Missionaries move into new cultural and social environments which are very different from their home backgrounds.  To survive and to thrive in the new environment they need to be flexible to adapt to their new context.

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So, what does an “adaptable person” look like?  Here are things that adaptable people do…

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1. Adaptable people experiment.

 

To adapt you must be open to change, which means you must have the will—emotional tolerance, mental fortitude, spiritual guidance—to not only face uncertainty but manage it and press on.

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2. Adaptable people see opportunity where others see failure.

To adapt is to grow, to change, and to change.  Things you learned to be “right” in your own culture, may actually not be “right” in the new culture.  You can change to this new “right” as long as it is not biblically forbidden.  One of the problems is that you can have habits that defined success in the past.  These same habits may not continue defining success in the future.

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3. Adaptable people are resourceful.

You can take away a person’s resources, such as you were used to in your country, but you can’t remove resourcefulness. Rather than getting stuck on one solution to solve a problem, adaptable people have a contingency plan in place for when the first plan doesn’t work.

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4. Adaptable people think ahead.

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They are always open to opportunity.  Adaptable people are always on the lookout for improvement.  They can come up with minor changes that will turn ordinary into extra-ordinary because they’re not committed to a one-size-fits-all solution.

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5. Adaptable people don't whine.

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If they can’t change or influence a decision, they adapt and move on.  They don’t complain about it because they know this will only increase their internal emotional stress.

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6. Adaptable people talk to themselves.

 

Rather than complain, they engage in positive self-talk.  This is one of the single greatest habits you can learn for yourself.  This helps you to cope internally as well as to the circumstances.

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7. Adaptable people don't blame.

 

They’re not a victim to external influences because they’re proactive. To adapt to something new you must forego the old. Adaptable people don’t hold grudges or place blame needlessly but instead absorb, understand and move on.

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8. Adaptable people don’t claim fame.

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They don’t care about the limelight because they know it’ll soon burn out. Rather than wasting effort on a temporary issue, they shift their focus to the next obstacle to get ahead of the game so that when everybody else finally jumps on board, they’ve already moved on to the next challenge.

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9. Adaptable people are curious.

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Without curiosity, there is no adaptability. Adaptable people learn—and keep learning. Curiosity enables growth; it pulls you along, as opposed to willpower, which pushes you forward. Willpower only lasts so long as you like being pushed. Does anybody like being pushed?  Not usually.

 

10. Adaptable people adapt.

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If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be adaptable.

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11. Adaptable people stay current.

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If you want to adapt to change you must know what to adapt to and why it’s important. Communication is at the heart of everything we do, and adaptable people realize the impact their words, tone and body language have on others.  So, they learn to communicate according to their fellow team-mates and the  personalities involved.

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12. Adaptable people see systems.

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Adaptable people see the big picture, the “entire forest” rather than just a few trees. They have to, otherwise they would lack the repertoire of context from which they base their decisions on to adapt.

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13. Adaptable people open their minds.

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If you’re not willing to listen to others’ points of view then you’ll be limited in your thinking, which means you’ll also be limited in your adaptability. The more context you have, the more choices that position you toward change.  This is why learning about your new culture, making friends in it, and learning from them is so important.  Without this, you won’t adapt like you should.

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14. Adaptable people know what they stand for.

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The choice to change isn’t an easy one, however neither is the choice to remain the same. Choosing to adapt to something new and forego the old requires a strong understanding of personal values, including Biblical values.  They need to be able to discern between Biblical values and their own cultural values.  It is easy to assume that culture values, especially as learned in church with fellow believers, are also Biblical, and they may not be.  Knowing what’s important to you—and what isn’t—helps you along the pathway of adaptability.  (Adapted from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffboss/2015/09/03/14-signs-of-an-adaptable-person/?sh=75dee2db16ea)

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To Develop Adaptibility Develop the Following:

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Intellectual flexibility – keeping an open mind is important. You should be able to demonstrate that you can integrate new information and draw conclusions from it, and that you can switch from the detail to the big picture and back again.

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Receptiveness – particularly to change. Being able to respond with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to achieve targets and objectives is a key competency.

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Creativity – actively seek out new ways of doing things and having confidence to improvise or experiment.

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Modification of behaviour –  you are able to adjust your style of working or method of approach to meet the needs of a situation or emergency.

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Some people are naturally adaptable – in fact, they thrive on change and the unexpected and alter their routines as much as they can. However, if you are the kind of person who has a ‘to do’ list and doesn’t like it when something arises which isn’t on your list, then you aren’t naturally adaptable. You will, though, have learnt how to become adaptable and flexible through experience. You might even have the advantage over others as you will have used your planning and organizing skills to change your behavior.

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Whatever your natural tendencies, you must be able to prove that you can:

• Look for positive ways to make changes work rather than identifying why change will not work (that is, saying "yes" rather than "no" as a first instinct)

• Adapt to change and new ways of working quickly and easily

• Make suggestions for increasing the effectiveness of changes

• Show willingness to learn new methods, procedures, or techniques

• Shift your priorities in response to the demands of a situation

• Bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive attitude

If you do not possess these traits, there are ways you can train yourself to be more adaptable:

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Change Your Thought Process

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Let go of the “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality. While change can be scary and intimidating, embrace it and look at change as an opportunity to improve, learn, and grow. It can open the door to creativity as well. This also means, however, being open to the thoughts and opinions of others, that is, different perspectives.

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Force Yourself to Take Risks

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Little progress is made without risk. For some, the idea of risk is so adverse that they will run from it as fast as they can, but taking risks is key part of being adaptable. Start small and to increase comfort, discuss risk taking as part of team meetings, which can serve as a system of support.

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Encourage Others to Be Open Minded

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One of the best ways you can develop an open mind is to encourage others on your team to do the same. This creates a more open atmosphere in and around you, thereby further encouraging your open-mindedness and to continue the cycle. It also serves as a means to shut down closed-minded thinking, such as “Well, that’s how we’ve always done it.”

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Embrace Learning

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People who are curious and stay current tend to be adaptable. This means you need to embrace learning. This means you need to take some time to think about your adaptability skill level. If you are adaptable, then identify tangible ways to show it. If you are not, then actively take steps to train yourself to become more adaptable and document your progress. I also recommend you find an accountability partner to help you grow this important skill.   (From: https://drexel.edu/graduatecollege/professional-development/blog/2019/september/4-ways-to-boost-your-adaptability-skills/)