Overcoming Resistance to Change
Unpredictability has become the norm in today’s business world. Organizations that resist change do so at their peril, but are often unintentionally tripped up from within by what Scott Cawood, writing for Forbes Business, aptly describes as the “Adaptability Paradox”.
“It’s not always the “smartest” companies who win. It’s those who figure out how to adapt to the changes happening around and within.”
Scott Cawood
In his recent article, Change Management: Adapting Our Adaptability Paradox, Cawood illuminates the crucial role adaptability plays in organizational success. He writes, “Businesses struggle to evolve and grow without people individually agreeing to move forward.” This agreement principle aligns with what we at Competitive Edge have observed: adaptability is not just a factor of an individual’s skill, but a strategic imperative for the work environment, one that must be cultivated within the relationships of individuals and their organizations.
Understanding the Adaptability Paradox:
Cawood explains that adapting to change involves more than just acknowledgment; it requires active participation and reevaluation of existing norms and practices. He cites Charles Darwin’s famous assertion, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Unfortunately, the stresses and anxieties of change create the feeling of being out of control. This state of uncertainty can trigger the Adaptability Paradox – when the reaction to change actually undermines the ability to change.
“The Adaptability Paradox is often a subconscious survival mechanism pushing us back toward where we feel in control…“, notes Cawood. Instead of the company’s leaders critically evaluating policies and procedures to eliminate obstacles that are no longer aligned with new dynamics, they pursue control by ‘doubling down’ on methods that feel comfortable and familiar. This resistance can slow or even kill the adaptation process, leading to outcomes ranging from loss of market share, talent drain, or even imperil the survival of the organization as a whole.
Adaptability in Action:
“The good news?“, according to Cawood is, “Recognizing the Adaptability Paradox is the first step to adapting and regaining true control.” His insights align with our approach at Competitive Edge. We focus on equipping professionals with the power of comprehensive Adaptability Assessments so they can understand their own responses to change and the component factors underlying those measurements.
By giving the individual the ability to recognize their patterns of resistance to change, and hard data to help them cultivate factors like grit, resilience, and mindset, they can react to landscape shifts with nimbleness and finesse. Perhaps more importantly, at a team level, these insights help create a workplace that is more change-tolerant and able to respond faster in dynamic situations because the team members and leaders have a better understanding of pitfalls like knee-jerk reactiveness and ‘hunker down’ mentalities, which are quite natural to be found at all levels of an organization.
“Here’s the catch: businesses don’t change without the people within the business also changing. And too often, people resist change even when we know it’s the key to survival.”
Scott Cawood
Evolving with Purpose:
Change, as Cawood notes, is inevitable. The real choice businesses face is whether to embrace change or procrastinate until it is forced upon them. He encourages organizations to ask if their policies “set up our workers for success” and “help us serve our customers faster or better.” At Competitive Edge, we understand that to address policies that no longer benefit the organization requires overcoming the Adaptability Paradox, which means identifying and transforming the habits and comfort zones that limit organizational and personal growth. Our Adaptability Assessments help pinpoint these sources of resistance by providing insights into how well individuals and teams can handle changing environments and identifying practical measures to improve those abilities.
Conclusion:
The power to adapt is more than a survival skill—it is a strategic asset that can dictate the future of your organization. Competitive Edge is committed to helping you navigate the Adaptability Paradox with targeted assessments and training that prepare your organization for whatever lies ahead. Let us help you eliminate the paradox and transform adaptability into your most potent advantage.
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