Adapt

Verb (used with object)

1. To make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly;

   • They adapted themselves to the change quickly. He adapted the novel for movies.

    Verb (used without object)

1. To adjust oneself to different conditions, environments, etc.;

   • To adapt easily to all circumstances.

-Dictionary.com

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        Adaptability. It’s a quality that has been with me from my early years in high school. Growing up, I was always a middle of the pack kind of guy through school and sports. But the ethic I found within myself while in the workforce greatly showcases my ability to adapt. Throughout all of the areas I have worked in, I always wanted to try and be the best. Yes, this of course came with some failures, but these failures contributed to my current successes. I wanted to be that guy that was dependable for the completion of any task and could adapt to any obstacles faced within any problem I was presented with. In just three months working at a movie theatre, I worked my way into a managerial role within the corporation. The same held true in my first golf course job, working sixteen hour days learning the thousands of both large and small aspects to the business. And now working at Victoria, after only a few short years, I feel I become one of the most integral members of the crew.

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        I bring the same traits I discovered from my relatively short amount of time in the workforce and have adapted them to my personal learning and development philosophy. Being adaptable in any level of schooling is important to ensure not only the work is completed, but also to achieve a great result. This was especially true within the Olds College learning format, I was forced to adapt my previous learning strategies in a way to make them work efficiently within a team environment. Throughout my learning career, and primarily within the college portion, I learnt more about myself and my learning style than any other time of my life.

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        Adapting to technology was one of my first hurdles faced in college. When I first started, I thought I was fairly good with computers, but the truth was, I hadn’t even scratched the surface. The skills I learnt within technology are skills that will undoubtedly be with me for the rest of my life and used wherever necessary. Secondly, Adapting to the learning style of the program and working in a team environment has readied me to become a leader within any business, golf industry or not. And finally, Adapting to people will be the biggest change to my learning philosophy and will help to continue to shape it for the rest of my career and my life. People are all different and they all carry their own unique problems, goals, personalities, aspirations, vendettas, attitudes, work ethics, and traits. Learning to mold my management style to fit each different personal core beliefs will set me apart in the way I have adapted my learning style. Being able to handle any personal situation in a golf course setting is 90% of what being a superintendent is about. The fact is, without the staff behind you, there is no final product. Practically anyone can grow grass, but being able to effectively and positively manage the team is what distinguishes a good boss from a proven leader.

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        In conclusion, a learning philosophy is only what the individual makes of it. Adaptability will always hold true to me in being the biggest positively contributing factor to my continual success as a learner. Being able to accept that I may not know everything and actually learning from others throughout my entire life will ensure I stay true to my most significant core belief;

 

 

 

 

Adaptability

 

 

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“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.”

― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart