Happy Friday 👋 !

This week, I attended an AI class on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)—being called the next evolution of search in the age of AI. When someone asked about the most effective GEO strategies, the answer surprised the room: "No one knows. It's all so new. Keep experimenting, because what works today might not work tomorrow."

The big takeaway? Everything is evolving daily, and the key isn't finding a single "right" answer. It's about having a system that lets you explore, experiment, and adapt on the fly.

The very next day, I listened to a Mel Robbins podcast with AI expert Allie K. Miller (1.6M LinkedIn followers, and she offers a free 5-day AI course—I signed up and will report back!). Among her many insights, this one stood out:

"When I look at people that I look up to that are successful, it's people who jumped in and did the thing. And I would also say that it's not that big of a leap. The people who are winning in AI are not these big crazy risky decision makers. It's people who are taking these quick little wins and quickly iterating and creating a little system of adaptability."

That's when it clicked for me: Do I have a system for adaptability? Not just good intentions or reactive responses—but an actual system that helps me navigate the head-spinning pace of change?

The answer is yes, and I want to share it with you. My overall system centers on the five Ability dimensions of Adaptability Intelligence (AQ): Mindset, Resilience, Unlearning, Mental Flexibility, and Grit. Here's how I put each into practice every week and systematize adaptability.

Mindset: Map Changes and Choose Your Words

I start each week by identifying the changes coming my way. Yes, there are the big global shifts, but I focus on the immediate ones: meetings that get moved, new client information, a colleague's resignation, or a project pivot.

Once I've mapped these changes, I choose three words that define how I want to show up. For me right now, it's "elevate, empower, and energize."

Last week, when a client meeting was suddenly rescheduled and compressed into half the time, I remembered "elevate." Instead of rushing through my agenda, I elevated the conversation by focusing on their biggest priority. That one word changed my entire approach.

Your turn: What changes are coming your way this week? Choose three words that define how you'll meet them. Intention is everything.

Resilience: Reflect and Record Your Lessons

No matter how well I map my week, changes happen, roadblocks appear, negative news arrives. Things don't go as planned.

When this happens, I training myself to open my digital journal and capture three things:

• What happened
• What I learned
• What I'll try differently next time (this is the most important one!)

The key is writing it down. Recording the lesson helps lock it in and strengthens your resilience. Look for lessons about what worked, what didn't, and especially the moments where you surprised yourself with how you handled something (good or bad!).

Your turn: When you hit a roadblock during the week, take five minutes to journal these three questions. The pattern you'll notice over time is where your real growth and adaptability happens.

Unlearning: Question Your Assumptions

Unlearning isn't just about dropping old habits—it's about challenging the assumptions that shape how you work.

I ask myself: What assumptions do I hold about my role, my clients, my services, or my industry? Why do I believe these things? Are they actually true, or just long-standing patterns I carry with me?

Your turn: This week, write down one assumption you're carrying in your work life. Then choose a simple action to test whether it still holds—or if it's time to let it go. Unlearning starts with noticing what's no longer serving you.

Mental Flexibility: Seek Out New Perspectives

One of my favorite ways to stay mentally flexible is engaging with people outside my usual circle. I schedule coffee chats with people in different departments or fields, ask about their challenges, and learn how they solve problems.

Recently, I had coffee with someone from the engineering team at my client's office. I asked about her job (wow, so different from what I am doing for the company!), and she also shared a workflow challenge I'd never considered. Her perspective completely shifted how I approach project timelines now.

Your turn: Write down the name of someone you'll schedule coffee with this week. Then prepare 3-4 open-ended questions like:

• What projects are you working on right now?
• What excites you most about your work and the industry?
• What do you think we should be thinking about but aren't?
• How could we help each other?

After your conversation, write down one insight you gained. This simple practice broadens your perspective and helps you adapt your own approaches.

Grit: Set Weekly Goals and Check In

At the start of each week, I set three key goals. I block time on my calendar to work on them. On Fridays, I check in with an accountability partner to review what I accomplished.

After doing this for several months, I've learned something important: I completely overestimate what I can accomplish in a day. Now I ruthlessly prioritize needle-moving activities instead of trying to boil the ocean. This focused approach helps me stay passionate and persistent, even when unexpected changes knock me sideways.

Your turn: What are your three key goals for next week? Who will you check in with on Friday? (If you don't have an accountability partner, go find someone to experiment with. They'll thank you!)

Why This Matters Now

As leaders like Allie K. Miller, Mustafa Suleyman (CEO of Microsoft AI), and Daniel Goleman (author of Emotional Intelligence) keep emphasizing: adaptability is the essential skill for our future. With the world changing at breakneck speed and AI evolving daily, having a weekly system to build these adaptability habits will help you navigate whatever comes next.

The people who are thriving aren't waiting for certainty. They're building systems that help them move forward anyway.

What's one element from this system you'll try this week?

Hit reply and tell me...then have a great weekend!

Ann
​www.adaptsuccess.com​

🧠 Gear Up for Change is your weekly dose of insight on navigating and leveraging change — grounded in AQai’s science of adaptability. If you find it valuable, forward it to a colleague who’s also leading through liminality and they can subscribe here.

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

1️⃣ 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.

2️⃣ 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.

Issue #56, 14 November 2025