Adaptability in Changing Circumstances

As A-10 pilots, we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to changing mission environments. Rarely do things go exactly as planned, and in combat, uncertainty is the only constant. Whether it's shifting weather conditions, new intelligence on the ground, or unanticipated challenges, we are trained to respond and adjust quickly. We have to stay focused on the mission, but be willing to pivot and make adjustments on the fly. In uncertain environments, sticking rigidly to the plan can lead to failure. This approach is just as critical outside the cockpit. In business, life, or leadership, things won’t always go as expected. Key principles for flexibility and adaptability: ➡️ Stay mission-focused but fluid: Keep the end goal in mind, but be willing to adjust your approach as conditions change. ➡️ Prepare for the unexpected: Have contingency plans in place, but recognize that not every situation can be foreseen. Be flexible. ➡️ Make decisions with the information at hand: Often in dynamic environments, you won’t have all the answers. Trust your training, experience, and intuition. ➡️ Communicate clearly and quickly: When things change, effective communication ensures everyone is on the same page and able to respond appropriately. ➡️ Embrace a mindset of continuous learning: Every challenge offers lessons that help you adapt faster and better next time. Success comes from staying flexible, adapting to what’s in front of us, and having the courage to course-correct when needed. It’s not about having the perfect plan—it's about being ready to adapt and execute no matter what the circumstances. #Leadership #Flexibility #Adaptability #LeadWithCourage

Embracing Personal Change: The Key to Professional Adaptability In the fast-paced world of business, change is inevitable. But have you ever noticed how the changes we navigate in our personal lives often prepare us for the challenges we face professionally? I've come to realize that life itself is our first and most persistent teacher of adaptability. Think about it - remember the first time you moved to a new place? Whether it was a new apartment across town or a relocation to a different city, that experience required you to adapt, to find new routines, to step out of your comfort zone. At first, it might have felt overwhelming. New surroundings, new people, new ways of doing things. But gradually, you found your footing. You learned to navigate your new environment, to build new connections, to create new habits. Without realizing it, you were building skills that would serve you well in your professional life as it reminds us that growth often comes with discomfort, and that's okay. The resilience we build when facing personal challenges translates directly into how we handle professional upheavals. The problem-solving skills we develop when figuring out how to fix a leaky faucet or navigate a new public transportation system are the same skills we use when tackling complex work projects. I've found that the more I embrace change in my personal life, the more adaptable I become in my career. More often than not I find myself drawing on the same resources I use when I decide to overhaul my personal routine - patience, persistence, and a willingness to try new approaches. The truth is, in both our personal and professional lives, change is the only constant. By learning to navigate and even embrace change in our personal lives, we're essentially doing "resilience training" for our careers. So the next time you face a personal change or challenge, remember: you're not just growing as an individual, you're also developing skills that will make you more resilient and adaptable in your professional life. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. How has a personal change or challenge made you better equipped to handle professional changes? What lessons from your personal life have you found yourself applying in your career? Let's share our experiences and learn from each other. #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalResilience #EmbraceChange #LifeLessons

Adaptability is your superpower. But constant change? It’s exhausting. When I started my career, I took pride in adapting quickly to shifting priorities. New goals, tight deadlines, fire drills? Bring it on. Then, I hit a wall. I wasn’t drained from the work. It was the relentless pace of change. That’s when I realized, Staying adaptable without burning out is a major skill. Why does it matter? Research shows employees facing constant change experience higher stress, lower engagement, and are more likely to burn out. But sustaining adaptability isn’t about resisting change. It’s about learning to recharge along the way. 8 Ways to Stay Adaptable Without Burning Out: 1️⃣ Minimize Fire Drills ↳ Identify non-negotiables and protect them. ↳ Say “no” to low-priority changes. 2️⃣ Build In Recovery Time ↳ Schedule recovery days. ↳ Let your mind recharge. 3️⃣ Seek Growth, Not Perfection ↳ Reflect on each change. ↳ What went well? What would you do differently? 4️⃣ Establish Clear Boundaries ↳ Define your non-negotiables. ↳ Communicate them to your team. 5️⃣ Cultivate a Support Network ↳ Build connections. ↳ People with perspective and encouragement. 6️⃣ Focus on Core Values ↳ Revisit your core values and goals. ↳ Use them as anchors to help you prioritize. 7️⃣ Practice Micro-Adapting ↳ Take on mini-challenges regularly. ↳ Try something new. 8️⃣ Recognize and Celebrate Wins ↳ Acknowledge accomplishments weekly. ↳ Celebrate progress, big and small. What else would you add? ♻️ Share to spread sustainable adaptability. ➕ Follow for more on living life to your max potential.

In 2011, my wife and I found ourselves in a unique position at Fort Polk, LA. As newly licensed clinical psychologists and newlyweds, we were the only active-duty psychologists on a base of 10,000+ soldiers. In addition, I would be deploying in the coming months to Afghanistan with an infantry combat brigade. Reflecting on these experiences after 10+ years in business, I realize how closely combat challenges mirror everyday workplace pressures. Here are a few things I learned in combat, and then applied to business. 1) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Experience: In Afghanistan, I often grappled with feelings of being an imposter. Freshly licensed and tasked with the mental health care of thousands of soldiers, I constantly questioned myself: "Who am I to shoulder this responsibility? Am I truly the right person for this job?" This sense of doubt isn't unique to combat zones—it's also prevalent in the business world, where fears like "What if they discover I'm not who they think I am?" loom large. How should we tackle these concerns? ✅ Do: Seek Constructive Feedback - Actively solicit feedback, especially about behaviors and impact, to anchor your self-assessment in reality, not impostor fears. ❌ Don't: Compare Yourself to Others - Stop tallying your achievements against others; it fuels doubts and derails personal progress. 2) Managing Unpredictability Experience: In Afghanistan, situations changed abruptly, requiring me to adapt on the fly. For example, a team was in a shootout in a bazaar in the local town and now the company commander wants the psychologist to travel by convoy to assist with his debrief; what do you do? This unpredictability isn't just a military challenge—it mirrors the dynamic nature of the business world where flexibility is key to survival. How can we better handle such changes? ✅ Do: Stay Flexible - Being "Open to Experience" is a key personality trait that can be utilized effectively. Embrace change by staying open to new methods and solutions. ❌ Don't: Resist Change - Avoid sticking rigidly to old ways when new situations arise; this can hinder progress and adaptation. 3) Dealing with High Stakes Experience: High-risk situations required meticulous risk evaluation. Many times, I questioned whether exposing myself to physical risk was worth the potential consequences for myself and my family, as well as for the brigade, given that I was the sole psychologist for 4,000 soldiers. Similarly, in business, high stakes involve significant risks that can affect the entire company. ✅ Do: Risk Assessment - Regularly evaluate potential risks and their impacts. ❌ Don't: Neglect Planning - Skipping thorough planning and feedback can lead to unmitigated risks and failures. We took this picture in the airport, our first reunion in over 10 months since I had left for Afghanistan 

Insurance doesn’t change quickly”—that’s what I thought too, until 20 years in the industry proved me wrong. When I started my career, the focus was straightforward: underwriting risks, processing claims, and keeping premiums competitive. It was a world built on consistency and tradition. But here’s the kicker—nothing stays consistent for long. Over two decades, I’ve worked with insurance carriers across regions like the UK, France, Germany, Australia, and beyond. Each market taught me a hard truth: adaptability isn’t optional—it’s survival. Take Japan, for example. I once managed a project involving parametric insurance for natural disasters. The innovation itself was groundbreaking, but what surprised me was how quickly consumer expectations evolved. Customers wanted speed, transparency, and payouts without the usual red tape. It wasn’t just about adapting our products—it was about rethinking the customer experience entirely. Then there’s LatAm. In one country, regulatory shifts happened so fast, our carefully laid strategies needed to pivot mid-rollout. Instead of frustration, it became a lesson: flexibility trumps perfection every time. Climate change has been the ultimate teacher. As catastrophic events rise, underwriting models we once relied on are being rewritten. It’s no longer just about predicting risk; it’s about preparing for the unexpected and staying ahead of a rapidly changing reality. Here’s the biggest takeaway: adaptability isn’t about abandoning what works—it’s about evolving with the world around us. Whether it’s technology, regulations, or customer needs, the industry doesn’t stand still, and neither should we. I’m curious—how has adaptability shaped your career? What’s been your biggest lesson in navigating change?

Dealing with Uncertainty: Part II: Building an Agile and Adaptable Enterprise   In my 45-year career in business and finance, I cannot remember a period with greater uncertainty or with a higher pace of change. The uncertainty includes geo-political events and tensions, inflation, regulation, energy, monetary policies, taxation and pandemics, to name a few. The world is also changing at a rapid pace. Much of this is driven by rapid developments in technology, enabling unprecedented computing power in our phones, work from home, a global economy, analytics, streaming and most recently artificial intelligence.  Many companies, and specifically finance organizations, continue to operate with tools, processes and a mindset that is not responsive to the “new” reality. While scenario planning is a terrific step forward, future success and even survival ultimately requires an ability to adapt to a rapidly changing and unpredictable environment. Financial leadership can encourage and build adaptability into their organizations and the overall enterprise. We define business agility as the ability to anticipate, recognize and effectively: - Capitalize on Opportunities - Mitigate Risks and Downside Events - Prepare for and weather storms, including economic cycles and Black Swan Events It is helpful to view agility as a three-part process. First, do we have the “Vision” to see a potential threat or opportunity. This is the most important component, since if a threat or opportunity goes undetected, the organization cannot effectively respond. In addition, seeing the threat or opportunity at the earliest possible time extends the total time the enterprise has in order to respond to the event. Second, the organization must be able to recognize that an event or circumstance represents a threat or opportunity. Finally, the organization must have the ability to respond. Associates play a huge role in enabling the organization’s agility and flexibility. Agile associates are “constant learners” and are highly adaptable; they can be reassigned based on changing conditions and priorities. Characteristics of agile-versatile associates include: €    Continual Learner €    Communicator €    Analytical €    Project Manager €    General Business Perspective €    Able to work across organization silos   Adapted from “Financial Management: Partner in Driving Performance and Value,” Wiley, 2024, Chapter 14, Agility

I get asked so often what the top advice I’d give business owners is. Well, among many other things, I will always say: be resilient and adaptable—ALWAYS. In the world of business, you need to be able to move quickly and change whenever necessary. Resilience and adaptability are more crucial than ever. The ability to pivot, adapt, and grow amidst challenges is what sets successful entrepreneurs apart. Throughout my time in business, I’ve faced countless obstacles, but each one has been a learning opportunity. Here are some key takeaways that have helped me and can help you grow in uncertain times: Embrace Change: Change is inevitable. Instead of resisting it, embrace it. See it as an opportunity to innovate and improve. Stay Agile: Flexibility is key. Be ready to pivot your strategies and approach as needed. The ability to adapt quickly can make all the difference. Focus on Core Values: In times of uncertainty, your core values serve as your guiding light. Stay true to what you believe in and let it drive your decisions. Invest in Your Team: Your team is your greatest asset. Invest in their growth, well-being, and resilience. A strong, united team can weather any storm. Stay Connected: Networking and collaboration are more important than ever. Stay connected with your industry peers, learn from their experiences, and share your own. Keep Learning: The business landscape is always changing. Continuously seek out new knowledge and skills to stay ahead of the curve. Remember, every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. By embracing resilience and adaptability, we can not only survive but thrive in any economic climate. Hope this helps! JA x

The road to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may seem daunting, but it's not impossible. Do you know that the key to this puzzle lies within you, in your Adaptability Quotient (AQ)? When I first started working in sustainable development (Helping to set up a Police Staff College in Afghanistan), I was overwhelmed by the scope and scale of the work and the lack of movement and flexibility of some local actors. It felt like an enormous mountain to climb. However, I soon realised adaptability was my strongest ally in this endeavour, that and holding on to a hook. Here are the steps I took: Step 1: I found my Hook—it was HOPE! Seeing hundreds of schoolchildren, both boys and girls, returning home from school gave me hope that we were supporting a larger goal that also provided these children with different opportunities. Step 2: I started unlearning some of what worked in the West but did not work in Afghanistan. Then, I learned and adapted quickly to new concepts, ideas, outdated technologies, and limited admin support. I took advantage of every opportunity to educate myself and grow my knowledge base around culture and diversity. Step 3: I started to embrace flexibility in my approaches. Rather than sticking to rigid plans, I adapted my strategies based on the changing realities on the ground. Step 4: I actively sought out diverse perspectives and opinions. This enabled me to adapt my viewpoints and strategies, helping me to innovate and find unique solutions to complex challenges. Thanks to these strategies, I contributed effectively to achieving the SDGs then. This journey taught me that adaptability is within us all and a key driver of success in sustainable development. Eventually, the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan, and that is a travesty. However, there were 20 years when children could learn and develop, and many of them are benefiting from that in other countries around the globe. There is still much to be done worldwide in delivering the 17 sustainable development goals. Along our journey, we will suffer significant setbacks, and those who are left behind will always suffer the most. So, we must continue our missions and remain adaptable, pivoting at the pace of the changing circumstances around us that are beyond our control, and finding new ways to improve the world. Whatever development goal you are working towards I, thank you for what you are doing to make this world a better place. So, what challenges have you faced in your efforts to contribute to the SDGs, and how have you used your AQ to overcome them? #AdaptabilityQuotient #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #AQ #SDGs

Sometimes I’m jealous of academics and their clean, tidy toy problems… But here’s how we can make their theories work in the messy real world. Decision science often involves translating theoretical concepts into actionable real-world strategies. This translation is crucial in environments where uncertainty and variability are the norms, such as in our Toyota supply chain management. Consider the theoretical frameworks that emphasize reinforcement learning and stochastic optimization. These theories provide strategies for adapting decisions dynamically as new information becomes available, similar to how a GPS recalculates routes in real-time based on traffic changes. 🎯 Practical Advice: 1️⃣ Start Small. Implement theoretical models on a small scale before rolling them out across the organization. This allows you to observe the model’s performance and make necessary adjustments. 2️⃣ Use Hybrid Models. Combine theoretical models with heuristic approaches. This can provide a balance between optimal and practical solutions, especially in complex and uncertain environments. 3️⃣ Frequent Re-evaluation. The real world is dynamic. Regularly revisit and update your models to align with new data and changing conditions. 4️⃣ Cross-functional Teams. Engage experts from various domains (data science, operations, IT) in the implementation process. Their diverse perspectives can help identify and mitigate practical challenges early. For instance, global supply chain disruptions challenge us to go beyond traditional models. Theoretical optimization might dictate certain stock levels and operational efficiencies, but real-world scenarios require us to adapt to unforeseen shortages and demand surges. The art lies in applying these adaptive, learning-based theories to continuously refine our strategies, ensuring they remain robust amidst volatility. The beauty of this approach is in its adaptability. It’s about learning from the environment and iteratively improving processes, mirroring the way algorithms learn and optimize based on new data. 💭 How do you balance the elegance of theory with the messy realities of practice in your field? #DataScience #Optimization #StochasticOptimization #ReinforcementLearning #SupplyChainManagement #OperationsResearch

Adaptability: The Leadership Superpower in Uncertain Times Change is inevitable. Whether in business, the military, or life itself, those who thrive aren’t necessarily the strongest or the smartest—they’re the most adaptable. I remember leading a team through a major transition that no one saw coming. Policies shifted, expectations changed overnight, and the team I was responsible for had two choices: resist the change or find a way to own it. At first, resistance was super high. “This isn’t how we’ve done things before.” “Why should we change if what we’re doing works?” But here’s what I knew: clinging to the past never secures the future. So, instead of fighting the shift, we leaned into it. We focused on what we could control, looked for opportunities hidden within the disruption, and made sure every person on the team felt empowered—not just informed—through the transition. The result? We didn’t just survive the change; we came out stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for success than ever before. #Thriving Companies today are facing a similar crossroads (#Forks). With new policies and economic shifts on the horizon, adaptability isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a survival strategy. The leaders who ask, “How can we make this work for us?” instead of “Why is this happening to us?” will be the ones setting the pace in their industries. The question is—how adaptable is your organization? Are you preparing your team to navigate change with confidence? Because those who embrace adaptability today will be the ones leading tomorrow. #Adaptability #Leadership #Resilience #ChangeManagement #FutureReady #BuildingResilience #KempSolutions