How to become a master of change
August 18, 2024
"Species that adapt thrive and endure. Species that resist suffer and die out.”
Here is a framework to help you remain relevant throughout your career.
In "Master of Change," Brad Stulberg proposes a new model for navigating change based on allostasis—a pattern of order, disorder, and reorder. Allostasis is "stability through change," in contrast to homeostasis, a pattern of order, disorder, and order.
Stulberg operationalizes this with the concept of "rugged flexibility":
"To be rugged is to be tough, determined, and durable. To be flexible is to consciously respond to altered circumstances or conditions, to adapt and bend easily without breaking. Put those together and the result is a gritty endurance, anti-fragility that not only withstands change, but thrives in the midst."
The Three Principles of Rugged Flexibility
1. Rugged and Flexible Mindset
Cultivate a mindset that's both strong in core beliefs and adaptable to new information and circumstances.
Embrace uncertainty and see change as an opportunity
Stay open to new ideas while maintaining fundamental values
Practice cognitive flexibility to approach problems from multiple angles
2. Rugged and Flexible Identity
Develop a sense of self that's grounded yet capable of evolving with life's changes.
Base identity on core values rather than specific roles or achievements
Allow for personal growth and reinvention without losing your essence
Embrace multiple facets of your identity to increase adaptability
3. Rugged and Flexible Actions
Take decisive action while remaining adaptable in your approaches and methods.
Set clear goals but be willing to adjust your path to achieve them
Develop a range of skills and strategies to tackle various challenges
Practice deliberate experimentation to find effective solutions
How to Activate Change
♻️ If there is one thing we need to be great at, it's mastering change.
One approach to mastering change is strengthening one's self-awareness and current state and then using that knowledge to adapt in the right direction.
Reading Master of Change helped me reflect on how to adopt the three principles of rugged flexibility. The idea of order → disorder → reorder was the mindset shift I needed to open up to new possibilities that differed from my past. I embraced the idea of going somewhere new, not back to the state before the disorder.
If you want to embrace change through self-discovery and a small, trusted group, consider joining my Inner Quest cohort course, where I will guide you through a step-by-step framework.
Here are a few resources to become a master of change:
📕 Master of Change book on Amazon
📖 Inner Quest - Unlock Your Career Potential cohort course
📅 15-minute strategy call to see if this course is for you
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