Self-directed approaches to adaptability development

Abstract

Modern careers increasingly call for development of adaptability and flexibility skills in response to the continuous transformation of the business environment. Subsequently, development of adaptability resources and competencies is seen as important. Yet, there is still a scarcity of information regarding personal adaptability development.

The theoretical background of this study is based on related theories in the topics of adaptability, cognitive flexibility, and self-leadership. A specific focus of the research has been placed on examining the applicability of cognitive self-leadership as a method for developing adaptability resources or mental attitudes that lead to personal adaptability development. In addition to a wide theoretical background, the research features an empirical study that collected qualitative data from eleven semi-structured interviews. The sample of the empirical study consisted of workers and professionals across a variety of career sectors.

The results of the research demonstrate that self-leadership can be an effective tool for self-regulation and for gaining self-direction. Furthermore, the findings suggest that practicing self-leadership strategies in self-observation, goal setting, and thought patterns are especially effective for adaptability development when combined with development of openness, curiosity, and cognitive flexibility. Consequently, the research highlights that a) self-leadership and b) the cognitive qualities of openness, curiosity, and cognitive flexibility are significant predictors of adapt-ability development. As proposed by the research, the two predicting factors have a direct causal effect on personal adaptability, in addition, they positively moderate each other’s influence on personal adaptability development.

Due to similarities in the conceptual frameworks, the secondary research objective examines the influence of self-awareness and self-efficacy on personal adaptability development. The research evidence validates that self-awareness and self-efficacy have an important influence on personal adaptability development. Self-awareness is suggested as having a moderating effect between development of self-leadership and developing the cognitive qualities of openness, curiosity, and cognitive flexibility. Self-efficacy, on the other hand, is proposed as having a bidirectional mediating effect on the relationship between self-leadership and personal adaptability development. The research concludes that increased self-awareness and self-efficacy will further accelerate personal adaptability development.