PeopleSmart in Business eBook - The Platinum Rule

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Four: Creating Personal Power Through Behavioral Adaptability
• diff erent general, overall levels of adaptability ranging from higher
(more characteristic) to lower (less characteristic)
• personal diff erences in various situations regarding our level of the
two basic ingredients of adaptability— fl exibility and versatility
• specifi c key strengths and possible growth areas in the 20 behaviors
which make up your overall level of development in
adaptability potential
Th e 10 behaviors which defi ne the person with high adaptability
potential are diff erent from behavioral type, so anybody can choose
to enter the higher range characteristics of a more enlightened, functionally
mature human being. Unfortunately, the 10 at the lower end
represent the darker side more characteristic of lower order animals
and species. But you (and every other individual) have the personal
power to increase your level of adaptability if you are willing to learn
the abilities to get there.
The high and low adapters
Th e research conducted on fl exibility has shown you view yourself
as both more fl exible and versatile than you actually are. In part, this
is because you aspire toward who and what you want to be. As a result,
your view of yourself includes both how you intend to act and how
you actually do act. However, the reality of how you act is based only
on the second element.
Another factor that explains this gap in our idealized versus actual
level of adaptability is that it’s not easy. If you’re like most people,
you may not be aware of all 10 behaviors that allow you to achieve
your potential, let alone have already developed them as personal
strengths. Similarly, you may not have thought about the 10 others
that undermine your potential strengths. Here are all 20, broken