Whether in your first job or your tenth, adaptability is a key ingredient for success. If you’re anything like me, you don’t see your first real job as your forever job. In Michigan, the average tenure a person stays with an employer is 4.2 years for men and 3.6 years for women. Your career will be ever-changing regardless of industry. The ability to pivot without missing a beat is going to be crucial to success.
For starters, change is constant. In the world of government affairs, change is not just inevitable – it’s expected. Changes in political leadership, shifting public sentiment, new laws, new people, the list goes on. This is why adaptability has become one of the most essential skills in government affairs.
Adapting within situations is also key. For example, in negotiations, no two are exactly alike. Stakeholders are often different; this includes not only different groups, but also personalities from the people you are working with. This makes it ever more important to be flexible and adapt your communication and negotiation styles.
In our world, the unexpected can happen and does more frequently than not. We must respond in real time to urgent matters that could result in major impacts to an industry or business. Whatever the unexpected is, quick action to reframe strategies under pressure can mean the difference between success and failure.
Most importantly, technology and data are forcing adaptability in all sectors. From search engines, facial recognition, and AI, we are seeing a transformation; no industry is immune, including government affairs. In policymaking, digital advocacy, and social media are all reshaping how influence occurs. Embracing new tools can give you a cutting edge not only in the next election, but with your policy issue, and most importantly, your next professional step.
Lastly, adaptability is a strategic necessity. I’ve learned that communicating across lines of difference and innovating under pressure is key to not only surviving the next legislative cycle, but to help shape it.
