Making new choices, especially those aimed at improving ourselves or our work routines, can feel like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. In the tumultuous world of leadership where change is the one thing you can count on, adaptability to new and emerging challenges is key.

I just logged Dip 252 in Lake Ontario. When I did my first dip with a group of friends as part of a large community event in November 2002, I thought. “Ah, I’ll try anything once!”. No one could be more surprised than I was to discover I wanted to do it again. And again, and again.

Change is here to stay and it’s stressing a lot of people out. We are all trying to adapt as best as we can, but some of the normal “go to” strategies that used to work aren’t helping like we might expect. Put together a global pandemic, the proliferation of artificial intelligence and rapid change into the mix and the need to re-think productivity is more important than ever.

Ever been really committed to a goal, but found yourself facing unexpected hurdles, unrealistic deadlines and you’ve been seemingly ghosted by your collaborators?

Have you ever experienced being on the brink of a new challenge or even an opportunity, and you get hit by a wave of self-doubt and fear? Finding the adaptability muscles to move out of the familiar and what’s worked before, into unknown and uncertain territory doesn’t necessarily come easily.

As the flowers emerge after a long cold winter, there’s a lot of preparation that’s happening below the ground that we don’t see or even appreciate. Growing, stretching and realizing your highest potential isn’t something that happens overnight because you attended the right workshop, or had a great coaching conversation, or you read an inspiring book.