Author Archives: David Grossman

Ways To Lead Through Change — Learning from Steve Jobs

Author: Bianca Cardenas, PhD | Consultant

Let’s be honest, for most people, change is scary. Humans have this built-in fear of the unknown. We would like to believe we’re in complete control of our lives, but let’s not kid ourselves – we’re not. In reality, the only thing we can do is prepare ourselves for the unknown. Let’s use the example of Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple. Back in 1985, Steve was fired from the company he helped start. Instead of sulking, he started two new ventures, NeXT Computer and Pixar Animation Studios. Fast forward to 1997, when Apple was on the edge of bankruptcy. Steve swooped back in as CEO. He didn’t just save the day; he changed the game. His innovations gave us the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

What made Steve a change master was his obsession with doing things better, his big-picture thinking, and his knack for getting everyone on board with his ideas. He wasn’t scared to take massive risks, shake things up, and turn challenges into opportunities. Thanks to Steve’s creativity and innovation, Apple is now one of the massive market leaders we see today. His talent for leading through change, adapting to tough times, and inspiring his team is something we can all learn from. They say that “success leaves clues.” So, here are a few strategies that you can incorporate to help you lead through change:

Have an unwavering vision

Steve was all about having a crystal-clear vision and he communicated this vision regularly. Even when Apple was in times of uncertainty, he never lost sight of where he wanted the company to go. He believed in his ideas with a passion that was infectious. This unwavering commitment to his vision inspired his team to rally behind him, through thick and thin.

Create your vision

To create a compelling vision, start by looking inward. Reflect on your core values and beliefs—what matters most to you? These principles will be the foundation of your vision. Then, define clear goals that your vision will work toward. This clarity will help your team understand where you’re headed.

Don’t be afraid to take risks

Steve also wasn’t afraid to take bold risks. He believed that intuition and a strong sense of what customers wanted were key drivers of success. When he decided to develop the iPhone, many thought he was crazy to combine a phone, an iPod, and an internet communicator. But Steve had this unshakable confidence in his vision, and he knew that these elements, seamlessly integrated, would revolutionize the market.

Create a risk assessment process

Embracing risk is essential for growth. Begin by weighing potential outcomes, defining goals, and gathering information. Don’t fear failure; it’s a path to success. Seek advice from experts and start with manageable risks. Trust your instincts but plan for contingencies. Stay resilient in setbacks and celebrate successes. With practice, taking risks becomes easier, empowering you to make bold decisions.

Adapt your strategy

Whether it was a new product, a shifting market, or internal company dynamics, Steve knew that change was inevitable. He didn’t resist it; he embraced it. For example, he made a tough decision to discontinue the Apple Newton, a personal digital assistant, when it wasn’t meeting expectations. Even if it was difficult, Steve was always ready to pivot and adjust course when needed, which helped Apple stay relevant in a constantly evolving tech landscape.

Remain open to change

Staying adaptable is a key skill. Embrace change with an open mindset, seeing it as an opportunity. Stay informed, keep learning, and be flexible in your approach. Don’t cling to old ways if they no longer serve you. Surround yourself with diverse perspectives and seek feedback. Lastly, maintain a positive attitude; resilience in the face of change is a powerful tool for adaptability.
These strategies, combined with his legendary charisma and innovation, made Steve Jobs a master of leading through difficult times. His legacy reminds us that in the face of challenges, having a clear vision, taking calculated risks, and being adaptable can lead to incredible success.

If you want to learn more about leading through change, contact us at Leadership Worth Following.

Mastering the Mindset: 3 Qualities of Growth Minded Leaders

Author: Bianca Cardenas, PhD | Consultant

Growing up, I remember noticing this inner voice constantly running in my head, pointing out my every mistake and flaw. I’ll be honest; these thoughts made me feel worse about myself. It felt like this never-ending loop that just kept playing daily, and I’m pretty sure it showed in how I carried myself. But then, there came a day when I had simply had enough. I couldn’t keep going down this road of self-doubt and negativity. Ultimately, this empowered me to challenge those negative thoughts.

Isn’t it ironic? Despite its destructive tendencies, my inner critic merely reflected my own fears. The more I understood this reality, the less control it had over me. So, I embarked on a journey to rewire how I thought about my thoughts. It led me to a simple yet profound truth – our thoughts are incredibly powerful. Drawing from my personal experience, these are the three qualities that played a pivotal role in reshaping the way I thought about things.

Being honest with myself.

At first, it was hard to accept the idea that it’s perfectly okay not to be perfect. I had to come to terms with the fact that making mistakes didn’t mean I was a failure. In fact, it was actually a testament to my strength. It had nothing to do with endlessly chasing some elusive idea of perfection; instead, it was all about appreciating the unique beauty found within our imperfections and understanding that real strength is firmly grounded in self-acceptance. And you know what? It only got easier with time.

Resilience in the face of failure.

One of the most challenging parts of this transformative journey was undoubtedly the process of learning how to bounce back from my mistakes and failures. I had to come to terms with the undeniable truth that these setbacks were, in reality, stepping stones on the path to success. I made a conscious effort to train myself to see challenges not as roadblocks but as invaluable opportunities for learning and growth. Each time adversity reared its head, I didn’t succumb to defeat or let discouragement take hold. Instead, I found the strength to persevere and viewed each setback as a catalyst for transformation.

Lifelong learning.

I had to come to terms with the fact that I will never know everything. This seemingly simple realization brought with it a tremendous sense of freedom. It was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, freeing me from the self-imposed pressure of trying to be “all-knowing.” So, I began to see learning as a lifelong quest for knowledge and growth. I no longer feared the unknown but embraced it – every experience became a gateway to expanding my horizons.

Throughout this journey, I came to understand that having a growth mindset doesn’t require knowing everything; it’s all about the unwavering commitment to improving oneself, both as an individual and as a leader. These invaluable lessons not only transformed my life but also molded my leadership philosophy, propelling me along a path of continuous self-improvement. This transformative voyage has solidified the immense influence of our thoughts and the remarkable potential for personal growth when we wholeheartedly embrace it.

For more information about how LWF can help you identify and develop growth minded leadership, contact us at https://worthyleadership.com/contact/

Cultivating Your Personal Presence

Leaders who possess a strong personal presence have a unique ability to command attention, exude confidence, and inspire trust among their peers, subordinates, and clients. Their aura of authority and authenticity sets them apart and allows them to make a positive impact in their professional endeavors. Whether you are a seasoned executive looking to enhance your presence or an aspiring leader aiming to establish yourself, here are five suggestions to project a more commanding personal presence:

1. Master Your Body Language and Visual Image

The way you carry yourself speaks volumes about your confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall with your shoulders back, and walk with purpose at a steady pace, avoiding rushing or fidgeting. Engage in conversations with steady eye contact and offer a firm handshake when meeting others. Ensure your gestures do not overshadow your words, but rather complement and reinforce your message. Additionally, pay attention to grooming; a neat, professional appearance reinforces the impression of a capable leader.

2. Develop an Authoritative Voice

A powerful voice is another key component of your presence. Practice speaking with energy and use a low-pitched voice, which naturally conveys authority. End sentences on a downward inflection to project certainty. Vary your tone and pitch to keep your speech engaging and avoid a monotonous delivery. Remember to speak at a deliberate pace, utilizing pauses effectively to emphasize important points and to allow others to absorb your message fully.

3. Eliminate Tentative and Distracting Language

The words you choose can influence how others perceive you. Avoid using tentative language such as “I guess,” “kind of,” or “maybe.” Phrases like “I’m not sure if you’ll like this, but…” undermine your credibility. Minimize filler words like “um,” “basically,” “right,” and “you know,” as they can distract from your message. Be direct and assertive, expressing your thoughts confidently.

4. Deliver a Clear and Concise Message

A crucial aspect of one’s presence is the ability to articulate ideas effectively. Start by mapping out your message, and determining what you want your audience to know, feel, and do. Lead with a summary statement that concisely conveys the core of your message. Trim unnecessary details and limit your supporting points to 2-3 key elements. Save additional information for later, if needed. Prepare thoroughly before speaking, ensuring that your thoughts are presented in an organized, well-articulated manner.

5. Connect Authentically with Others

Personal presence is not just about projecting authority; it also involves building strong connections with those around you. Observe and respond to others’ body language, gauge their reactions, and adapt accordingly. Actively listen to others, valuing their opinions and insights. Avoid interrupting; instead rephrase what you hear to demonstrate active engagement. By showing genuine interest and respect for others, you can foster positive relationships.

Building your own strong personal presence is a multifaceted undertaking that includes verbal, non-verbal, and relational elements. By incorporating these five strategies, you can strengthen your impact as a leader, laying the groundwork for deeper, more powerful influence.

Three Best Practices to Help You Thrive in a Remote Work Environment

The aftermath of Covid-19 highlighted an undeniable truth: remote work is here to stay. When I think back to the moments right before the world went into lockdown, I remember facing a tough choice. I decided to leave my job to pursue my PhD. A wave of anxiety washed over me the day I quit my job. My mind raced with all sorts of uncertainties: Here I was, navigating my way through my very first global pandemic, and on top of that, I was taking a leap of faith to pursue something I wasn’t even sure I could pull off. It was a difficult time, to say the least.

As time went on and I progressed further into my program, I realized something powerful: I was actually a lot more productive. Working from my home office was a game-changer. My peaceful environment allowed me to minimize distractions and maintain my focus. I noticed I could remain in a state of flow throughout most of my day. Here’s a fun fact: It takes around 23 minutes to get back into the flow when our focus gets interrupted. Now, think about how often we are interrupted on a typical day at the office!

Speaking of the office – Not only has remote work streamlined overhead costs for many businesses, but it’s also cultivated an avenue for connecting with a broader, more diverse talent pool. I’m sure you’ve already recognized the advantages of remote work, but making it successful requires some thought and preparation. That’s why I’ve outlined three essential best practices to steer you toward thriving in a remote work environment.

Three Best Practices to Thrive in a Remote Work Environment

1) Make Your Expectations Clear:

When I think back to my PhD program, Dr. Bostaine did an excellent job communicating her expectations for the virtual term. Since it was her first time teaching remotely, she dedicated an extra hour to outline the syllabus and answer any questions. By the end of the lecture, each student understood their roles, responsibilities, and key objectives for the term. She also provided different ways to contact her if anyone needed help. When expectations are crystal clear, it becomes easier for team members to deliver their best work.

Set the Stage – Here’s a challenge to help you make your expectations abundantly clear to your team. Consider this: remote work introduces new dynamics; your team needs a well-defined roadmap to navigate this terrain effectively. Create a comprehensive outline of roles, responsibilities, and project specifics. Be deliberate about setting SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Remember, the foundation of a productive remote work environment is built on clarity.

2) Make Your Communication Clear:

Staying indoors during those times really drove home a lesson: communication is like a lifeline for our well-being. When I suddenly couldn’t be physically close, virtual communication became my saving grace. It reminded me that I was still part of a community, even when we were miles apart. It’s like how my professor went that extra mile to lay out the syllabus and answer questions at the start of the term. Effective communication demands the same level of intentionality. For me, those regular check-ins and status updates became a lifeline. It was more than just updating progress; it was about ensuring we were all aligned. And surprisingly, it created a sense of belonging that’s sometimes tricky to nurture in a remote setup.

Intentional Communication –Set aside just a few minutes each day to ensure your messages are sent and received loud and clear. Start by simplifying your language. Can they still follow along? Next, experiment with different communication channels. Not every message needs to be an email. Maybe a quick video update or a concise chat message could work better. This challenge isn’t just about clarity—it’s about building connections and fostering understanding.

3) Make Your Team:

Remember how I took the leap into my PhD program? My experience during that transition taught me something valuable: the significance of fostering a sense of connection. In this world of remote work, where we can’t count on physical closeness, intentionally creating opportunities for social bonds becomes the cornerstone of success. Think about it—virtual coffee breaks, team-building activities, and online hangouts. They’re more than just fun (though that’s a great part). They’re about constructing a supportive network that weaves us together, even miles apart. In the realm of remote work, this kind of camaraderie isn’t just a bonus—it’s a key ingredient for thriving.

Remote Fun – Here’s a challenge that can truly transform your remote work experience: dedicate a week to enhancing connections within your team, all from the comfort of your virtual space. Choose a day to have a virtual lunch gathering. Share your mealtime virtually, just like you would in the office cafeteria. It’s a simple way to replicate the social aspect of lunch breaks and have casual conversations beyond work-related topics.

Ultimately, the recipe for thriving in the remote work landscape lies in three practices—clear expectations, effective communication, and fostering connections. As you navigate these paths, remember that the remote work experience shouldn’t be isolated. It can be a realm of camaraderie, productivity, and shared accomplishments.

 

Three Ways to Embrace Agile Leadership

Let’s face it, with every passing day; the world is getting more and more complex. For most businesses, it’s survival of the fittest. But what exactly does “fittest” mean in the business sense? As I reflect on my career journey, I remember thinking that making mistakes meant I was failing at a task. This perspective turned me into a bit of a perfectionist. I found comfort in stability because it made me feel like I had some control over things. But then, I had to confront a simple reality: I had no control over what happened to me. And then, the Covid-19 pandemic happened, highlighting how many things were outside my control. It didn’t take me too long to catch on – I had to stop trying to control everything and simply let go.

This shift may seem counterintuitive, but it’s about giving up control and embracing what is. At first, this felt very uncomfortable. But you know what? I felt an enormous sense of relief. This experience taught me that I had the power to overcome anything. This is the essence of agile leadership – it’s not just about being comfortable with change but welcoming it. It’s understanding that mistakes are part of the journey, and sometimes you need to have faith that solutions will eventually present themselves at the right moment. By embracing these concepts, you open the door to a more adaptable mindset in your professional and personal life. If you choose to take on this challenge, you’ll quickly find that these ideas are simpler in theory than in practice. Yet, you will realize that the rewards far outweigh the initial effort.

Three Ways You Can Become More Agile

1) Learn to See Change as an Opportunity.

Even though it was initially uncomfortable, the pandemic taught me how to let go and accept that control was an illusion. Looking back, I realize this experience has made me more accepting and resilient. And guess what? It’s been a game-changer. I now have a new perspective on change. I started seeing change as an opportunity to learn and become a better version of myself. And the best part? I stopped pouring my time and energy into things I couldn’t change. It’s funny how letting go of trying to control everything has given me more control over my own journey.

Change Lens: All right, here’s a little challenge for you. Take a moment, step back, and ask yourself: How can change actually be a golden ticket for growth? How could it lead to something good, even if it seems a bit off at first glance? Push yourself to dig deep and find even the tiniest silver lining. You might be surprised at the potential waiting to be uncovered.

2) Learn From Your Mistakes.

Wrapping your head around this idea might be challenging at first. Trust me, I’ve been there. Making mistakes can sometimes feel physically painful, but here’s the trick: channel that uncomfortable feeling into motivation that pushes you to learn something new and try another approach. And guess what? It gets easier each time until it becomes second nature. Henry Ford once said, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Every stumble, every misstep – they’re all lessons, guiding us toward a better solution.

Embrace the Growth of Mistakes: Ready to step up your leadership game? Here’s a challenge that will help you foster a culture of growth through mistakes: Over the week, find opportunities to share your own mistakes and what you’ve learned from them with others. Encourage open conversations where they can also share their mistakes, whether big or small, and the lessons they’ve learned from them. This will help you reframe making mistakes as opportunities for growth.

3) Trust the Process and Let Go.

Ultimately, there is freedom in letting go and accepting what is. Life is this incredible series of changes, and you know? As you progress in your career, change will progress alongside you. The secret is holding on to your goals, dreams, and aspirations. But when it comes to change, give yourself permission to “be like water” and go with the flow. Because as you steer through this river, you’ll find that embracing change makes the journey smoother and adds unexpected beauty to the scenery along the way.

In the end, embracing agile leadership isn’t about perfection but progress. It’s about adapting, learning, and growing through change and embracing mistakes as catalysts for development. As you embark on these challenges, remember that growth occurs not just within our comfort zones, but in those moments of letting go and embracing the unknown.

Going Virtual (Pt. 1): 4 Common Team Roles

Going Virtual Part 1 | Leadership Worth Following

By now, your team has likely moved to a completely remote environment. Gone are the days when teams and projects overlapped and bled into each other. You can no longer assume you’ll have the opportunity to discuss the project’s next steps when bumping into someone at the water cooler or lunch room. Being successful will require you to define projects, roles, responsibilities, timelines, and so on even more clearly.

Adopting 4 Roles. To better leverage each employee’s strengths in this dynamic environment, organizational research on global virtual work teams can provide some useful tips. Team members tend to adopt roles according to their task-social orientation, and each role offers an important, unique contribution

Challengers

Challengers are low-social, high-task, and they tend to excel at raising the bar and holding others accountable, especially as deadlines approach. Resist the temptation to shut them down. It may not appear that they’re working hard throughout, but their ability to raise the bar and push others will be vitally important as deadlines near.

Encouragers

Encouragers are the high-social, low-task type who focus on engaging teammates and creating a caring, collaborative environment. This can be incredibly valuable as teams navigate through the stress of rapid change. But they shouldn’t over-use this strength. Merely “being supportive” may come off as disengaged or uninterested. Purely social “soft skills” are less tangible and noticeable in remote working relationships, and may be seen as less valuable. Instead, Encouragers can show they care by picking up slack for others and taking more noticeable ownership for ensuring team cohesion.

Pacesetters

Pacesetters, who are high on both task and social, are driven to rally the team, solve problems, and personally ensure tasks are completed. On your team, defer to Pacesetters early. Allow them to establish processes and get the necessary balls rolling on specific task assignments.

Pragmatists

Pragmatists tend not to over-emphasize either the task or social focus, but embody a blend of both. If you’re working with a Pragmatist, it’s worth the effort to seek out their involvement. Don’t get frustrated if they might not be as proactive as you’d like. You’ll find them surprisingly flexible and ready to jump in tasks to help the team.

When considering these common team roles, also remember that each person is a unique – yes, even messy – blend of characteristics – not able to be neatly categorized. Recognizing the unique talents and drivers of each team member is the first step toward leveraging them successfully. Need fresh insights to keep your remote team engaged and moving forward? Contact LWF today for ideas to help create a clear plan to incite growth and excite hope. In our next blog, we’ll discuss how to better recognize and adapt to a typical team’s dynamics.

Doing What You Love? Loving What You Do?

Does your job inspire your passion – or merely occupy your attention? Our culture is wired to view work negatively (TGIF!) while paradoxically defining an individual’s success through his or her job. Here’s the mixed message: You are what you do – but don’t expect to like it!

In this Valentine’s Day month, how can you write your true work “love story” without lapsing into science fiction? Here are four L.O.V.E. lessons to consider: Learn. Optimize. Vary. Ease.

L. Learn Yourself.

You’re the main character in this romance, so start with knowing yourself: a unique combination of habits, attitudes, and values as individualized as your fingerprints. You’re more than just your job title.

Look for things you consider essential to your satisfaction (at work, home, and with yourself). Delve into the root causes, and use that knowledge to guide your priorities. Carve out time for such introspection – a calendar priority like any important meeting – and do something that brings you satisfaction: read a book, go to a movie, exercise, etc.

Our new personality assessment can help uncover what drives and drains you. You might even learn it’s time to consider a new job or different career.

O. Optimize Time.

Thinking about your current work, consider the parts of your job that sap your energy. Try delegating some draining activities to better optimize your time and mood. Realize that your teammates likely have different strengths and preferences than you; they might see such assignments as energizing, stretch opportunities or chances to earn recognition with added responsibilities.

The key to successful delegation is to communicate, set timeframes and goals, and then get out of the way. Be very clear on the what and the when, but be open regarding the how. To better foster teamwork, provide further context by also including the why.

V. Vary Expectations.

If you are feeling overcommitted and burdened by others’ great expectations of you, take charge in changing that narrative. Communicate your needs to your supervisors and team; do not assume they understand your situation.

An important step could be asking for help. Remember, this is not a sign of weakness. In fact, research on high performers shows two interesting things: One, high performers actually ask for help more than low performers. Two, people respond positively to requests for help about three times more often than most people expect.

E. Ease Up.

Superheroes are found in comic books and movie theaters – not real life. With practice you can learn to be “okay” with not doing everything or being everything to everyone. Learn to focus your energy and attention on the most important areas, while allowing yourself to be average in less important matters.

This prioritization exercise is also a good chance to cultivate humility. Demonstrate you understand that individual, team, and organizational success are interdependent, that no one person can do it alone. Resist wearing a “mask” of invincibility, but embrace opportunities to learn as readily, as enthusiastically, and as genuinely as you do your strengths.

By living out these four L.O.V.E. lessons – Learn. Optimize. Vary. Ease. – you’ll find your work life can become more engaging, satisfying, and fun.

Gaining 2020 Vision: 4 Keys to Leveraging Self-Awareness

Gaining 2020 Vision | Leadership Worth Following

This time of the year, attention shifts to making resolutions, taking personal inventories, or charting paths to greater self-awareness. While such contemplation can be healthy and motivating, it can also lead to paralysis, evidenced by inaction and non-productive navel-gazing. How can you move beyond self-awareness to the hard – yet satisfying and necessary – work of making changes? Here are four keys:

1) Being Intentional

Once you’re aware that something needs to change, try to clearly understand what is driving that behavior. If it’s a bad habit, is there a certain trigger? Maybe even another bad habit behind the one you’re trying to change? An example could be overeating one day when you don’t get enough sleep the night before. Or maybe a certain person, thought pattern, or value triggers you. For instance, you might tend to emotionally overreact when someone criticizes one of your ideas.

The first step to self-improvement is gaining next-level self-awareness – the kind you cannot gain just by introspection. This will require some tough, direct feedback, supported by clear data and outside perspectives, etc. Once you have that deep self-awareness, it’s time to create a behavioral action plan.

2) Thinking Differently

If the behavior you’re trying to change is rooted in a pattern of unhelpful thinking, you’ll need to attack that thought pattern. Maybe you become really rigid and prevent others from being creative, because you believe the only path to success is to never make mistakes. Even if there’s some truth to that thought process, we need to give ourselves more flexibility and freedom to think differently. Like it or not, it’s impossible to always do what drives and inspires us. Sometimes we have to do what drains us, and we need to find a healthy way to cope. One way to counter a mindset you’re trying to change is to proactively look for disconfirming evidence – try to prove yourself wrong!

3) Building Skills

This one may be the most obvious. If there’s something that is emotionally draining, but you want or need to improve, it may be draining to you simply because it’s difficult for you. After all, few people love doing things they’re terrible at. If this is the case for you, then it’s time to build skills in those areas: learn, find a mentor, practice, etc.

To elevate your skill-building, target one thing aligned with your drivers. For example, if you’re really driven by having a big impact and you know the ability to persuade is important, but you’re low on charisma, maybe take a course on storytelling or join a Toastmasters club.

4) Changing your Context

If all else fails, realize that – in many ways – you are responsible for your own situation. Change could mean finding a new job or just modifying your current job to better align with your strengths.

Productive change might include allocating more non-work time to pursuits you find energizing. If you are driven by collaboration, for example, but you work in an isolated, individual role, consider joining a book club, sports league, or service organization.

These four keys – being intentional, thinking differently, building skills, and changing your context – can make a vital difference in moving from passive self-awareness to dynamic action. The impact can help springboard you to a more enjoyable and productive 2020.

​To learn more about what drives and drains you at work, consider taking our DRiV™ personality assessment.

5 Tips for Mellowing Hyper-Perseverance

You enjoy powering through projects, obstacles and challenges – persevering is one of your core strengths – and one of the four core Adaptability Quotient (AQ) drivers identified in our November 4 blog. A never-give-up mindset can be an asset in the workplace. If you’re a highly persistent person, the idea of “persevering despite conflicts, etc.” probably resonates strongly with you.


Risks of Hyper-Perseverance

But what are the downsides? If you’re not careful, such resolve can harden inflexibly into hyper-perseverance, until you’re telling yourself: “I can never give up, I cannot let anything distract me or get in my way.” This attitude can cause problems by sabotaging your own mental health and job performance – increasing your risk of burnout. Burnout was officially recognized as an “occupational phenomenon” by the World Health Organization earlier this year.

5 Tips to Mellow Out: Here are 5 tips to soften your hyper-perseverance:

1 – Consider your time, attention, and energy as finite, non-renewable resources to be managed carefully. Everyone hits a wall at some point, so don’t over-commit;


2 – Conserve your brain power by leveraging “brain dumps” frequently: using to-do lists, timelines, reminders, including utilizing technology tools.


3 – Beware the false productivity trap by evaluating your busyness against your accomplishments. What is the ROI on your time?


4 – Watch for tendency to “dig in your heels” and try even harder when you’re stuck. Instead, pause, take a step back, and consider other alternatives.


5 – Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices to help de-clutter and focus your mind.

 

Are You At Risk?

What are your own attitudes and behaviors around hyper-perseverance? How are your AQ and leadership ability impacted? To learn more about your risk factors, strengths and vulnerabilities, consider taking our DRiV personality assessment. You’ll gain valuable insights into your own motivations for work and life.

Click here to learn more.

Adaptability Improves Leadership: 4 Tips for Growth

Boost Your AQ | Leadership Worth Following

Do you want to demonstrate leadership worth following? Would you like to develop your “ability to guide, direct, or influence people in a way that has great merit, character, and value”? If so, learn to be more adaptable.

​Our research findings show that people rated as “highly adaptable” score 4 times higher on the ability to demonstrate worthy leadership. These people could be described as possessing a high “Adaptability Quotient” (AQ) – the ability to thrive in an environment of change, like today’s dynamic workplaces.

​To understand how leaders can increase their AQ, we analyzed our 360 survey data from over 10,000 respondents, looking for behaviors that most differentiate high-AQ people. From that research, here are four tips for leadership growth:

1) Persevere Confidently

Do you persevere on tasks despite conflicts, roadblocks, and setbacks? Do you project credibility and confidence, with a relaxed sense of self?

​Build your own AQ on a strong, consistent foundation. Flitting like a butterfly from one activity to the next, giving up too quickly, or coming across as scared or intimidated projects your own indecisiveness and cowardice, not a high AQ. For people to see you as adaptable, they have to know you are making changes for a reason, and that you are in control.

2) Decide Wisely

Do you try to understand others’ motives and behaviors? Do you make effective, timely decisions? Can you focus on long-term goals while also achieving short-term results?

Your own decision-making skills impact your AQ. Sometimes a quick decision is needed, and other times it’s wiser to deliberate longer, which also affords more time to consider multiple people’s perspectives and concerns. In a similar way, there are times to zoom out for the big picture and other situations where it’s best to dive into the weeds and execute!

3) Navigate Carefully

Do you help resolve conflicts for the best solutions? Can you manage challenging relationships and internal politics? Will you share your authority?

Handling relationships and internal politics well strengthens your AQ. Tackle the “tough stuff” and help others work through challenges, instead of shying away. Strive to see both sides of issues and encourage everyone to reach mutual understanding so they can feel good about the outcome. Accomplish this without issuing mandates or “pulling rank” on others.

4) Reflect Internally

Are you keenly aware of your motives and behavior, and the impact on others? Can you translate others’ feedback to you and your own life lessons into action?

Watching your impact and the outcome of your actions increases your AQ. Remove blinders that can obscure problems or deficiencies with the status quo. Lean into greater self-awareness to challenge your assumptions. Be passionate about soliciting feedback – and acting on it! While boosting your self-awareness, don’t forget to maintain your confidence and consistency.

 
By careful thought and these four actions — persevering, deciding, navigating, and reflecting — you can raise your own AQ and more capably demonstrate leadership worth following.