How to Spot Adaptability in Others — And Boost It in Yourself: Why Tacit Knowledge is More Important Than Deliberate Practice

How to Spot Adaptability in Others — And Boost It in Yourself: Why Tacit Knowledge is More Important Than Deliberate Practice

In our tumultuous times, adaptability is a must-have trait. It is the ability to react well to the inevitability of change. Not only is it important to spot adaptability in others for hiring and retention purposes, but it is also crucial to build adaptability in ourselves to remain indispensable and employable.

According to venture investor and writer Natalie Fratto, adaptability is not a fixed trait. Everyone has the capacity to measure, test, and improve their ability to adapt to new circumstances. So, how can we spot adaptability in others and boost it in ourselves?

When interviewing people, asking "what if" questions can give us insight into their adaptability. By evaluating how many scenarios they can come up with and the strength of their vision, we can gauge their adaptability. It is important to ask follow-up questions and go deeper rather than asking too many questions in the interview process.

Another interview question that can yield insights into adaptability is asking candidates to share a time when they believed they were wrong, not when others perceived they were wrong. This can help us determine if people are willing to change their minds and are therefore more adaptable.

Instead of solely focusing on learning, it is valuable to look for signs of "unlearning." Taking a new perspective or shifting to another vantage point can help a person unlearn and become more adaptable. Layering on additional learnings can also showcase adaptability, especially when exploring areas where one is not an expert.

To boost adaptability in ourselves, we should actively seek out exploration. Playing at the intersections of different areas can help build new skills and foster adaptability. Occasionally taking a devil's advocate role at work can also enhance adaptability. In the tech world, the motto "I like leaders who have strong opinions, weakly held" emphasizes the value of being adaptable. Additionally, keeping a failure resume or log can help us reflect on past experiences and learn from them.

Now, let's shift our focus to the importance of tacit knowledge over deliberate practice. Tacit knowledge refers to the unspoken knowledge that is acquired through imitation, emulation, and apprenticeship. It is the embodied feelings necessary to successfully perform a skill.

When trying to understand expertise, it is crucial to focus on emulation and action rather than explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge instruction happens through copying and internalizing the principles behind actions. Explaining things in terms of a long list of caveats is often a sign of tacit knowledge in action.

Gaining tacit knowledge directly is more valuable than turning it into explicit knowledge. Providing a list of procedures denies individuals the ability to build expertise and hinders their creative problem-solving skills. It is more effective to seek out tacit knowledge through working under a master, emulation, feedback, and osmosis.

Deliberate practice, on the other hand, is more applicable to fields like music, math, and chess. The process of learning tacit knowledge involves finding a master, working under them for a few years, and learning through emulation and osmosis.

In conclusion, adaptability is a crucial trait in our ever-changing world. By asking the right questions during interviews and looking for signs of exploration and unlearning, we can spot adaptability in others and boost it in ourselves. Additionally, understanding the importance of tacit knowledge and focusing on emulation and action can greatly enhance our expertise. Remember, adaptability and tacit knowledge are key to thriving in today's dynamic landscape.

Actionable advice:

1. During interviews, ask "what if" questions to gauge a candidate's adaptability. Dig deeper with follow-up questions to truly understand their vision and scenarios they can come up with.
2. Foster adaptability in yourself by actively seeking out exploration and playing at the intersections of different areas. Occasionally take a devil's advocate role at work to practice adaptability.
3. Reflect on past experiences and failures by keeping a failure resume or log. Learn from these experiences and use them as building blocks for adaptability in the future.