1

Professional Development Competency—Adaptability

2

To develop a deeper understanding about adaptability, which is the ability to work effectively in changing situations, and with diverse individuals and groups. You can demonstrate flexibility in responding to changes and new opportunities. You remain focused in the face of ambiguity or strenuous demands.

Objective

3

Agenda

Competencies

Adaptability

Preserver/moderate/explorer

Building your adaptability

My next steps

4

Competencies

Champlain College Professional Staff Career Competencies: Fundamental to the successful implementation of our 2020 Strategic Vision. Needed for every staff member.

Functional/Job Competencies: Capabilities needed in order to successfully perform current or future job responsibilities (i.e. marketing, finance, education, technology, etc.).

Leadership Competencies: Needed for successful leadership of a team of individuals.

5

Adaptability Scale

Recognizes the need to adapt

Adapts to the situation

Adapts to widely varied

needs

Adapts plans and goals

Adapts organizational

strategies

6

How Adaptable Are You?

7

Recognizes the Need to Adapt

Expresses willingness to do things differently.

Understands and recognizes the value of other points of view and ways of doing things.

Displays a positive attitude in the face of ambiguity and change.

8

Adapts to the Current Situation

Changes own behavior or approach to suit the situation.

Flexibly applies rules or procedures, while remaining guided by the organization's values.

Adapts behavior to perform effectively under changing or unclear conditions.

9

Adapts to Widely Varied Needs

Adapts to new ideas and initiatives across a wide variety of issues or situations.

Supports and adapts to major changes that challenge traditional ways of operating.

Adapts interpersonal style to highly diverse individuals and groups in a range of situations.

Anticipates change and adapts own plans and priorities accordingly.

10

Adapts Plans and Goals

Adapts organizational or project plans to meet new demands and priorities.

Revises project goals when circumstances demand it.

Recognizes and responds quickly to shifting opportunities and risks.

11

Adapts Organizational Strategies

Adjusts broad/macro organizational strategies, directions, priorities, structures and processes to changing needs in the environment.

Adapts behavior to perform effectively amidst continuous change, ambiguity and, at times, apparent chaos.

Shifts readily between dealing with macro-strategic issues and critical details.

Anticipates and capitalizes on emerging opportunities and risks.

12

How Flexible are You?

13

Styles Under Stress

You are headed out on vacation. You arrive at the airport and your flight has been delayed and you will miss your connection. What do you do?

You have been working on a project for weeks, you are about halfway done, your manager sets up a meeting to let you know the deliverable has changed significantly. What do you do?

You just learn that your office will be moving and the new location is not as desirable as your current location. How do you respond?

14

Adaptability Continuum

15

Preserver

Tends to possess expert knowledge about a job, topic, or subject. Tends to be down-to-earth with a here-and-now view of the present. Approach to work is practical, tactical, and efficient. Comfortable with repetitive kinds of activity in the job. Could be viewed as conservative, too narrow in thinking, set in ways, or rigid. Prefers tried-and-true, traditional methods.

16

Moderate

Tends to be middle of the road and somewhat down-to-earth, but will consider new ways of doing something if convincing evidence is available. Not usually known for creativity or curiosity, but they can surface. May adopt and then expand upon a good idea from someone else. Appreciates both innovation and efficiency, but neither one to the extreme.

17

Explorer

Tends to have a variety of interests. Likes cutting edge technology and strategic ideas. Seeks new experiences, and thinks about the future. May describe self as a strategic thinker, creative, imaginative, or artistic. Is probably more liberal than most and enjoys theory and concepts. May be perceived as impractical and easily bored.

18

Building Your Adaptability

Mental Models

Breaking it down—progress not perfection

Perfectionist? Balance thinking with action

Comfort zone—move to your stretch zone

Get organized

Define/redefine/simplify the problem

Fear of failure

Stress

19

Mental Models—The Stories we Tell Ourselves

Identify your own mental models.

What are the stories you tell yourself about change?

21

Balance Thinking and Action

22

Stretch Zone

Panic Zone

Stretch Zone

Comfort Zone

23

Order out of Chaos

24

Define/Redefine/Simplify the Problem

25

26

Stress

27

Your Next Steps

28

One thing you will practice in the next month to grow your skill in adaptability.

Closing