way
things are currently done.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Don't ever be the person that you hear saying, that's
not the way we do it around here. And the
moment you feel that, think that,
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Time for the next thing.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Because, well, either leave or do that self-reflection. Um, seek feedback,
request feedback from colleagues, supervisors, mentors, um, anyone that you value, um,
about your openness to change, um, and use the constructive
feedback as a tool for improvement and
Speaker 1 (14:18):
growth. And try to set realistic goals. So, break down
your larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. If you're achieving small, uh,
successes along the way,
Making you a little bit more adaptable, not all at once,
but a little bit at a time. That is gonna
mean that you're more open to taking on the bigger
challenges when they come. And stay curious. Curiosity is such
(14:38):
an undervalued trait in, in, in my belief. Um, being
curious about new ideas, technologies, approaches, being curious about new
people coming into a workplace or new opportunities coming your way.
Um, that's a way to stay relevant, to stay engaged,
to stay interested. And there's nothing better than someone who's curious.
They're the most interesting
Speaker 2 (14:59):
people. Yeah, curious is different from questioning. Um, it, it's,
it is, uh, exactly as it sounds. Uh, it's not,
it's not judgmental, it's just interested, um, and it is
worth cultivating. You mentioned a growth versus a fixed mindset earlier.
(15:19):
You told us all about.
Fixed. What's a growth mindset? Yeah,
Speaker 1 (15:24):
good question. So this was me talking about the puzzles, folks. So, a,
a growth mindset, just to reiterate, is when you believe
that your intelligence and your talents can be developed over time,
that you can improve, you can get better, that your
capacity can expand. A fixed mindset means you believe, often subconsciously,
that your intelligence is fixed. So you think that if
(15:45):
you're not good at something, you're never gonna be good
at that.
And even as I say that, I can think of
all these things where I have a fixed mindset around them,
where I'm like, oh, no, I'm not good at that stuff. Like,
I've never been good at that. Uh, and I'm not
saying that you need to challenge every single element in
your life that perhaps, um, there's been something that you
didn't love and so you avoided it and you don't
(16:05):
want to go there. But where things are interacting and
intersecting with the work that you do, maybe it's worth
challenging it.
So, a growth mindset recognises that setbacks are part of learning,
that you do not have to be perfect at everything,
that you are allowed to get it wrong. And a
growth mindset is something that people who are quite courageous have,
people who are courageous who are comfortable with failing, comfortable
(16:28):
with trying again. They tend to be more resilient, more successful,
and more content. People with fixed mindsets tend to avoid
challenges in order to protect themselves from failure. So they
feel threatened by the success of others, others, and they
can easily give up.
There's a whole heap of ways that we can start
to nurture that growth mindset. So embracing new opportunities to learn,
even if you feel a bit scared. Um, when you
(16:50):
get feedback, try to think of it as a source
of information, not a source of personal criticism, and remind
yourself that to master something takes effort. I feel like
this is something I say to my eight year old
all the time, that we don't get born good at
doing something. We have to practise it.
And it doesn't come quickly. Mastery requires a long time
(17:10):
and a lot of work. And if you want to
be extraordinary at something, you gotta stick with it. You
gotta really put the effort in. Um, I go back
to that, to that, uh, study that I, I suggested before.
It's not often that studies feel pithy, but to me,
sometimes when I am really frustrated or don't want to
try something or feel anxious or scared or go, No, no, no,
(17:31):
that's not for me, I literally will say to myself
in my head,
Do the harder puzzle. Choose the hard puzzle. Stop doing
the same damn puzzle again. It's not fun. That's not fun.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
That's how you get growth. Um, I mentioned Turia Pitt
earlier in a podcast, um, and this reminds me of
talking to a coach of an AFL football team last week.
I'm in Melbourne, so it makes sense to Melbourne listeners. Um,
and they were talking about draught picks, and he was, um,
number 38, and
Um, that's a long way down, uh, in, um, you know,
(18:03):
day one, a draught pick, uh, hype. And he went
on to be, um, uh, one of the best players
in the competition. He went on to be a captain
of a team. He went on to win Grand Finals,
and he's now coach of a team. And, you know,
I was listening and he's not tall, and he was
not the fastest, um, but he worked harder than anyone else.
And that's a growth mindset.
(18:27):
Mindset is
Speaker 1 (18:28):
created by FW Jobs Academy with support from the Australian
government's Office for Women.
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