Adaptability and AQ in the Workplace

You know - I.Q., E.Q., but there is also another quotient that seriously needs a spotlight these days, and that is adversity quotient or A.Q.


What is adversity quotient or A.Q.?
If emotional quotient is one's ability to handle emotions well, then adversity quotient is the ability to handle adversities well. If A.Q. sounds like resilience, that's because it is. It is one of the most sought-after characteristics of a person in many industries. It is known by many other names: grit, backbone, fortitude, persistence, tenacity, and self-sufficiency. Unlike I.Q. and E.Q., employers associate A.Q. with stability, strength, and power.

What are the qualities of a person with high adversity quotient?
A person with high adversity quotient is someone who can stick out in a job in spite of its dire circumstances.

People with high A.Q. are also the ones who can adapt to drastic changes in an organization, such as changes in management, sudden cost-cutting measures, and being assigned heavier workloads. It does not mean that they sacrifice personal well-being for the sake of grit—they make sure to deliver results first before negotiating terms later. It is like saying, “Yes, what you want is possible, in fact, these are the great results and improvements we made because of it. However, these changes are also taking a toll on the team because…”
In the face of adversity, high-A.Q. people will regard it with some level of perceived control, which means they think they have some level of influence over the adversity.

While adversity quotient plays a major role in predicting success and staying power in organizations, good leaders also tend to have high E.Q. and high I.Q. A good I.Q. standing allows a person to learn facts and processes quickly, with a good E.Q. allows a person to stay level-headed in tense or high-stress situations. However, A.Q. will demonstrate its usefulness in times of great challenges to the organization.  

(Adapted from https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/what-is-adversity-quotient-a00293-20191209)

Have a quick look at the Adaptability at Work video to get some pointers on what you might need to put into the focus of your own attention in terms of adaptability.

How developed is your A.Q.?