"In our tumultuous times, adaptability — defined as “how well a person reacts to the inevitability of change,” according to venture investor and writer Natalie Fratto in a TED Talk — is a must-have trait."

"Not only is it a quality that you should learn to spot so you can hire and retain the right people, but it’s also one that you should build so you can remain indispensable and employable."

"Adaptability is a characteristic that distinguishes many of those who go on to succeed, according to Fratto."

"“Adaptability is not fixed,” she adds, noting that everyone has the capacity to measure, test, and improve their ability to adapt to new circumstances."

"When interviewing people, try asking “what if” questions"

"Fratto gets a sense of a candidate’s adaptability based on how many scenarios they’re able to come up with and how strong their vision is."

"“People often ask too many questions in an interview,” says Fratto in an interview with TED, “but it’s better to ask four questions and then go deeper” with follow-up questions."

"“Tell me about a time when you were wrong” is another interview question that can yield insights."

"Fratto says you can often tell if people are willing to change their minds — and therefore are more adaptable — by asking them to honestly share a time when they believed they were wrong, not when others perceived they were wrong."

"Instead of learning, look for signs of “unlearning”"

"“A person can also unlearn by taking a new vantage point or shifting to another perspective,” says Fratto."

"Layering on additional learnings can also show a person’s adaptability. “Playing at the intersection of areas where you’re not an expert can together build a new set of skills as a building block,” she adds."

"This mindset is especially useful for people who are looking for a new job."

"Look for signs of exploration"

"“The path becomes so much more interesting when you wander,” says Fratto."

"“However, adaptability has to be proactive, not reactive. We have to seek it out, exercise it and flex it like a muscle.”"

"First, play at the intersections."

"Second, occasionally take a devil’s-advocate role at work."

"Fratto says in the tech world, there’s an oft-repeated motto “I like leaders who have strong opinions, weakly held.”"

"Third, keep a failure resume or log."