In recent years, the economy has changed dramatically, and the skills required in many trades have also evolved. Today’s employees need to operate in ambiguous and highly dynamic environments, with higher information loads and shorter time frames for decision-making and action (Abdel Halim & Payoux, 2019). Therefore, to predict job performance, studies have shown that “adaptability” is now central to recruitment, talent development and career management.
Adaptability skill is generally referred to the ability of the individuals to positively alter their mindset and their actions, often in ways that are initially uncomfortable or even stressful, to conquer new challenges. Furthermore, adaptability is not just about adjusting to a challenging situation. It encompasses being able to effect changes with smoothness and timeliness, without any major setbacks. However, researches that explicitly contribute to the study of adaptability address rarely the complexity inherent in the cognitive aspects of adaptive performance, as it pertains to real-time dynamic tasks.
Being adaptable requires a range of cognitive skills. Here are the most significant factors cited in the literature :
1-Cognitive Intelligence and Adaptability : Cognitive or general intelligence (g) refers to the individual capability to comprehend one’s environment and effectively plan a response (Gottfredson, 1997). Frensch and Sternberg (1989) relate intelligent thought to one’s ability to choose the most effective strategies in novel scenarios. In fact, several studies are in line with the two precedent interpretations. For example, LePine, Colquitt and Erez (2000) have shown that cognitive intelligence has a predictive capacity in determining outcomes in dynamic decision-making and in adaptive performance in particular.
2- Attention and Adaptability: Attention encompasses many aspects of human information processing experiences. It includes maintenance, focus and resource allocation and the processes through which sensory input is “transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used” (Neisser, 2014). Studies have shown that adaptive performance within a task requires attention ability. More precisely, individual with low attention ability may become overwhelmed by information, thus not following a coherent decision path toward adapting well with the changes (Anderson, 1983).
3- Cognitive agility and adaptation : cognitive agility includes at once 1) openness that composed by creativity and two types of curiosity : epistemic and perceptual, 2) focused attention which is a type of attention that makes it possible to quickly detect relevant stimuli and finally 3) cognitive flexibility which refers to the ability to cognitively control and shift mental set. These three variables operate in unison within a task that demands dynamic real-time updates.
It should be noted that there are also other factors that may impact adaptability skills. More specifically, they can vary depending on personal factors (motivation, emotion, or sensory modality that processes the stimulus). For example, we are more efficient when we’re awake and motivated, rather than sad or tired. There is also environmental factor that could impact individual’s adaptation. For example, it becomes more difficult to concentrate with more frequent or intense distractions. Beyond that, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the task to be done. It is complexity, duration, or salience could inhibit more or less the adaptation process.
Learned words :
Setbacks : difficultés
Salience : saillance
References :
Abdel Halim, L., & Payoux, M. (2019, September). The link between cognitive abilities and the main soft skills for the 21st Century workplace: A literature review. Poster session presented in the International Conference on New Trends in Social Sciences, Spain, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27041.97123
Anderson, R. D. (1983). A consolidation and appraisal of science meta‐analyses. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 20(5), 497-509.
Frensch, P. A., & Sternberg, R. J. (1989). Expertise and intelligent thinking: When is it worse to know better. Advances in the psychology of human intelligence, 5, 157-188.
Gottfredson, L. S. (1997). Why g matters: The complexity of everyday life. Intelligence, 24(1), 79-132.
LePine, J. A., Colquitt, J. A., & Erez, A. (2000). Adaptability to changing task contexts: Effects of general cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Personnel psychology, 53(3), 563-593.
Neisser, U. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Classic edition. Psychology Press.