Change is not easy for most people, especially if things were going well and the new world order at work is full of uncertainty. Jeff Boss, a former Navy SEAL Team 4 operator, suggests first altering your motivation for change. Rather than something like the unhelpful and negative “I have to do this because my boss said to”, find a perspective that’s more personally inspiring.

If you’re always on the lookout for methods of self-improvement, for instance, this is a prime opportunity to learn how to be more accommodating and flexible at work.

Interested in your future marketability for better jobs? This could be a chance to learn a new skill that could further your ambitions. Changes in your department structure, management or location could also lead to the new relationships you seek, for either career networking or friendship.

The key first step to excelling at adaptability is finding a motivator that makes it easier for you to adapt.

It's easy to say that you're open to change and ready to adapt, but in order to demonstrate adaptability, you’ve got to talk the talk and walk the walk. Change is a constant in our world and committing to being more flexible will allow for a more dynamic work environment for all.

It can be frustrating when you have your whole day planned out for maximum efficiency and a meeting gets moved or a new one gets added on, but you need to just go with it. In order to demonstrate how truly adaptable you are, you'll need to have the ability to go with the flow a bit more and still maintain that maximum work efficiency, even with the changes.

Every successful person has learned something from the people around them, whether colleagues, family, friends or a helpful mentor. The millions of how-to videos on YouTube attest to the fact that it’s easier to learn when you can watch someone who’s already mastered that particular task. It’s the same principle here.

If your colleague, Whitney, has moved up the corporate ladder faster than you, even switching departments more than once to take advantage of available promotions, observe how she adapts to these new roles. What is her attitude? How does she prepare? How does she interact with those around her? Learn from her positive efforts and try incorporating them into your own routine.

Observing others can also help when dealing with clients, competitors and even your boss. Like athletes studying video of their opponents, knowing how the other person thinks and acts in certain situations can help you prepare your own response. That advance preparation allows you to more quickly adapt to sudden problems or challenges.

In addition to observation, we learn by asking questions. When big changes happen at work, including restructuring or a whole new computer system, some apprehension or confusion is understandable. The only way to combat that is to ask questions until you fully comprehend all the changes taking place.

Obviously, you don’t want to be like a pestering three-year-old asking “But why?” repeatedly. Thoughtful questions that help you adapt to the change and get your work done during the transition, however, is something your bosses will appreciate.

This is another case where teamwork also helps with adaptability. Save some of your questions for your coworkers who may have understood some aspects of the change better than you. Friends in other departments may also have access to different information. The more knowledge you have, the better you’ll be able to transition to the new system.

It's no surprise that being able to problem-solve is a highly transferable skill in the workplace and a great way to demonstrate adaptability. What will really set you apart is that you're not only problem solving the issues that come to your attention, you’re reaching out for new ones and solving those, too.

As you implement the steps above and are observing and asking questions (while actively listening), find opportunities to put yourself in situations that require you to hone your ability to solve problems at work and keep practicing as much as you can.

Whether it’s a sudden assignment with a short deadline or a new accounting system that will change every single facet of your workflow, a big challenge in your daily work life can leave you feeling overwhelmed. It’s difficult to adapt when you only look at the enormity of a task, like the months it will take to fully integrate that new accounting process.

The key to tackling this problem is to break it down into smaller assignments. It’s much easier to embrace the challenge when you have an orderly to-do list that gives you attainable goals to work on. Crossing each item off that list is satisfying and helps you remain calm and focused as you cut through an initially daunting task.

Take every opportunity to acquire new skills at your job. This can include anything from taking an offered training course, asking for permission to sit in on additional meetings to learn more about sales or marketing techniques, or taking on a teaching or mentoring assignment. Any knowledge you pick up can help you adapt to upcoming changes as well as make you a more well-rounded candidate for promotion or on a job hunt.

Lifelong learning is a crucial part of any career development strategy. This includes areas outside your exact job description. Acquiring knowledge and skills in other subjects and industries can offer a different perspective that inspires unique innovation, an important form of adaptation that helps you stay ahead of the competition.

Your attitude can be as important as your actions when problems arise at work. Stay calm and poised and be ready to make quick and confident decisions. How you overcome obstacles will communicate volumes to your bosses.

Focusing on solutions without freaking out or complaining will also have a favorable effect on your coworkers and subordinates. Confidence and adaptability in the face of upheaval are both important aspects of being a good leader and will inspire your staff to also remain calm and focused.

People who only see one way to do things tend to stagnate in their job. Using your knowledge and creativity to come up with alternate solutions to a problem is much more valuable to your superiors. They value someone who isn’t held back by a possible rejection of their first idea and is immediately ready with other ideas to benefit the company. If you’re looking for a promotion, this one action demonstrates your adaptability as well as your status as a team player and eager problem-solver at work.

This is also a useful technique to use with clients. Whether you’re pitching an ad idea, something from your product line or a property for sale, there’s always a possibility your first pitch won’t land. It’s one of the skills of negotiating to always have additional options that show you can adapt to the needs or preferences of the customer.

Cost-cutting measures, mergers and takeovers can all lead to a shake-up in job roles at your company. It can be frustrating to suddenly have a larger workload or be transferred to a department where you have little experience. There may even be a looming threat of losing your job altogether.

Despite the desire to dig your heels in and demand your old job back, you need to go with the flow. This is a crucial time to illustrate how well you handle pressure at work and adapt to the changed position. Show your bosses your initiative in learning the new role, and use your organizational and time management skills to conquer additional responsibilities.

Thinking on your feet can depend on the issue. For example, if you’re suddenly given new responsibilities as part of the transition, and one of those responsibilities is responding to employee questions, respond appropriately and as quickly as possible to ensure continual workflow for the employee.

Don’t be afraid to repeat the question if necessary. Utilize your effective communication skills and ask clarifying questions, and allow yourself the ability to pause and think, in order to ensure the employees receive the appropriate information. Thinking on your feet will absolutely demonstrate your adaptability in the workplace, but be sure to remember, it's a skill that’s learned with time, so give yourself grace as you're learning.

Step 12: Be a team player

As you're working your way through the steps, it’s important to remember not to forget the value of teamwork. It can be easily overlooked, as you're focusing on areas you can improve individually to demonstrate your adaptability, but being a team player is critical to your success.

It's true when you work in teams, you won't always get your way. You may not agree with the way things are done or even the list of things being prioritized, but as you demonstrate how well you can adapt in the workplace, it’s important to utilize steps 8–10 here. Stay calm and confident, prepare alternative solutions (when necessary), and make easy transitions as you work together with your team towards the common good of the company.

One thing that can really stall someone in their career is being afraid to take risks. If you know your job in and out, are sought out as an expert in your field, and have received praise and accolades for your work, it can be tough to step outside of that comfort zone. Taking on a new challenge means making mistakes and exposing yourself to failure and criticism.

There are benefits to taking risks, however. Being willing to learn new things, take on new roles or suggest new ideas are the only ways to truly advance in your career. You’ll be more able to adapt to changes in technology, market trends, workflow, leadership styles and more.

If you want to be a good boss, remember that it’s crucial for supervisors and business owners to allow employees this kind of freedom. True innovation happens when your staff feel free to experiment and are given the space to learn from their mistakes.

While making mistakes can be challenging, it can be equally challenging having the ability to apply the feedback given from those mistakes and allow it to help you grow.

You may have taken the risk, made the mistake, and fallen flat on your face. Now your perfectionist boss is providing you with feedback on your mistake; take it and make changes accordingly. Adapt to what they have told you and utilize this information as an insider tip into the way your company works as you grow and become a better employee.

No one really wants to hear a ‘Think positive!’ adage when they’ve just lost a client or when a marketing strategy completely bombed. Finding the upside in a disaster is the best way to move forward, however. Try to create some distance, and view the problem objectively.

Many successful people cite failure as a great learning tool. Figure out what went wrong and formulate ideas on how to fix the issue or at least avoid it in the future. There can be other benefits as well. Maybe the team really pulled together in a way they hadn’t before, or perhaps you got unexpected data that revealed a better market for your product.

Learning from your mistakes and creating strategies for better results is a perfect example of adaptability in the workplace. It’s also a useful skill for all facets of life.

Key takeaways

As you can see, there are several ways to demonstrate your adaptability in the workplace. Remember a few key things to keep you moving forward:

• Stay positive no matter what.
• Change is the only constant.
• Mistakes are bound to happen.

Keep those points in mind as you walk through the 15 steps and you're sure to prove just how adaptable you can be!

Check out this video to help create some better (and more successful) habits:

Do you feel like you're adaptable at work? Are there things you struggle to adapt to? Let us know in the comments below!

This article is an updated version of an earlier article originally published on 31 December 2014 and contains contributions by staff writer Shalie Reich.