Being FLEXIBLE?
Hearing the regular use of the word ‘FLEXIBLE’ in conversations and as responses provides a classic clue to what’s important to these people.
FLEXIBLE indicates peoples’ need for context.
They collate their internal data to give you the best response.
FLEXIBLE as a STRENGTH is defined in Relationship Intelligence (RQ) as acting in whatever manner is appropriate at the moment.
Wow – that’s a great ability and enables you to meet the needs of the situation in the context and those involved.
FLEXIBLE has been instrumental over the past 2 years, enabling people to settle into ‘working from home’ and being wired for being online.
FLEXIBLE is in the bottom three of my STRENGTHS Portrait – I need to consciously borrow this STRENGTH to bend my ways!
I love this Scottish proverb: It’s better to bend than to break.
In relationships, we need to find balance before we break it.
Borrowing is the language we use to give permission to use other behaviours in any given situation.
I often find it feels like my ‘get out of jail’ card.
When playing my key STRENGTHS of FORCEFUL, SELF-CONFIDENT and AMBITIOUS, it takes focus to be FLEXIBLE.
If your top STRENGTHS include FLEXIBLE people know that you can:
Read the room, quicker than others
Act accordingly to the situation
Respond to how people want to hear their information
Go with the flow
Fit in quickly as a team player who can fill most roles
Adapt to change quickly
People who see you effectively being FLEXIBLE acknowledge you for this approach.
Yet, let me warn you.
Too much FLEXIBILITY can lead to being UNPREDICTABLE.
When I work with leaders, we move from being UNPREDICTABLE to being PREDICTABLE – getting the balance right.