The ability to distinguish between ends (goals) and means (strategies) and to adjust strategies for achieving goals directly links to adaptability by showcasing your flexibility and creative problem-solving and decision-making skills.
When circumstances change or challenges arise, this ability allows you to pivot and explore alternative approaches without losing sight of your end goals. It reflects an understanding that while the goal may remain constant, the methods to achieve it can change based on new information, feedback, or changing conditions.
This adaptability enables more effective and efficient responses, ensuring that goals can still be met even when the initial plan or strategy is no longer feasible.
An example of achievement orientation is being motivated to achieve a high grade within your subject. For further information on achievement, you can look at the resources on Self Direction and Planning.
You can set specific goals for yourself, such as completing assignments and coursework on time, studying for exams in advance and seeking extra time or assistance from your lecturers to fully understand topics. You can also collaborate with your peers (where appropriate) to form study groups, to ensure that you can learn content in various ways and share knowledge.
By engaging with your course and outlining your goals, you can demonstrate your achievement orientation and adaptability skills to obtain your desired outcomes.
To be a mindful learner, track your progress toward your goals and adjust study habits to ensure the desired outcomes. You may find that you need to modify your approach, such as when to begin studying for exams or when to start working on a project like your dissertation, based on your own reflections.
You can find more on reflective learning on the following pages:
Reflective Models - Resilience Guide
Cognitive Adaptability, also known as Flexibility, refers to the ability to switch between different problem-solving strategies as situations change. It is a crucial skill for achieving your personal development goals, as it allows you to adjust your approach to suit varying circumstances.
Feraco, T., Casali, N., Ganzit, E. and Meneghetti, C. (2022). Adaptability and emotional, Behavioural and Cognitive Aspects of Self‐regulated learning: Direct and Indirect Relations with Academic Achievement and Life Satisfaction. British Journal of Educational Psychology. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12560.
