Unmasking the difference between resilience and adaptability

Today the UK lifted its legal requirement on wearing face masks. Until now, people had no choice but to comply with this change, and most did. Now they can revert to normality, and most will.

Hidden in the above paragraph are a couple of factors that highlight the difference between resilience and adaptability:

The first is based on the fact that resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back. We weathered the storm of Covid restrictions; we were unmasked, then masked, and now back to unmasked. Situation normal. Adaptability on the other hand isn’t about putting up with change until you can go back to the way things were. It’s about harnessing the energy of the storm to take you to higher ground. Quite literally in Craig Lundberg’s case, when, after losing his sight in the Iraq War, climbed Kilimanjaro. Even negative change is the opportunity to make a positive difference.

The second factor is choice – or lack of it. Being forced to change is no indication of adaptability. In fact, you could be forgiven if it made you even more resistant to the next change challenge you face. Adaptability is about having the curiosity, courage and speed to make the most of whatever happens next. Being compliant doesn’t necessarily require any of those qualities.

We all need to be resilient, because sometimes the way things were is worth returning to – like being able to breathe without fogging up your glasses. But if we want to make a difference, we need to be adaptable.

Rich Alderton from High Performance Change is an Adaptability Intelligence specialist, so if you or your organisation need to become more adaptable, please get in touch.