Technical Yearbook 2023

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Uncertain times are a constant – be flexible and adaptable By Santi Basson

Now more than ever before, leaders in South Africa are facing rapid change which has become the norm. Adaptable leadership is no longer an asset, but a necessity. The inability to adapt is one of the main reasons projects fail, while a high level of flexibility and adaptability is important for success. Managing change remains a challenge, but there is little understanding of what adaptable leadership should look like. Therefore, the question needs to be asked: what makes an adaptable leader? An adaptable leader could be defined as someone who is able to change their behaviour in response to unexpected challenges. They are flexible and show resilience when things do not go as planned, while seeing it as an opportunity to learn. People who are willing to change will always remain relevant, because they are comfortable experimenting with new approaches and finding solutions, while challenging the conventional way of doing things. There are few people

and for that matter few projects, that got where they are by continuing to do the same thing. Being adaptable means being a perpetual optimist and accepting failure as part of a learning process. During a crisis, leaders must be open-minded enough to be able to identify new possibilities and we may realise we have many more resources than we thought. However, it is necessary to identify how the change will affect a project, to formulate alternative strategies, and most importantly, demonstrate the ability to “think out of the box”. Successful change is one of the biggest challenges a project must face. In the fast-changing wine industry, the message is clear: without doing things differently, it is unlikely that a project will succeed or perhaps even survive. Change is always difficult, but those who negotiated it successfully are willing to step out of their comfort zone and focus on the bigger picture. It is also

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2023