Intelligence, Emotional Maturity or Adaptability?

I’ll take adaptability every time – based on the world we live in today, it’s vitally important to embrace the ability to “Adapt, Adjust and Overcome (AAO) all of the obstacles we face as the world around us continues to evolve and change at such a rapid pace.

To take it a step further, we’re constantly challenged by the reality of having to make snap reads and judgements on crucial decisions that likely have major financial, organizational or human consequences if they go sideways.

A case in point, hiring - I’ve always believed in hiring for attitude over aptitude, as in the end it’s not always the smartest amongst us that make things happen – it’s typically the grinder who just acclimates to the changing world around them and simply figures a way through the daily maze to ultimately drive home results.

In fact, there’s a poster hanging above my desk with a quote from Charles Darwin that simply states:

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."

In my world, change and transformation are always top of mind and I’ve been searching for a way to better quantify and qualify my crude hit or miss approach towards “reading” people’s ability to change.

Well folk’s I’m happy to report that I’ve found a better way to assess a person’s ability to change and I’d like to share what I’ve uncovered with all of you – it is truly impactful.

My revelation - I was lucky enough to stumble across a Ted Talk entitled “3 ways to measure your adaptability - and how to improve it” delivered by Natalie Fratto.

In six and a half minutes (6:31 – to be exact), Natalie provides enormous insight into how she uses an approach and loose framework to quickly determine if entrepreneurs looking for funding have a high adaptability quotient (AQ). In other words, how well will an individual react to the inevitability of change…

Essentially, she looks to assess a person’s AQ using three (3) tricks which include:

1. Asking what-if questions - to see how the individual deals with change via simulation and modeling on the fly…

2. One’s ability to actively unlearn – seek to challenge what you already know and bring yourself to zero…

3. Prioritizing exploration – above exploitation for those who refuse to change and continue to hold dear to what got them to where they are…

In the end, she outlines how one’s adaptability quotient (AQ) is far more important than their intelligence quotient (IQ) or emotional quotient (EQ) in determining how effective they’ll be in creating a business that is growth oriented, resilient and willing to change at the rate necessary to be successful.

I haven’t done this groundbreaking Ted Talk justice, so please take the time to check out it for yourself. I guarantee it will be the best six-minutes and a half minutes you’ll spend on-line this year.

Happy viewing:

https://www.ted.com/talks/natalie_fratto_3_ways_to_measure_your_adaptability_and_how_to_improve_it