Are you aware that the most important skill in the hospitality industry is adaptability skill? Yes, it is! As cliche as this might look or sound, it is absolutely correct. As humans, it’s natural that we grow and evolve. We’re hardly ever static. Everything in our path is subject to change…even work.

When conquering the workday, adaptability is one of those skills that help you take on challenges head-on and grow professionally as you flourish in your hospitality career. In today’s blog post, we will show you how you can improve your adaptability skills in your hospitality career.

What is adaptability?

Adaptability is the ability to be able to adjust to your environment in order to be successful. In the workplace, adaptability means being flexible to changing work plans. For example, if there’s an internal restructuring or redirection on a team project — that’s where adaptability comes in. 

Not to mention, adaptability is one of those skills that you want to have under your belt. Adaptability is categorized as a soft skill. Many hospitality organizations look for individuals who are able to work seamlessly, make sound decisions, and respond appropriately to immediate change.

Important skills that influence workplace adaptability

As a professional who is looking forward to growing in the hospitality industry, it is important that you have the ability to adjust to change in any circumstance. To do this, you need to have the following skills at your disposal: 

• Strategic Thinking
• Listening
• Communication
• Responsiveness
• Resilience

How to improve your adaptability skills as a hospitality professional

Adaptation is a profound process; it means you are able to figure out how to thrive in any location. Below are 5 proven ways to improve your adaptability in your workplace:

Be aware of changes in your workplace

Part of adaptability is keeping an eye out for what’s happening in your environment. Whether it’s big or small changes in your daily routine, be cognizant of your surroundings. To keep track of company and team updates through weekly standups, one-on-one meetings, or internal emails. Sometimes you see change coming and sometimes it hits you like a ton of bricks. 

Develop a growth mindset

Adaptability isn’t a skill that’s developed overnight. It takes practice and the willingness to learn new things, a.k.a having a growth mindset. Mistakes will happen, but it’s vital to welcome challenges and find opportunities to grow. Your outlook and attitude play a major role when it comes to accepting change. When you keep that motivation and positivity going, it’ll influence others to adopt as well. 

Ask for feedback

How are you supposed to boost your adaptability skills without any feedback? That means seeking feedback from your colleagues and manager during times of change. And along with feedback, becoming more adaptive is asking questions to expand your knowledge. Remember, the most adaptable individuals are the ones who ask and give feedback continuously throughout their careers. 

Search for the silver lining

Roadblocks and challenges at work hurt a lot. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. Part of being an adaptive individual is learning to acknowledge the difficulties and accept them. And taking it a step further, finding growth opportunities will only prepare you to adapt to those circumstances. Transitions are inevitable, no doubt there. But, when you take steps to recognize and flip the bad to the good, it’ll make for a smoother journey. 

Step out of your comfort zone

As we said, sometimes change is unpredictable. However, there are times you can push yourself towards change. That means when change is lurking around the corner, be proactive in seeking out positive change for yourself. Try to find opportunities to place yourself in new situations, so the next time unique challenges pop up, you’ll feel more comfortable diving in.

Everyone wants to attain their career peak, however, the path is not always smooth. Having refined adaptability skills will help you to go through rough paths easier than expected.