3 ways to measure your adaptability -- and how to improve it | Natalie Fratto
What Makes a Great Founder?
The Search for Founders
- The speaker met 273 start-up founders in the previous year, all seeking funding. As a tech investor, the challenge is to identify which founders have the potential to create significant ventures.
Assessing Founders: IQ vs. EQ
- Some venture capitalists evaluate founders based on their educational background and work experience, focusing on intelligence (IQ).
- Others consider emotional quotient (EQ), assessing how well a founder can build teams and rapport with clients.
The Importance of Adaptability
- The speaker emphasizes adaptability as the most crucial trait for founders, arguing that it surpasses both IQ and EQ.
- Adaptability Quotient (AQ) can be measured and improved, making it essential not just for founders but for everyone in an ever-changing world.
How to Assess Adaptability
Interview Techniques
- Instead of traditional interview questions about past experiences, the speaker suggests asking "what if" scenarios to gauge adaptability.
Signs of Unlearning
- Active unlearners challenge their existing knowledge and replace it with new information; this is vital for improving adaptability.
- An example is given of Destin Sandlin's "Backwards Brain Bike," illustrating how unlearning can enhance one's adaptability skills.
Exploration vs. Exploitation
- There exists a tension between exploration (seeking new opportunities) and exploitation (maximizing current successes).
- A historical example involving Blockbuster's CEO highlights how over-focusing on existing success can hinder future adaptability.
Improving Your Adaptability
Practical Steps to Enhance AQ
- Just like muscles need exercise, adaptability requires practice through techniques such as asking "what if" questions, actively unlearning old habits, and prioritizing exploration over exploitation.
Conclusion: Future Relevance of AQ