Overwhelmed? Adaptive Stability for Performance and Confidence

What Would it Feel Like to Eliminate Overwhelm, Increase Confidence and Performance? 

By Suzie Thoraval

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain."
- Vivian Greene

I’m working on an important deadline when the phone rings. Something unexpected is happening, and I need to deal with it. Now.  My stomach churns, I feel this pressure rising in my throat.  These were the 20 minutes I had put aside to do this work. I have four other meetings today that now must be pushed back.  I’m also on an interview panel in 20 minutes and I’m chairing a board meeting before I need to pick up my kids from after-school activities.  Can you relate?

Uncertainty abounds

Today's world feels more overwhelming and uncertain than ever, with economic, political, environmental, technological, and social systems becoming less predictable. We face expanding challenges daily, both at work and home, yet time and energy remain limited.

As leaders, uncertainty calls for innovative, adaptive solutions. We need tools to stay grounded, adapt when necessary, and avoid being overwhelmed—this is where adaptive stability comes in.

You can be confident

Adaptive stability is the capacity to navigate change and uncertainty while staying composed and balanced. By maintaining a stable core, you can perform confidently without succumbing to overwhelm.

Developing your mindset, flexibility, and resilience creates a dynamic balance, allowing you to stay grounded in your values and objectives while responding to evolving challenges and opportunities.

How do you achieve adaptive stability?

Adaptive stability requires us to develop a mindset that welcomes opportunities for growth.  It’s about avoiding rigidity, becoming comfortable being flexible. Developing resilience to external challenges is key to adaptive stability.  

Research indicates that adaptability is closely tied to essential psychological skills, such as coping and personal growth. In the workplace, greater adaptability is linked to enhanced learning capacity, improved performance, increased confidence, and higher levels of creativity.

Working strategically on solid internal foundations can prepare us for uncertainty and anchor us when it hits. This personal and adaptive approach to uncertainty gives you long-term sustainability and the confidence to know that whatever comes up, you can handle it and say with confidence, ‘I’ve got this’.

The adaptive stability model

The three key components of my adaptive stability model are mindset, flexibility and resilience.

The Adaptive Stability Model. Copyright 2024. Suzie Thoraval. All Rights Reserved.

• An insightful mindset – central to having a stable core is the self-awareness to recognise your own thought patterns, biases and mental habits.  

• Flexibility to adapt and be ambidextrous – in today’s uncertain world, you need to consider multiple perspectives and adapt your thinking to adjust to changing circumstances.  

• Resilience to weather outside storms – developing the ability to withstand or recover quickly from setbacks is essential to staying calm in the face of change and uncertainty. 

Having these key components leads to: 

• Agile performance - effective leaders use agility to adapt quickly to uncertainty, ensuring they meet goals and engage their teams.

• Continuous growth- leaders practicing adaptive stability build team resilience by embracing change and fostering a learning-oriented culture.

• Calm confidence - leaders practicing adaptive stability feel calm and confident, equipped with the internal strength and tools to handle uncertainties while performing effectively.

Foresight, equilibrium and sustainability are the outer conditions that leaders must ensure are present for performance and confidence.

• Foresight - Adaptive stability involves preparing for potential issues by implementing measures to address them if they arise.

• Equilibrium - Traditional values shape culture and reputation, while innovation is necessary to adapt to market changes and customer needs. Balancing these aspects requires thoughtful strategic decision-making.

• Sustainability - Leaders should implement practices that can endure environmental, economic, and social fluctuations, while remaining flexible and true to their core principles.

Ask yourself: 

Do you feel stressed and victimised when a situation arises at work? It may help to focus on what you can control to give you a sense of agency to influence outcomes.

Do you reach for your expertise and experience in new situations? This is a natural tendency. Experience is valuable but can only get you so far. New situations need new thinking.  

Never have time for yourself?  Feeling overwhelmed or burned out?  Look at your coping mechanisms to manage stress and setbacks. Practice self-care to build support systems and bolster you in tough times. 

Developing adaptive stability is a multifaceted process that requires intentional focus mindset, flexibility and resilience.

It is not a static state but an ongoing journey of growth and development. As you continue to evolve, embracing change, cultivating a positive mindset, and fostering resilience will be key to not only surviving but thriving in an ever-changing world.

Through continuous learning, self-reflection, and a commitment to building a resilient and adaptable mindset, you can lead yourself and others in the face of uncertainty, driving positive change and contributing to long-term success.

How do you maintain your equilibrium in the face of pressure and uncertainty? I'd love to hear your thoughts.