Adapt to Thrive

Being responsive to change and being able to adapt and turn a challenge into an opportunity is both a skill and a mindset that leaders must learn and master. Without it, their businesses will not survive beyond their tenure, or they themselves may be compelled to cut their tenure short so the business can thrive with a more agile leader. 

Some of the most experienced leaders we work with can struggle with adapting their expectations. We all know and accept that we live in an ever-changing world, and that change is one of the few constants and certainties in our lives. And yet we are also creatures of habit, we are drawn to the comfortable and familiar. The way things were and how we used to do things become romanticised and sometimes, tragically this is the way, the only way we do things around here. 

Adapting expectations in this context isn’t about lowering standards but rather challenging our own expectations about how things are done. The obvious example of this is flexible working. For the majority of the workforce, this is a relatively new concept. For many, being able to decide what hours they work and where they work has been a revelation, but one that has quickly become the accepted norm for the younger workforce in particular.  

Gen Z are much more likely to choose companies that provide them with this kind of flexibility as a standard. They value freedom and autonomy in all aspects of life. Gen Z have also grown up with rapid technological advances and concerns about climate change and social justice. Gen Z are not stuck in a romanticised, this is how we used to do it world. They are not impressed with how things have been done - they are problem solvers and want to innovate and discover new ways of doing things. And they value both their career and personal life. 

This is by no means suggesting that we hand over workplaces and the planet to Gen Z, give up and go home. And I am not saying that all of us Baby Boomers and Gen Xs are done. But you can see and feel the tension in the air.  

Leaders, how are you going to harness the best of what each generation has to contribute to the business? How do you navigate the tension and adapt to change? How do you provide stability and innovation? Profit and purpose? 

You master the mindset and the skill of agility and adaptability.  

• It’s an opportunity, not a threat. 

• It’s power with, not power over. 

• It’s a challenge to overcome, not a roadblocker. 

• It’s growth, not inertia. 

But first, you must: 

• Be clear about the vision and purpose and communicate it frequently. 

• Know your core values and keep these as your foundation. 

This is the basis for working together, as a team, towards the same goal. 

Then you can think about the next stages: 

• Practice curiosity - in everything. Be the person who always asks why. 

• Bring problems to solve and ask younger, less experienced team members to solve them. 

• Create space for innovation - not only in the workplace but in your own mindset. 

• Be prepared to take a risk by trying out unconventional ideas and solutions. 

• Redefine failure - and definitely do away with blame. 

Being agile enough to embrace all that Gen Z (and soon Gen Alpha!) has to offer might just further boost your passion, purpose and the business overall.  

What expectations or attitudes do you have that are no longer serving you or your business well? Where do you need to adapt?