Adaptability: Responding Effectively to Change [Paperback]

In today’s business world, the complexity and pace of change can be daunting. Adaptability has become recognized as a necessary skill for leaders to develop to be effective in this environment. Even so, leaders rarely know what they can do to become more adaptable and foster adaptability in others. This guidebook contributes to a greater understanding of adaptability and the cognitive, emotional, and dispositional flexibility it requires. Leaders will learn how to develop their adaptability and to become more effective for themselves, the people they lead, and their organizations.7 What Is Adaptability?

8 Why Adaptability Is Important for Leaders

10 What Are Obstacles to Adaptability?

Stages of Transition

12 Three Elements of Adaptability

Cognitive Flexibility

Emotional Flexibility

Dispositional Flexibility

21 Developing Adaptability

Ways to Practice Cognitive Flexibility

Ways to Practice Emotional Flexibility

Ways to Practice Dispositional Flexibility

26 Adaptability: A Leadership Imperative

29 Suggested Readings

30 Background

31 Key Point Summary

This series of guidebooks draws on the practical knowledge that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has generated, since its inception in 1970, through its research and educational activity conducted in partnership with hundreds of thousands of managers and executives. Much of this knowledge is shared-in a way that is distinct from the typical university department, professional association, or consultancy. CCL is not simply a collection of l3