Unlocking Career Success: The crucial role of Adversity Quotient (AQ)

Traditionally, Intelligent Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Quotient (EQ) are recognised as the key factors contributing to success. However, it is disheartening to witness people with high IQ and EQ labelled as underachievers. We can’t help but ask why. Recent studies reveal that Adversity Quotient (AQ) is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Companies are in dire need to find ways to measure AQ so to find out who is worthy of their investment at the end of the day. To employers, higher AQ associates with stability, motivation, perseverance, and creativity that characterises the way they respond to changes.

What is AQ?

AQ, a word coined by Dr Paul Stoltz in 1997, is a way to measure one’s ability to withstand difficulties and overcome them. It is more pertinent to this generation than ever in this avalanche of uncertainty, ambiguity, complexity, volatility, and velocity. This explains the hype of similar concepts such as ‘Growth Mindset’ (Carol Dweck), ‘Grit’ (popularised by Angela Duckworth), and the burgeoning of ‘Adaptability Quotient’ since the pandemic. It all centres around resilience.

AQ comprises of these four dimensions:

1. Control —the ability to take control of our situations and responses. As Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, writes, ‘Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.’ Knowing that you are able to choose your response gives you a sense of control that ultimately empowers you to thrive.

2. Ownership — instead of blaming bad luck or other uncontrollable factors, it is important to own your responses, actions and failures so you can take proactive steps to improve your situations.

3. Reach — recognise that there is help and reach out for it. Having a support network will give you the emotional support, constructive feedbacks, and collaborative problem- solving opportunity you need to become successful.

4. Endurance — seeing hardship as only temporary will give you hope to endure them.

How AQ leads to success

The ability to bounce back quickly after setbacks are pivotal for success, but how exactly does the mental process enable success? According to studies, a higher AQ correlates with a lower level of perceived stress. As a result, it is good for your physical and mental health, as well as making you more productive.

How to improve your AQ

Thankfully, AQ could be improved by training and practice. Here are a few tips to exercise your adversity muscle:

1. Accept it and own it — Acknowledge the situation exactly for what it is and reflect on what you could have done to create a better outcome.

2. Avoid negative self-talk — the habit of negative self-talk is eating into your confidence, stay away from them.

3. Practise mind-flipping — The more flexible your mind is, the more capable you are to bend your reality. As in a Rorschach test (Ink blot test), how many patterns can you recognise? Being able to shift your perspective will allow yourself to see opportunities in challenging situations.

4. Build a support network —be open minded and actively seeking feedbacks and ideas. Don’t fear criticisms but embrace them as learning opportunities.

5. Hold on to your long-term goal — finding purpose will help you endure the difficulty you are going through.

Many companies have infiltrated their recruitment process with AQ assessment. The next time when you are asked about ‘Why did you leave your previous job?’ or ‘Describe a challenging situation you encountered at work and how you overcame it’ during job interviews, you will understand the purpose behind these inquiries and how you can skilfully highlight your AQ to the interview panel.

An excerpt from Douglas Malloch’s poem Good Timber depicts the significance of adversity in bringing success:

Good timber doesn’t grow with ease:

The stronger wind, the stronger trees;

The further sky, the greater length;

The more the storm, the more the strength.