Getting familiar with the idea of adaptability, as well as learning how to strengthen it, is key to helping you get ahead at work.

Adaptability isn’t just about surviving a change when it hits you – that’s resilience. Instead, experts say, to be truly adaptable, you need to be actively prepared for change, even advocate for it, and consistently add more capabilities into your repertoire so your skillset can meet emerging needs. Workplace experts have talked about the idea of “adaptability” for a while — but in our ever-changing work world, it’s never been so relevant. In the workplace, adaptable people have the ability to confidently navigate evolving circumstances—a valuable asset as the world attempts to figure out new hybrid and remote workdays. But this trait is not just something that can make employees more effective; adaptability may also improve workers’ well-being because it can mean they’re better prepared to deal with change. As the world of work is a constantly moving target, it’s no surprise that adaptability has become the soft skill employers are searching for. A 2020 Harvard Business School survey showed that 71% of 1,500 executives from more than 90 countries said adaptability was the most important quality they looked for in a leader.

To thrive in the new workplace today – and stand out to employers – getting familiar with the idea of adaptability as well as learning how to strengthen yours can help you get ahead. As workplaces and working practices continue to evolve, honing adaptability can equip workers with the tools they need to “bounce forward” with the change.