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.
Read the full article on Competitive Edge:
https://www.competitiveedgeinc.com/navigating-the-adaptability-paradox/