Are You Too Organised or Not Flexible Enough?

This year has brought more change across many areas. How well are you adapting to it? How agile is your business? Are your people and systems flexible enough to handle ongoing change, while staying organised to deliver quality products and services? Are you flexible in your thinking and behaviour, while also organised and consistent enough to lead effectively?

As you reflect on these questions, consider how your business is handling Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA), which are now common challenges in the 21st century. Leadership is under greater scrutiny, and there’s a need for a more balanced approach to work.

A wise proverb sums it up: “Order creates efficiency, and flexibility supports longevity. Nature shows us how to maintain order while embracing constant change.”

Organisation vs Flexibility

Many of my clients work in highly regulated and audited industries, where compliance is critical for success. This requires a detailed and organised approach, attracting individuals who are meticulous and enjoy being organised. While this ensures they meet the standards required by auditors, being too Rigidly Organised can lead to resistance to change and an unwillingness to adapt.

On the other hand, people who sell and deliver services must handle various variables and constantly adjust their approach to get the best results. Success in these roles requires agility and flexibility, but those who excel in these areas often struggle with the precision and organisation needed for compliance. As a result, they may avoid the compliance tasks, leading to scattered efforts and missed details.

The key to success for businesses in this environment is finding a balance. It’s important to have people who can be Flexibly Organised, blending organisation with the ability to adapt. This balance ensures both efficiency and flexibility in meeting compliance standards while staying agile in a fast-paced business world.

The Paradox of Adaptive Efficiency

The Paradox of Adaptive Efficiency is clearly illustrated in the Harrison Behavioural Paradox, which highlights 12 key traits that may seem opposite but actually complement each other when balanced. The tension between two traits needs to be just right; otherwise, you risk an imbalance.

For example, if you’re organised but lack flexibility, you fall into the Rigidly Organised category. This is an Aggressive Imbalance and can lead to resistance to change, over-focusing on details, and becoming too rigid or even compulsive about organisation.

On the flip side, people who enjoy flexibility but lack organisation are adaptable and thrive on change. Many entrepreneurs display this trait, especially in the early stages of their business. However, without enough organisation, they may struggle to achieve consistency and growth. This Passive Imbalance can lead to Scattered thinking and behaviour. The most successful entrepreneurs recognise this and hire organised people to run the business.

The ideal balance is the Flexible Organiser. These individuals create order but can easily adjust when change is needed. They find the sweet spot of efficiency without unnecessary structure or bureaucracy, making them effective and enjoyable to work with. Their ability to adapt and organise fluidly allows others to work efficiently without feeling restricted.

At the opposite end is the Rigidly Disorganised person. These individuals lack both organisation and the ability to adapt to change, leading to inefficiency and chaos.

Increasing Self-Awareness

What’s your personal tendency? Are your team members well-suited for their roles, and do they have the traits needed for success? Understanding the right mix of skills and characteristics for each job is essential. You can use your intuition to hire the right people, but it’s easier than ever to create a Job Success Formula that helps you identify the perfect balance of traits for each role. This can be used to develop current team members and guide recruitment for new hires. Additionally, Leadership Competencies can give you a quick overview of the strengths and areas for improvement within your senior team. To explore this further and learn more about the Paradox of Adaptive Efficiency – along with 11 other key leadership traits – contact David at info@talent4performance.co.uk.

Check out the short 150-second video about this paradox on LinkedIn:

How much Adaptive Capacity do you have?

Remember . . . stay curious!

David Klaasen

©David Klaasen – July 2016