Being on the road for business affords me an opportunity to see different places, experience different cultures, and interact with different people. Usually, if the trip is longer than a few days, I’ll find myself becoming more comfortable in the surrounding and adapting to it pretty well. Even in my international trips, I find this to be true.
Adapting to regional changes is something I’ve lived with for a long time. I lived almost five years in the outback of Western Australia, spent two years on the maddeningly small island of Guam, one year in West Tennessee, and four years in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest. 14 years in the Washington DC area, and now in Middle Tennessee. Each location has a unique culture and attitude. I noticed early on in each place that the culture didn’t adapt to me. I had to adapt to it.
This adaptation phenomenon impacts individuals as well. All of us hope people relate to us, but in fact most don’t. It’s our responsibility to adjust ourselves to them. This works in marketing and in basic human interaction.
A colleague of mine facilitates a great workshop activity where she has the group attempt to sell snow plows to Hawaiians. It’s all about learning what people need and adapting to them. Are you willing to do that with others?
Author Tony Alessandra developed what he calls the “Platinum Rule” which says “Do unto others as they would have done unto them.” I think it’s a pretty good rule.
This week, why don’t we all take the time to make ourselves more adaptable to the people and surroundings we live and work in. Much as we wish, they aren’t interested in adapting to us.