Let me spell out a truth we all know far too well.
Unless we learn to respond and adapt to new realities in a world changing so fast - whether geopolitically, environmentally or technologically - we will be unable to deliver our best work. Period.
I founded The Adaptation Company after working with orgs and teams worldwide - on complex topics such as peacebuilding and inclusive governance - and observing the struggle to adapt their approach as contexts changed.
I get it. It’s complex.
It means navigating uncertainty. It means figuring things out when the path isn't clear. It means doing things differently as we can no longer rely on ‘we’ve always done it this way’.
The Adaptation Letter is my contribution to this challenge.
A regular letter with thoughts, tools and tips about how we - individuals, teams and orgs - can be(come) adaptable in a fast changing world.
Let’s start with a foundational element.
Curiosity.
Real curiosity means engaging in a process of discovery, beyond our own assumptions and opinions. It means being interested in another point of view, perspective or approach, without judging them against our own.
That’s easier said than done, but luckily curiosity is something that all of us can train.
I've spent a long time training my own curiosity muscle. You can hear the full story in my TEDx talk ‘Training your curiosity muscle to bridge divides in society’.
As individuals, taking curiosity as our starting point allows us to be open to possibility. The possibility that other people or ideas might surprise us. That the way we’ve always done things is no longer suitable. Or that we simply might be wrong.
That openness is fundamental to adaptability.
Ready to give it a try?
Identify one person in your work surroundings who tends to have a different view on how things should be done, approached or handled. This week, ask them one curious question. Listen to discover, not to debate.
Science writer David Robson in his book ‘The Law of Connection’ describes this as perspective-taking, basically putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
After the conversation, ask yourself:
What surprised me about their view?
In what way did my own perspective get challenged?
What did I learn or rethink?
And there you go: you are training your curiosity muscle!
