Employee adaptability to change at work: A multidimensional, resource-based framework

The primary objective of this chapter is to present a general model forindividual adaptability that integrates different frameworks and findings, and contributes to the understanding of employees’ responses to changing work situations. I will first discuss the concept of individual adaptability. Two general approaches to adaptability will be outlined that focus either on behavior and performance or on individuals’ underlying potential to be adaptive; differences and similarities of these approaches will be presented and the relevance of psychological resources for individual adaptability will be emphasized. Next, three core aspects of adaptability (cognitive, affectiveand behavioral adaptability) and some of the psychological resources that fuel these aspects are presented. Finally, I will discuss the role of employee adaptability in times of change and provide some theoretical and empirical challenges to be addressed in the future.