You may have heard the saying "change is the only constant." In today's world marked by sudden catastrophic weather events, lightning-fast change in technology development, and rapid cycling of trends, we could add a corollary saying: "Uncertainty is the only certainty." This applies to higher education as well as the workforce – as this Harvard Business Review article states definitively, "The single biggest challenge we face as teams, organizations, and a society at large is to adapt fast enough to match the increasing uncertainty and complexity around us." 

Part of the challenge in managing this state of affairs is the human desire for consistency and stability. We love to find the definitive answer, the sure-thing strategy, the go-to action. In higher education this means students are looking for the "best" way to succeed, one they can always count on -- but in the face of rapid change, staying the same can work against them. 

Coaching offers two opportunities here – one, to help a student see where staying the same may not be serving them, and two, to encourage a more agile, flexible, and responsive approach to situations and learning. When you encounter a student who seems stuck or who isn't taking the time to reflect, ask questions like these (shown in several series to give examples of ways you could direct a conversation):

• What strategy have you been using? ... How effective would you say it is on a scale from 1-10? ... What about this strategy do you think isn't working? ... What might you do instead?

• Reflect for a moment on what has changed since the last time you felt successful and confident as a learner. ... How might you be showing up in an old way to a new challenge? ... What can you change right now about your approach?

• How have you changed how you operate in the past – either since last semester, for example, or to respond to different topics or course formats? ... How does your personal or working life show your ability to adapt to change? ... What about this agility you are showing can you apply to something you need to improve right now? 

Students who can build a new habit of responding with agility and flexibility will not only improve their learning, they will be more prepared to weather the volatility of the modern working world. 

Join LifeBound to grow your own flexibility and agility as a coach.

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