Harvard University expert says Adaptability is the Key to Success
A Harvard University expert has pointed out that the main reason extremely successful people stand out is their strong adaptability.
According to a report from the American news and business channel CNBC’s “Make It” section, Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller has spent over a decade studying some of the world’s most successful individuals, working alongside them in various fields including Fortune 500 executives and Nobel Prize winners.
Fuller found that what sets successful individuals apart is not their confidence or business savvy, but their adaptability.
He told CNBC Make It, “They don’t stick to the career paths they set out in their student days or when they started their first job. They embrace unexpected opportunities and changes rather than fearing them.”
While setting career goals and creating a timeline to achieve them is a good practice, Fuller warns of the danger of relying too heavily on your preferences, to the point where you cannot handle sudden detours or non-linear paths.
For example, you might turn down an exciting and well-paying job offer at a small startup because you have always planned to work for a well-known corporation.
In such a case, Fuller says, “You’re neglecting where your motivations or interests really lie and letting rigid expectations guide your career. That kind of stubborn mindset won’t take you far.”
Fuller adds that if you are fixated on a specific career path, you may overlook other satisfying choices in your professional journey.
According to a recent study by the social media platform LinkedIn, adaptability is a soft skill that is “increasingly in demand” in many industries.
LinkedIn found that the need for adaptable and flexible employees in the workplace is a direct result of post-pandemic changes in the workforce.
“This is a rare skill,” Fuller said. “People are afraid to try new things, afraid of failure. But without stepping out of your comfort zone, you cannot grow.”