Happy Friday 👋 !

ACT. Agency in Change drives Transformation!

We talk a lot about adaptability...but what fuels it?

The answer is agency: the belief that you can influence what happens next.

In times of rapid change (like now!), agency is what moves us from fear to curiosity, from uncertainty to clarity, and ultimately, from reaction to progress. Let's talk about why this is so important.

🧭 A Wake-Up Call

Earlier this week, I read a blog post from AI4SP about an AI project that saved one organization 3,000 hours—an extraordinary achievement, but the same project also eliminated 18 consulting roles. I highly recommend you read the full post and listen to the 12 minute podcast - it's full of information and great questions.

That story has been replaying in my mind ever since because it captures both the incredible promise and the uneasy tension of this moment we’re living through.

Also this week, I spoke with a company that’s been around for decades. They’re eager to adopt AI but afraid of getting it wrong. That fear—the fear of missteps, of betting on the wrong technology, of being left behind—is everywhere right now.

Both stories point to the same truth: the future is being created in real time, and none of us can sit on the sidelines. We can’t wait until the dust settles. We need to experiment, learn, and adapt while the landscape shifts.

And that’s where agency comes in.

💫 Losing and Reclaiming Agency

Losing agency feels like overwhelm. You freeze, unsure which path to take, and time starts moving faster than you can keep up.

Reclaiming it feels completely different—it’s excitement, energy, and determination. It’s the realization that you can still shape what happens next, even if you can’t control everything.

In the Adaptability Quotient (AQ) model, agency is a vital part of Hope — the belief that there are multiple paths forward and that you have the capabilities to move along those paths and influence the future. It’s also highly related to your Mindset about change — the conviction that change will ultimately lead to something better.

When you combine these, you energize your agency—the fuel that moves you from stuck to in motion.

Agency turns fear into curiosity, and uncertainty into opportunity.

🌱 Hope in Action: The Agency Loop

Hope and agency are part of a reinforcing loop.

When you believe there are many possible paths, you’re more likely to take action.
When you act, you learn.
And every lesson builds confidence, feeding more hope.

It’s a simple loop, but it’s powerful—and it’s what adaptability looks like in motion.

For me personally, one way I stay hopeful is by tapping into community. I’m part of the OpenExO and AQ communities, and I have go-to partners like Michelle, Beth and Sara who I call when I need feedback, perspective, or a push to keep moving. Every time I reach out, brainstorm, and take one small step forward, the fog of uncertainty clears just a little.

Agency grows through action—and action doesn’t have to be massive. It just has to start.

🧪 The Power of Experimentation

In times of rapid change, agency goes hand in hand with experimentation.

The pace of AI innovation means no one has a perfect roadmap. Companies and individuals that thrive will be the ones who experiment—quickly, safely, and continuously.

Experimentation is how we learn our way forward. It’s not about gambling on one big bet; it’s about running small, smart tests that reveal what works and what doesn’t.

A useful framework for this comes from Dr. Nadya’s book How to Thrive in Chaos and her STELLAR Canvas, a practical tool for running structured experiments in uncertain environments.

🌟 The STELLAR Canvas Framework

• ST – Starting Position: Define where you are now and what you’re observing about the situation or challenge.
• E – End Point: Clarify what success looks like or what you want to learn from this experiment.
• LL – Lessons and Limits: Lessons you've learned from the past and don’t want to repeat, and limits on the experiment—whether it’s costs, timing, or lines you can’t cross.
• A – Actions: Outline the concrete steps you’ll take to run the experiment.
• R – Review: Reflect on outcomes and insights, and decide what to amplify, adapt, or stop.

Using this canvas turns uncertainty into structured learning. It gives both individuals and teams a clear way to move forward—step by step—without needing all the answers in advance. You can get a free digital version PDF of How to Thrive in Chaos here. Use the code ADAPT at checkout.

🔍 Two Experiments to Try

1️⃣ A Personal Micro-Experiment

Last week, I tried something small but surprisingly energizing. I saw a creative prompt using Google’s Gemini and used it to transform an ordinary photo of me into a professional profile photo.

It was a five-minute experiment. But it reminded me that these micro-experiments build confidence. They teach us how tools work, how AI interprets us, and how we can play, learn, and stay current without the pressure of perfection.

Try this:​
1️⃣ Your Own Experiment

Think of one small experiment you can run this week—something that stretches your curiosity. Maybe it’s using AI to visualize an idea, summarize feedback, or craft a new way of presenting your work.

Take one step, observe what happens, and notice how that action affects your confidence.

2️⃣ A Team Experiment

At the organizational level, experimentation creates collective agency.

Here’s a simple way to start:

1. Bring your team together for a one-hour conversation.
2. Ask everyone to share one AI tool they’re using—or curious about.
3. Identify one process you could improve using AI (e.g., reporting, research, brainstorming).
4. Define success metrics: What would “better” look like?
5. Run a two-week experiment.
6. Debrief: What did we learn? What worked? What didn’t?

These aren’t tech experiments—they’re adaptability experiments. You’ll be amazed how this small, structured test transforms fear into focus and creates shared ownership of the future.

🌊 Life is Faster than Ever

As you'll hopefully read in AI4SP blog post cited above, "The Speed is Unprecedented. Generative AI has reached 40% adoption in under three years; the PC took seven years. The world is changing faster than ever. AI is evolving daily, reshaping what’s possible across every industry"

We can’t slow it down. But we can decide how we’ll meet it.

That’s agency: the belief that we can influence our own path forward.

This coming week, I invite you to design one small experiment—alone or with your team—and see what it teaches you. Because clarity doesn’t come from waiting; it comes from acting.

The AI era isn’t happening to us.
It’s being created by us.

And every small experiment you run is a step toward the future you want to live in.

Have a great weekend!

Ann
​www.adaptsuccess.com​

Gear Up for Change is your weekly dose of practical wisdom for unlocking adaptability and thriving in an AI-accelerated world. Forward this to a colleague who needs to hear this message and they can subscribe here.

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Want to Gear Up for Change Faster? Here are 3 Next Steps:

📌 Get Your FREE AI Leadership Edge Scorecard. How prepared are you to lead your team and thrive through change? Find out in less than 5 minutes.

📌 Measure Your AQ Take a 25-minute assessment to discover your Adaptability Quotient (AQ). Learn how to thrive in times of change and create a strategy for your growth. Gear up for the rest of 2025 using our companion AQme Workbook. (Tip: check with your manager -- you can probably expense this!) Learn more here.

📌 Make Change Part of Your Team’s Agenda Want to empower your team to navigate change more effectively? Hit reply and tell me about your team's main challenges and disruptions, and we'll set up a call to outline a tailored workshop for your next offsite.

Issue #51, 10 October 2025