change has always fascinated me we go through so much of it in our lives me
through so much of it in our lives me
through so much of it in our lives me included my parents divorced I was
included my parents divorced I was
included my parents divorced I was widowed in my 20s I’ve been a single
widowed in my 20s I’ve been a single
widowed in my 20s I’ve been a single parent and my whole career has been
parent and my whole career has been
parent and my whole career has been built around helping others deal with
built around helping others deal with
built around helping others deal with change why do we respond to it
change why do we respond to it
change why do we respond to it differently how can some people just
differently how can some people just
differently how can some people just adapt what others clearly struggle let’s
adapt what others clearly struggle let’s
adapt what others clearly struggle let’s face it the pace of change is not
face it the pace of change is not
face it the pace of change is not slowing down eighty percent of the jobs
slowing down eighty percent of the jobs
slowing down eighty percent of the jobs which would exist in 2025 do not exist
which would exist in 2025 do not exist
which would exist in 2025 do not exist today the average amount of jobs in
today the average amount of jobs in
today the average amount of jobs in someone’s lifetime is now six in six
someone’s lifetime is now six in six
someone’s lifetime is now six in six different companies that’s a lot of
different companies that’s a lot of
different companies that’s a lot of change and given that one third of the
change and given that one third of the
change and given that one third of the UK workforce is at this moment dealing
UK workforce is at this moment dealing
UK workforce is at this moment dealing with an anxiety well-being or mental
with an anxiety well-being or mental
with an anxiety well-being or mental health issue the data suggests that were
health issue the data suggests that were
health issue the data suggests that were not coping very well with what’s going
not coping very well with what’s going
not coping very well with what’s going on I believe that we’re going to have to
on I believe that we’re going to have to
on I believe that we’re going to have to do better at change I believe that where
do better at change I believe that where
do better at change I believe that where we’re losing the the ability to adapt
we’re losing the the ability to adapt
we’re losing the the ability to adapt proactively because we’re not taking the
proactively because we’re not taking the
proactively because we’re not taking the time and attention to prepare and
time and attention to prepare and
time and attention to prepare and develop ourselves we’re constantly
develop ourselves we’re constantly
develop ourselves we’re constantly jumping from change to change acting on
jumping from change to change acting on
jumping from change to change acting on impulse not acting on strategy and so
impulse not acting on strategy and so
impulse not acting on strategy and so that’s why I’m on this stage today my
that’s why I’m on this stage today my
that’s why I’m on this stage today my purpose is to help you respond to change
purpose is to help you respond to change
purpose is to help you respond to change how you want to and be the person that
how you want to and be the person that
how you want to and be the person that you want to be while you do it all
you want to be while you do it all
you want to be while you do it all started with a little project to see you
started with a little project to see you
started with a little project to see you know what made some people adaptable and
know what made some people adaptable and
know what made some people adaptable and others not I researched into into theory
others not I researched into into theory
others not I researched into into theory and academic literature launched a
and academic literature launched a
and academic literature launched a full-scale review at work of thousands
full-scale review at work of thousands
full-scale review at work of thousands of stories of lives and careers and
of stories of lives and careers and
of stories of lives and careers and breakthroughs and insecurities naively I
breakthroughs and insecurities naively I
breakthroughs and insecurities naively I thought it might be easy to begin with
thought it might be easy to begin with
thought it might be easy to begin with but it wasn’t and my little project
but it wasn’t and my little project
but it wasn’t and my little project became ten years worth of work but now I
became ten years worth of work but now I
became ten years worth of work but now I can share with you a formula for success
can share with you a formula for success
can share with you a formula for success which will help you both in work and out
which will help you both in work and out
which will help you both in work and out but first of all let me share with you a
but first of all let me share with you a
but first of all let me share with you a couple of insights during this time I
couple of insights during this time I
couple of insights during this time I was working in Australia and I was
was working in Australia and I was
was working in Australia and I was travelling back into every every couple
travelling back into every every couple
travelling back into every every couple of months and I was a single parent at
of months and I was a single parent at
of months and I was a single parent at the time so it required a lot of
the time so it required a lot of
the time so it required a lot of organization and planning but also
organization and planning but also
organization and planning but also brought with it a lot of tiredness and
brought with it a lot of tiredness and
brought with it a lot of tiredness and guilt and on this particular trip made
guilt and on this particular trip made
guilt and on this particular trip made my children were really struggling with
my children were really struggling with
my children were really struggling with me being away this time and I was in a
me being away this time and I was in a
me being away this time and I was in a meeting with my colleagues and I was
meeting with my colleagues and I was
meeting with my colleagues and I was checking my phone occasionally to make
checking my phone occasionally to make
checking my phone occasionally to make sure that they were okay and that they
sure that they were okay and that they
sure that they were okay and that they didn’t need me and my colleague called
didn’t need me and my colleague called
didn’t need me and my colleague called me on it and he said Jen you keep
me on it and he said Jen you keep
me on it and he said Jen you keep looking at your phone are you bored
looking at your phone are you bored
looking at your phone are you bored finally get really distracting you have
finally get really distracting you have
finally get really distracting you have to stop now I’d like to say that I
to stop now I’d like to say that I
to stop now I’d like to say that I responded to his request to change my
responded to his request to change my
responded to his request to change my behavior you know with gratitude and
behavior you know with gratitude and
behavior you know with gratitude and thanked him and put my phone neatly into
thanked him and put my phone neatly into
thanked him and put my phone neatly into my bag but I didn’t I I stood up and I
my bag but I didn’t I I stood up and I
my bag but I didn’t I I stood up and I raised my voice and I launched into a
raised my voice and I launched into a
raised my voice and I launched into a justification of my behavior telling him
justification of my behavior telling him
justification of my behavior telling him how only a couple of hours before I had
how only a couple of hours before I had
how only a couple of hours before I had face time my sons and they were so upset
face time my sons and they were so upset
face time my sons and they were so upset they were so emotional with me not being
they were so emotional with me not being
they were so emotional with me not being there but they couldn’t even say my name
there but they couldn’t even say my name
there but they couldn’t even say my name and if it’s okay with him I’d just like
and if it’s okay with him I’d just like
and if it’s okay with him I’d just like to check that they’re okay I’m not proud
to check that they’re okay I’m not proud
to check that they’re okay I’m not proud of it it’s not wasn’t my finest moment
of it it’s not wasn’t my finest moment
of it it’s not wasn’t my finest moment but and isn’t always easy to respond to
but and isn’t always easy to respond to
but and isn’t always easy to respond to change how we want to and my tiredness
change how we want to and my tiredness
change how we want to and my tiredness and guilt it had worn down my
and guilt it had worn down my
and guilt it had worn down my adaptability and I was less able to
adaptability and I was less able to
adaptability and I was less able to control my response we all struggled to
control my response we all struggled to
control my response we all struggled to adapt sometimes and quite often the
adapt sometimes and quite often the
adapt sometimes and quite often the coping mechanisms that we’ve had in the
coping mechanisms that we’ve had in the
coping mechanisms that we’ve had in the past don’t necessarily work in the
past don’t necessarily work in the
past don’t necessarily work in the future you know as we progress into
future you know as we progress into
future you know as we progress into leaders and parents and mature human
leaders and parents and mature human
leaders and parents and mature human beings most of the time we need to be
beings most of the time we need to be
beings most of the time we need to be even more aware of how we respond to
even more aware of how we respond to
even more aware of how we respond to change so that we don’t cause ourselves
change so that we don’t cause ourselves
change so that we don’t cause ourselves anxiety or regret because we’re just
anxiety or regret because we’re just
anxiety or regret because we’re just acting incongruous ly with who we are
acting incongruous ly with who we are
acting incongruous ly with who we are also we don’t unconsciously also teach
also we don’t unconsciously also teach
also we don’t unconsciously also teach others how to struggle it reminds me of
others how to struggle it reminds me of
others how to struggle it reminds me of a lady I worked with called Jane and
a lady I worked with called Jane and
a lady I worked with called Jane and Jane have been recently promoted and she
Jane have been recently promoted and she
Jane have been recently promoted and she was overcome by the amount of change
was overcome by the amount of change
was overcome by the amount of change that this new role brought with it
that this new role brought with it
that this new role brought with it her response to change was quite
her response to change was quite
her response to change was quite aggressive and perfectionistic she liked
aggressive and perfectionistic she liked
aggressive and perfectionistic she liked to control everything and you know with
to control everything and you know with
to control everything and you know with this new role it just wasn’t possible
this new role it just wasn’t possible
this new role it just wasn’t possible anymore the role was too big for her to
anymore the role was too big for her to
anymore the role was too big for her to get her arms around in the same way
get her arms around in the same way
get her arms around in the same way since she’d taken the post she’d had two
since she’d taken the post she’d had two
since she’d taken the post she’d had two team members go off with stress she had
team members go off with stress she had
team members go off with stress she had another two who’d just become yes-man
another two who’d just become yes-man
another two who’d just become yes-man they’re obviously out of fear and her
they’re obviously out of fear and her
they’re obviously out of fear and her peers saw her as as well inconsistent
peers saw her as as well inconsistent
peers saw her as as well inconsistent and they just didn’t know which Jane was
and they just didn’t know which Jane was
and they just didn’t know which Jane was going to turn up we were in the middle
going to turn up we were in the middle
going to turn up we were in the middle of a coaching session and she just she
of a coaching session and she just she
of a coaching session and she just she put her head in her hands and she said
put her head in her hands and she said
put her head in her hands and she said Jen there’s just too much change we’re
Jen there’s just too much change we’re
Jen there’s just too much change we’re gonna have to stop we’ll work on me when
gonna have to stop we’ll work on me when
gonna have to stop we’ll work on me when all of this has died down just at the
all of this has died down just at the
all of this has died down just at the time when she needed it most luckily she
time when she needed it most luckily she
time when she needed it most luckily she did reverse her decision a couple of
did reverse her decision a couple of
did reverse her decision a couple of weeks later but it brought home to me
weeks later but it brought home to me
weeks later but it brought home to me the importance of this project of mine
the importance of this project of mine
the importance of this project of mine because this is how we live our lives
because this is how we live our lives
because this is how we live our lives isn’t it you know in the midst of so
isn’t it you know in the midst of so
isn’t it you know in the midst of so much change in urgency that we respond
much change in urgency that we respond
much change in urgency that we respond we react instinctively and we we react
we react instinctively and we we react
we react instinctively and we we react to what’s in front of us because we have
to what’s in front of us because we have
to what’s in front of us because we have to but we don’t take the time to prepare
to but we don’t take the time to prepare
to but we don’t take the time to prepare ourselves in advance of the change and
ourselves in advance of the change and
ourselves in advance of the change and you know I responded to just a
you know I responded to just a
you know I responded to just a colleagues perception of my behavior
colleagues perception of my behavior
colleagues perception of my behavior Jane responded to another change on her
Jane responded to another change on her
Jane responded to another change on her plate neither response was plan they
plate neither response was plan they
plate neither response was plan they were automatic and instinctive but they
were automatic and instinctive but they
were automatic and instinctive but they were inconsistent with who we are and
were inconsistent with who we are and
were inconsistent with who we are and where we want to be we can’t always
where we want to be we can’t always
where we want to be we can’t always control the change that happens to us
control the change that happens to us
control the change that happens to us but we can manage our response to it and
but we can manage our response to it and
but we can manage our response to it and this is what I found out about how to do
this is what I found out about how to do
this is what I found out about how to do that I found that those people who were
that I found that those people who were
that I found that those people who were able to be adaptable who could respond
able to be adaptable who could respond
able to be adaptable who could respond to change how they wanted they they they
to change how they wanted they they they
to change how they wanted they they they had this certain adaptability and it
had this certain adaptability and it
had this certain adaptability and it meant that they had certain
meant that they had certain
meant that they had certain characteristics in common
characteristics in common
characteristics in common those who struggled to adapt these
those who struggled to adapt these
those who struggled to adapt these characteristics were minimal or missing
characteristics were minimal or missing
characteristics were minimal or missing and I call it the adaptability equation
and I call it the adaptability equation
and I call it the adaptability equation purpose inquisitiveness resilience and
purpose inquisitiveness resilience and
purpose inquisitiveness resilience and threat
threat
threat developing your capability in these
developing your capability in these
developing your capability in these areas will help you to be more adaptable
areas will help you to be more adaptable
areas will help you to be more adaptable let’s take purpose Winston Churchill
let’s take purpose Winston Churchill
let’s take purpose Winston Churchill once said that you will never reach your
once said that you will never reach your
once said that you will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones
destination if you stop and throw stones
destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks he was talking
at every dog that barks he was talking
at every dog that barks he was talking about purpose those with a strong
about purpose those with a strong
about purpose those with a strong purpose know that that it’s actually
purpose know that that it’s actually
purpose know that that it’s actually their purpose that will help them to
their purpose that will help them to
their purpose that will help them to weather the storms without getting
weather the storms without getting
weather the storms without getting distracted or demotivated and it helps
distracted or demotivated and it helps
distracted or demotivated and it helps them to be more adaptable because it’s
them to be more adaptable because it’s
them to be more adaptable because it’s their purpose that guides them to make
their purpose that guides them to make
their purpose that guides them to make the right choices in the face of change
the right choices in the face of change
the right choices in the face of change take Elon Musk as an example some people
take Elon Musk as an example some people
take Elon Musk as an example some people think he’s set up an electric car
think he’s set up an electric car
think he’s set up an electric car company but his purpose is to rid the
company but his purpose is to rid the
company but his purpose is to rid the world of carbon emissions today he
world of carbon emissions today he
world of carbon emissions today he chooses electric cars tomorrow it’s
chooses electric cars tomorrow it’s
chooses electric cars tomorrow it’s solar power or the – OOP your power of
solar power or the – OOP your power of
solar power or the – OOP your power of purpose is so strong why do you think
purpose is so strong why do you think
purpose is so strong why do you think Tesla is worth more than the Ford Motor
Tesla is worth more than the Ford Motor
Tesla is worth more than the Ford Motor Company even though it’s never made a
Company even though it’s never made a
Company even though it’s never made a profit and do you know your purpose and
profit and do you know your purpose and
profit and do you know your purpose and whether your everyday habits and choices
whether your everyday habits and choices
whether your everyday habits and choices take you closer to it or further away
inquisitiveness is the inner child that
inquisitiveness is the inner child that asks a hundred questions a day it
asks a hundred questions a day it
asks a hundred questions a day it requires space and Headroom and a
requires space and Headroom and a
requires space and Headroom and a certain mindset to constantly learn and
certain mindset to constantly learn and
certain mindset to constantly learn and grow dr. Carol Dweck we’ll call it the
grow dr. Carol Dweck we’ll call it the
grow dr. Carol Dweck we’ll call it the growth mindset and these people they’re
growth mindset and these people they’re
growth mindset and these people they’re they’re able to constantly scan the
they’re able to constantly scan the
they’re able to constantly scan the environment looking for the need to
environment looking for the need to
environment looking for the need to adapt in the future this makes them more
adapt in the future this makes them more
adapt in the future this makes them more adaptable because all the powerful
adaptable because all the powerful
adaptable because all the powerful thinking and insight has happened before
thinking and insight has happened before
thinking and insight has happened before the change hits them or before they
the change hits them or before they
the change hits them or before they decide to make a change think about it
decide to make a change think about it
decide to make a change think about it you know the more questions you ask the
you know the more questions you ask the
you know the more questions you ask the more you learn the more you learn the
more you learn the more you learn the
more you learn the more you learn the more questions you think of to ask
more questions you think of to ask
more questions you think of to ask it’s a reinforcing cycle so think about
it’s a reinforcing cycle so think about
it’s a reinforcing cycle so think about a problem in a different way try a new
a problem in a different way try a new
a problem in a different way try a new solution ask the stupid question and
solution ask the stupid question and
solution ask the stupid question and then there I found a characteristic
then there I found a characteristic
then there I found a characteristic which involved overcoming setbacks and
which involved overcoming setbacks and
which involved overcoming setbacks and reducing stress both for the individual
reducing stress both for the individual
reducing stress both for the individual and for those around them and this I
and for those around them and this I
and for those around them and this I call resilience it’s been proven that
call resilience it’s been proven that
call resilience it’s been proven that the formation of a habit
the formation of a habit
the formation of a habit is not affected by falling off the wagon
is not affected by falling off the wagon
is not affected by falling off the wagon every now and then so that you know that
every now and then so that you know that
every now and then so that you know that kq8 while you’re on your diet or that
kq8 while you’re on your diet or that
kq8 while you’re on your diet or that outburst you had while you’re working on
outburst you had while you’re working on
outburst you had while you’re working on your self-control their normal their to
your self-control their normal their to
your self-control their normal their to be expected and it’s actually overcoming
be expected and it’s actually overcoming
be expected and it’s actually overcoming these setbacks and learning from them
these setbacks and learning from them
these setbacks and learning from them which will help you to be more adaptable
which will help you to be more adaptable
which will help you to be more adaptable so be honest with yourselves have their
so be honest with yourselves have their
so be honest with yourselves have their setbacks and changes that you’ve
setbacks and changes that you’ve
setbacks and changes that you’ve experienced have they made you settle
experienced have they made you settle
experienced have they made you settle for being off-course or are you still on
for being off-course or are you still on
for being off-course or are you still on track to being who you want to be now
track to being who you want to be now
track to being who you want to be now these first three characteristics had a
these first three characteristics had a
these first three characteristics had a positive correlation with adaptability
positive correlation with adaptability
positive correlation with adaptability so developing a high capability in these
so developing a high capability in these
so developing a high capability in these areas will help you to be more adaptable
areas will help you to be more adaptable
areas will help you to be more adaptable but then I found a characteristic which
but then I found a characteristic which
but then I found a characteristic which had a negative correlation with
had a negative correlation with
had a negative correlation with adaptability so a high level of threat
adaptability so a high level of threat
adaptability so a high level of threat will actually hurt your adaptability
will actually hurt your adaptability
will actually hurt your adaptability overall the aim here is to reduce it we
overall the aim here is to reduce it we
overall the aim here is to reduce it we all have a threat response when we’re
all have a threat response when we’re
all have a threat response when we’re faced with a real or perceived danger
faced with a real or perceived danger
faced with a real or perceived danger and this can be as subtle as aggressive
and this can be as subtle as aggressive
and this can be as subtle as aggressive body language or a different point of
body language or a different point of
body language or a different point of view or a threat of looking stupid the
view or a threat of looking stupid the
view or a threat of looking stupid the effect on the brain is the same as being
effect on the brain is the same as being
effect on the brain is the same as being followed down a dark alley in Australia
followed down a dark alley in Australia
followed down a dark alley in Australia I was in a high state of threat my
I was in a high state of threat my
I was in a high state of threat my children needed me I wasn’t there for
children needed me I wasn’t there for
children needed me I wasn’t there for them and my colleague while
them and my colleague while
them and my colleague while well-intentioned was keeping me from the
well-intentioned was keeping me from the
well-intentioned was keeping me from the only partial responsibility that I could
only partial responsibility that I could
only partial responsibility that I could take which was checking my phone to be
take which was checking my phone to be
take which was checking my phone to be highly adaptable you need to have a
highly adaptable you need to have a
highly adaptable you need to have a strong awareness of your threat response
strong awareness of your threat response
strong awareness of your threat response what it looks like what it feels like
what it looks like what it feels like
what it looks like what it feels like what triggers it and how best to manage
what triggers it and how best to manage
what triggers it and how best to manage it so here’s the equation adaptability
it so here’s the equation adaptability
it so here’s the equation adaptability equals purpose plus inquisitiveness plus
equals purpose plus inquisitiveness plus
equals purpose plus inquisitiveness plus resilience / threat to be highly
resilience / threat to be highly
resilience / threat to be highly adaptable and be able to respond to
adaptable and be able to respond to
adaptable and be able to respond to change how you want to develop your PIR
change how you want to develop your PIR
change how you want to develop your PIR reduce your T now what’s interesting
reduce your T now what’s interesting
reduce your T now what’s interesting about all these characteristics is
about all these characteristics is
about all these characteristics is they’re non fixed characteristics
they’re non fixed characteristics
they’re non fixed characteristics they’re not genetic they can be learned
they’re not genetic they can be learned
they’re not genetic they can be learned and developed over time
and developed over time
and developed over time this was quite a breakthrough for me
this was quite a breakthrough for me
this was quite a breakthrough for me because I realized that all these people
because I realized that all these people
because I realized that all these people had studied and worked with who are
had studied and worked with who are
had studied and worked with who are adaptable had not just been adaptable
adaptable had not just been adaptable
adaptable had not just been adaptable they had learned how to be adaptable you
they had learned how to be adaptable you
they had learned how to be adaptable you see historically it was thought that the
see historically it was thought that the
see historically it was thought that the brain was a physiologically static organ
brain was a physiologically static organ
brain was a physiologically static organ it’s created in childhood and now we’re
it’s created in childhood and now we’re
it’s created in childhood and now we’re just stuck with what we’ve got and while
just stuck with what we’ve got and while
just stuck with what we’ve got and while it’s true that the brain is much more
it’s true that the brain is much more
it’s true that the brain is much more plastic in the in the early years
plastic in the in the early years
plastic in the in the early years plasticity happens throughout life we
plasticity happens throughout life we
plasticity happens throughout life we just may need a little bit more focus
just may need a little bit more focus
just may need a little bit more focus and persistence as we get older we are
and persistence as we get older we are
and persistence as we get older we are meant to adapt but the brain is also
meant to adapt but the brain is also
meant to adapt but the brain is also highly efficient and this means that it
highly efficient and this means that it
highly efficient and this means that it will it will look for patterns to avoid
will it will look for patterns to avoid
will it will look for patterns to avoid us having to consciously think about the
us having to consciously think about the
us having to consciously think about the same things over and over again so just
same things over and over again so just
same things over and over again so just like river flowing down a well-worn
like river flowing down a well-worn
like river flowing down a well-worn riverbed the brain will take the easy
riverbed the brain will take the easy
riverbed the brain will take the easy route encouraging us to think in the
route encouraging us to think in the
route encouraging us to think in the same way react in the same way and
same way react in the same way and
same way react in the same way and creating automatic thinking habits and
creating automatic thinking habits and
creating automatic thinking habits and blind spots it’s much easier to continue
blind spots it’s much easier to continue
blind spots it’s much easier to continue doing something we’ve always done than
doing something we’ve always done than
doing something we’ve always done than it is to stop unless we know this and we
it is to stop unless we know this and we
it is to stop unless we know this and we make a conscious commitment to change we
make a conscious commitment to change we
make a conscious commitment to change we all have the capacity to learn and we
all have the capacity to learn and we
all have the capacity to learn and we all have the capacity to learn how to
all have the capacity to learn how to
all have the capacity to learn how to adapt we just have to start so today I
adapt we just have to start so today I
adapt we just have to start so today I challenge you research shows it takes 66
challenge you research shows it takes 66
challenge you research shows it takes 66 days for a new habit on average to fall
days for a new habit on average to fall
days for a new habit on average to fall from today that takes to just past New
from today that takes to just past New
from today that takes to just past New Year’s Day start today to being the
Year’s Day start today to being the
Year’s Day start today to being the person you want to be in the face of
person you want to be in the face of
person you want to be in the face of change don’t wait for a resolution to be
change don’t wait for a resolution to be
change don’t wait for a resolution to be someone you next year look at the
someone you next year look at the
someone you next year look at the adaptability equation which areas do you
adaptability equation which areas do you
adaptability equation which areas do you need to focus on so that you can respond
need to focus on so that you can respond
need to focus on so that you can respond to change how you want to and be the
to change how you want to and be the
to change how you want to and be the person that you want to be while you do
person that you want to be while you do
person that you want to be while you do develop your PIR reduce your tea and
develop your PIR reduce your tea and
develop your PIR reduce your tea and encourage others to do the same thank
encourage others to do the same thank
encourage others to do the same thank you
you
you you
”
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