THE BIG FIVE: ADAPTABILITY
Why creativity rarely follows the plan.
Let’s consider our next creative behaviour, Adaptability, and why it belongs in the Big Five.
Where we start the creative process is not usually where we end up. Navigating the space in between demands adaptability; being flexible and agile enough in both attitude and approach.
If we take a moment to consider the other behaviours; Openness, Experimentation, Resilience - it becomes clear that each relies, to some extent, on a willingness to adapt.
Openness means we need to adapt to new and alternative ways of thinking, new opportunities and realities that might present themselves, rather than cling to the ones we expected.
Experimentation means we need to be able to adapt to the results, the feedback, the information that we discover along the way. If we’re unwilling to adapt to this new information and emerging reality, then we’re fixed and rigid in our response.
Resilience relies on adaptability too. Staying in the creative process isn’t simply about enduring setbacks, it’s about learning from them. Every obstacle asks us to adjust our thinking, rethink our approach or try something different. Resilience gives us persistence. It’s adaptability that gives us progress.
Do you remember we talked about improvisation and the no blocking rule? And that the antidote to blocking is Yes… And? Well, that’s how we adapt. Once we’ve said ‘Yes’ and accepted the offer, it’s the ‘And’ that moves us forward.
And move forward we must. After all, creativity can’t emerge if we refuse to move with it.
Being adaptable though is often much easier said than done. We have to be willing to let go of what we thought would happen next, what we hoped might happen and what we’d likely planned to happen, and be willing to change direction.
Naturally this causes varying degrees of resistance. Especially if we were perfectly content with the original direction of travel. Perhaps even preferred it. Then, when faced with a new reality, digging our heels down, fixing our position and refusing to budge is understandable.
Responding in this way though, won’t serve, support or strengthen our creativity. It is simply another form of blocking. And you know the rule. No blocking.
Practising adaptability as a creative behaviour means we’re able to respond to the unfolding journey ahead. Rather than see it as a disruption to the creative process, it can be more helpful to see it as part of the creative process.
Adaptability as a creative behaviour, isn’t about abandoning our destination every time something changes. It’s about being willing to change our route. Because that’s what makes creative progress possible.