It’s a bit of a dance, putting a 40-foot-long rowing boat on a rack.
It takes coordination to avoid damages or injuries. And, as is so often the case, having a single leadership voice ensures that the group moves when it should and stays put when it ought to.
That morning, I was not the leader. I was an “individual contributor” boat mover, listening for commands to safety put away the heavy, awkward boat after our row.
But the commands confused me. The person in charge told me to stay where I was, and he’d move around. But I was between the boat and the rack. How could I stay there and not get squashed? I protested, loudly.
The situation ended awkwardly. I didn’t get squashed by the boat. Afterwards, the leader apologized for the confusion.
But it was really on me. I had an idea of how the procedure “should” go and ignored signs it was happening otherwise.
I missed a chance to demonstrate the under-appreciated leadership skill of adaptability.
Most leaders are aware they need to be adaptable about WHAT they work on. Projects and priorities change.
Instead, I often see resistance to HOW the work is done. For example, when:
- The audience asks questions all over your carefully crafted presentation, instead of going in order.
- A team member implements a solution differently than you would, but you still need to support them.
- A key stakeholder totally wings the “communication plan,” forcing you to abandon your careful process and improvise.
In these situations, how do you react? Do you find yourself internally repeating how things “should” be going? Or quickly rejecting someone else’s approach?
Here’s what happens to me: when I have a fixed idea of what should happen and it doesn’t, my mind freezes. It comes back on line confused, stressed, and stubborn.
If you feel your own “anti-adaptable” state coming on, even a brief pause can shift your response. Ask yourself:
- What does the situation need right now?
- What does the other person need?
- And what will I choose to do, even if it’s not my first choice?
Adaptability means picking your battles. It means prioritizing relationships and momentum over the “how.” It frees up your energy and shows your colleagues that you care more about the desired outcome than the details.
