According to Daniel Goleman, author of the book Emotional Intelligence, “Of all the emotional intelligence competencies, strength in adaptability predicts success most often.” This makes sense when you consider that many people become upset and frustrated when they are problem-solving. Instead of taking a minute to think, they often simply repeat the same action with the same results. Being adaptable means you have the emotional control to stop and analyze the situation before taking additional steps.
Adapting to New Technology
The world is changing faster than ever, with new technologies and artificial intelligence advancing every year. It can feel overwhelming to keep up, and that feeling of overwhelm can spur anger, frustration, and even hopelessness. Keeping a sense of curiosity and openness to learning new things is necessary to thrive. Some of the new developments can bring efficiency and ease to formerly arduous tasks such as medical record writing, so taking the time to explore them can yield positive results.
Author and business advisor Barry O’Reilly writes, “There comes a time in every individual’s life when doing things that brought you success in the past no longer deliver the same results. You wake up and suddenly you’re stuck, stagnating, unsatisfied, or struggling with what was once your secret to success.”
In today’s world, conditions and norms are changing rapidly. If you don’t adapt, you might be left behind. Certainly, a portion of your clients will be right there with you, clinging to the past, but many will be attracted to practices that are embracing new ways of doing business, such as using online patient portals, electronic payment methods, telehealth, and online scheduling.
Adapting to New Market Conditions
Ross Thornley, author of Decoding AQ, defines adaptability as “the capacity to adjust one’s thoughts and behaviors in order to respond to uncertainty, new information, or changed circumstances.” Consider whether you have been adaptable to the new market conditions for attracting early career equine veterinarians. Are you offering flexible schedules, maybe even a four-day workweek, and a hard stop time for elective appointments? Are you requiring payment at the time of service or carrying high balances of accounts receivable, some aged over 90 days? Are you still working with files of paper records, many of which are stacked right now on your desk, or have you adopted a practice information management software system? Are you minimizing emergency shift responsibilities by utilizing a cooperative or an emergency-only practice?
Having Resilience
Resilience is one of the foundations of adaptability, and it often accompanies the mindset that change leads to growth and abundance. That mindset includes having optimism about the future, believing that change will increase thriving, and having confidence that you can achieve the goals you set. By welcoming change with positivity, you can adapt to new situations much more quickly. Resilience requires tolerance for discomfort and the ability to keep trying when you initially struggle.
Final Thoughts
It can be difficult to unlearn the skills and habits that have brought us success in the past, but there is great satisfaction with successfully embracing something new, whether that’s a diagnostic tool, a surgical technique, or a way of practicing. Lifelong learning requires openness to trying new things, despite the vulnerability we might feel in the beginning. Be brave. Embrace change.
Related Reading
- Business Briefs: Horse Industry Statistics Veterinarians Should Know
- Veterinary Sustainability: Clinics Get Creative With Equine Emergency Coverage
- Business Briefs: Is a Veterinary Industry Position Right for You?
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