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Aesop wrote a fable about a proud oak tree that takes root on the banks of a river. It withstood strong winds for 100 years, but one day a severe storm arose. The large oak tree fell with a violent impact into the swollen river and was carried towards the sea.
The oak tree perched on the shore where the reeds grew. The tree was surprised to see the reed standing upright.
The oak tree asked, “How did I survive that terrible storm? I have braved many storms, but this one was too strong for me.”
“That’s all,” Ashi answered. “All these years you have stubbornly thrown your strength to the wind. You have been too proud to give in the slightest. Meanwhile, I have known my weakness. So I don’t try to resist, I just hunker down and let the wind blow me. The stronger the wind blows, the more humble I am, so here I am!”
Adaptability is extremely important in business. The market is like a river, constantly flowing and changing its course. To successfully navigate these waters, you must adjust your sails, be agile, and be able to withstand some wind.
The late American entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “Life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better through change.”
What worked yesterday may not work today due to the pace of change in technology, consumer preferences, and the global economy.
Businesses are moving away from rigid hierarchical structures to more fluid and dynamic models. Adaptability in this context means being open to change, whether it’s a change in your role, your team, or the strategy of the company as a whole.
The ability to work well with others in a team environment is often more important than ever. Adaptability enhances collaboration by allowing us to understand and accept different perspectives and ways of working.
Today’s business problems are multifaceted and require a wide range of skills and the ability to connect disparate information. An adaptive mindset is open to learning and can integrate new knowledge to solve these complex challenges.
Adaptability is not just a nice-to-have quality. It’s mandatory. It’s about being prepared to pivot when necessary, learn from new situations, and continually change your approach to business. It’s about thriving in uncertainty and turning challenges into opportunities.
One of the best books on adaptability I’ve ever read is one of the shortest and simplest. “Who Moved My Cheese?” This fable by Spencer Johnson is a fascinating fable with deep insight. Some of us can handle change better, but the truth is that we all wish we never had to go through it.
The four characters in this book are Sniff and Scully, two mice in a maze, and Hem and Ho, two human characters the size of mice and called Little People. They go to Cheese Station C every day. Everything you need is there, in the amount you need it.
One day, they go to Cheese Station C and find that the endless supply of cheese is gone. Sniff and Scully react quickly and instinctively. They know they have to find a new supply of cheese. This is not the case with Hem and Ho. They continue with their old routine. They are afraid to explore the maze and find new sources of cheese.
Ho finally realizes that he must overcome his fear and writes on the wall, “If we don’t change, we may become extinct.”
McKay’s takeaway: In the business world, the rear view is always clearer than the windshield, but adaptability is the key to moving forward.
Harvey McKay is a Minneapolis businessman. Contact him at 612-378-6202 or email harvey@mackay.com.
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