Adaptability means being flexible and open to new ideas, as well as being able to adjust quickly to changes in work processes, team dynamics, and company goals. Employees with well-developed adaptability skills are more likely to thrive in their careers, because they are better able to manage stress, learn new tasks, and respond to uncertainty. In a performance review, assessing an employee’s adaptability is important for understanding their potential to contribute positively to the organization in the long run.

Performance Review Phrases and Paragraphs Examples for Adaptability

5 – Outstanding

Example Phrases

• Quickly masters new skills and integrates them seamlessly into the workflow.
• Proactively identifies opportunities for improvement and adapts accordingly.
• Easily adapts to new situations and embraces change.
• Proactively seeks out new ways to improve work processes.
• Thrives in challenging situations and can quickly pivot to new priorities.
• Consistently embraces new challenges with ease and enthusiasm.
• Rapidly adjusts to change and excels in diverse environments.
• Shows remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in uncertain situations.
• Anticipates potential obstacles and proactively finds solutions.
• Adapts their communication style to meet the needs of different team members.
• Demonstrates exceptional flexibility in taking on new roles and responsibilities as needed.
• Consistently seeks out and applies new knowledge and skills to enhance job performance.
• Proactively identifies and implements innovative solutions to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Exhibits outstanding ability to maintain high productivity and quality of work during times of change.
• Consistently demonstrates a positive and open-minded approach to change and new ideas.
• Proactively seeks feedback and adapts their approach based on constructive input from others.
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to adapt to new technologies and tools quickly and efficiently.
• Consistently goes above and beyond to support team members in adapting to new processes or changes.
• Exhibits outstanding adaptability in managing multiple priorities and shifting deadlines with ease.
• Proactively seeks out opportunities to learn and grow, consistently expanding their skill set to adapt to new challenges.

Paragraph Example 1

“Sarah is an outstanding example of adaptability in action. She consistently embraces new challenges with ease and enthusiasm, rapidly adjusting to changes in the workplace and excelling in diverse environments. Sarah has an uncanny ability to anticipate potential obstacles and proactively find solutions to ensure her team’s success. Additionally, her remarkable resilience and resourcefulness in uncertain situations have helped her lead her team through difficult periods. When faced with diverse team members, Sarah adapts her communication style to ensure that everyone feels supported and understood. Overall, Sarah demonstrates an exceptional level of adaptability that greatly contributes to her success and that of her team.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Mary has consistently displayed a remarkable ability to adapt to new situations and embrace change. She actively seeks out ways to improve work processes and has thrived in challenging situations, quickly pivoting to new priorities when necessary.”

Paragraph Example 3

“Jane has demonstrated outstanding adaptability in her role. She consistently embraces change, approaching new tasks with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Jane quickly masters new skills and seamlessly integrates them into her workflow, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. She proactively identifies opportunities for improvement and adapts accordingly, showing a commitment to continuous growth and development.”

4 – Exceeds Expectations

Example Phrases

• Easily adapts to new processes and handles changes without any issues.
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn and apply new skills.
• Readily adjusts to shifting priorities and deadlines.
• Adapts well to changing circumstances.
• Open to new ideas and adjusts approach when needed.
• Demonstrates a willingness to take on new tasks or roles to meet goals.
• Quickly learns and integrates new technologies or tools into their work processes.
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude and high productivity during times of change.
• Proactively seeks out opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills to adapt to new challenges.
• Demonstrates flexibility in adapting their communication style to effectively collaborate with diverse team members.
• Consistently embraces change and new initiatives with enthusiasm and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Proactively identifies potential challenges and develops contingency plans to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Demonstrates a strong ability to adapt to new team dynamics and build effective working relationships.
• Consistently seeks out and incorporates feedback to improve their adaptability and performance.
• Exhibits a high level of resourcefulness in finding creative solutions to challenges that arise during times of change.
• Proactively shares knowledge and supports colleagues in adapting to new processes or technologies.
• Demonstrates a keen ability to adapt to new project requirements and deliver high-quality results.
• Consistently maintains a flexible and open-minded approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Exhibits strong resilience and the ability to bounce back quickly from setbacks or challenges.
• Proactively seeks out opportunities to apply their adaptability skills to benefit the team and organization.

Paragraph Example 1

“John has shown a strong capacity to adapt to changing circumstances, being open to new ideas and adjusting his approach when needed. He has demonstrated a willingness to take on new tasks and roles to help achieve company goals.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Throughout the year, Paul has exceeded expectations in his ability to adapt to new situations. He easily adjusts to new processes and handles changes without any issues. Paul demonstrates a willingness to learn and apply new skills as they are introduced, which has contributed to the team’s overall success. His ability to readily adjust to shifting priorities and deadlines ensures that work is completed on time and at a high level of quality.”

3 – Meets Expectations (Acceptable)

Example Phrases

• Generally handles changes in the workplace without significant disruption.
• Learns new tasks as needed and applies them effectively.
• Occasional difficulties with changes, but overall manages adequately.
• Adjusts to changes in work processes with relative ease.
• Open to receiving feedback and applying it to improve work.
• Accepts changes in job responsibilities as needed.
• Regularly adapts to new situations and flexibly adjusts approach.
• Takes on unfamiliar tasks with enthusiasm and confidence.
• Proactively identifies and solves problems before they escalate.
• Embraces change and helps others adapt as well.
• Demonstrates a willingness to learn and implement new methods.
• Works well in a changing environment.
• Maintains a positive attitude under pressure.
• Adjusts to new challenges with ease.
• Seeks constructive feedback and incorporates it into their work.
• Willing to take on new tasks and responsibilities.
• Adapts to new technologies and tools with minimal guidance.
• Maintains productivity and quality of work during times of change.
• Collaborates effectively with diverse team members by adapting communication style.
• Approaches change with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Develops contingency plans to adapt to potential challenges.
• Builds effective working relationships in new team dynamics.
• Incorporates feedback to improve adaptability and performance.
• Finds creative solutions to challenges during times of change.
• Supports colleagues in adapting to new processes or technologies.
• Adapts to new project requirements and delivers satisfactory results.

Paragraph Example 1

“Samantha consistently demonstrates her adaptability at work. She has been able to maintain a positive attitude and stay focused, even when faced with last-minute changes or unexpected obstacles. She actively seeks constructive feedback and uses it to improve her performance on projects. Samantha has also shown that she is open to taking on additional tasks and responsibilities, helping the team achieve its goals more efficiently. Overall, she meets expectations for adaptability and contributes positively to our team’s ability to work through changing circumstances.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Jane consistently demonstrates an exceptional level of adaptability in the workplace. She quickly adapts to new situations and is open to learning new skills, which makes her an invaluable member of the team. Her ability to adjust her approach based on the circumstances has led to multiple successful projects. Jane’s proactive mindset also enables her to identify potential problems and tackle them head-on before they escalate. Her enthusiasm for taking on unfamiliar tasks and embracing change has had a positive impact on her peers, making the transition process smoother for the entire team.”

Paragraph Example 3

“Susan has met expectations in her ability to adjust to changes in work processes and has been open to receiving feedback to improve her performance. She has also shown a willingness to accept changes in job responsibilities when necessary.”

Paragraph Example 4

“In her role, Lisa has generally met expectations regarding adaptability. She handles changes in the workplace without significant disruption and learns new tasks as needed, applying them effectively to her work. On occasion, Lisa experiences difficulties with changes, but she ultimately manages to adapt adequately, ensuring that her performance remains consistent.”

2 – Needs Improvement

Example Phrases

• Struggles to adapt to new situations and approaches to work.
• Resistant to change and often needs additional support to adjust to new tasks or processes.
• Shows difficulty in altering established routines or learning new techniques.
• Takes longer than expected to get comfortable with new ideas or changes in the workplace.
• Rarely offers suggestions or ideas for improvement, even when adjustments are necessary.
• Struggles with changes in procedures or workload, causing delays.
• Reluctant to learn new skills or adapt to new processes.
• Often requires support to manage changes and shifting priorities.
• Struggles to adapt to new situations.
• Hesitant to embrace change or try new approaches.
• Resistant to or struggles with handling changes in job responsibilities.
• Has difficulty adapting to new technologies or tools, requiring extensive guidance.
• Experiences a noticeable decline in productivity or work quality during times of change.
• Struggles to adapt communication style to effectively collaborate with diverse team members.
• Tends to focus on obstacles rather than solutions when faced with change.
• Rarely develops contingency plans to adapt to potential challenges.
• Has difficulty building effective working relationships in new team dynamics.
• Inconsistently incorporates feedback to improve adaptability and performance.
• Struggles to find creative solutions to challenges during times of change.
• Rarely supports colleagues in adapting to new processes or technologies.
• Has difficulty adapting to new project requirements, sometimes delivering subpar results.
• Tends to be inflexible in problem-solving and decision-making approaches.
• Demonstrates limited resilience and may struggle to recover from setbacks.
• Inconsistently applies adaptability skills to benefit the team and organization.

Paragraph Example 1

“John demonstrates a rating of 2 in adaptability, as he finds it challenging to adjust to new work practices or adapt to changes in the team’s environment. He is resistant to change and often requires additional guidance in applying new methods to his tasks. When faced with unexpected situations, John hesitates and takes longer than his teammates to acclimate. Despite numerous opportunities, John seldom contributes suggestions or ideas for improvements, which may hold back the team’s overall progress. It is crucial for John to develop his adaptability skills to flourish in an ever-changing work environment.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Robert has shown some difficulty in adapting to new situations and has displayed a hesitance to embrace change or try new approaches. He has also been resistant to or struggled with handling changes in his job responsibilities and needs some improvement in this area.”

Paragraph Example 3

“Paul has shown that he needs improvement in his adaptability skills. When faced with changes in procedures or workload, he struggles to adjust, causing delays in task completion. He is reluctant to learn new skills or adapt to new processes, and often requires support from team members to manage changes and shifting priorities. With targeted development in this area, Paul may be able to improve his adaptability and overall performance.”

1 – Unacceptable

Unfortunately, employees who receive an unacceptable rating display little to no adaptability, making them a weak link in the organization, hindering growth and progress.

Example Phrases

• Struggles to adapt to changes and resists new ideas.
• Lacks flexibility and often shows resistance to new processes or systems.
• Has difficulty coping with unexpected situations or changes in plans.
• Consistently relies on outdated methods and is unwilling to learn new ones.
• Demonstrates a narrow mindset, hindering innovation and progress.
• Refuses to adjust to new situations or challenges.
• Demonstrates a lack of interest in learning new skills or processes.
• The inability to adapt results in significant negative impacts on performance.
• Consistently closed off to new ideas or ways of working.
• Unable to adjust to changes in work processes or job responsibilities.
• Negatively impacts team morale or productivity due to inflexibility.
• Consistently fails to adapt to new technologies or tools, severely impacting work quality.
• Experiences a severe decline in productivity or work quality during times of change.
• Consistently fails to adapt communication style, causing significant barriers to collaboration with diverse team members.
• Actively resists change and often expresses negativity when faced with new initiatives.
• Consistently fails to develop contingency plans, leaving the team unprepared for potential challenges.
• Consistently struggles to build effective working relationships in new team dynamics, causing conflicts or delays.
• Consistently ignores or dismisses feedback related to improving adaptability and performance.
• Consistently fails to find solutions to challenges during times of change, often exacerbating problems.
• Actively hinders colleagues’ efforts to adapt to new processes or technologies.
• Consistently fails to adapt to new project requirements, delivering poor results or causing project failures.
• Demonstrates an extremely rigid and inflexible approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Consistently demonstrates poor resilience and is unable to recover from setbacks, causing long-term negative impacts.
• Consistently fails to apply adaptability skills, significantly hindering the team and organization’s ability to navigate change.

Paragraph Example 1

“John has consistently proven that he is resistant to change and struggles with adaptability in the workplace. Faced with new processes, he is often stubborn and unwilling to learn, resulting in a negative impact on his team and projects. His inflexibility has led to conflicts with his peers and supervisors, as he is consistently reluctant to embrace new ideas or methods. Unfortunately, John’s failure to adapt means he is a barrier to the innovation and growth that the organization needs. His team’s performance is consistently affected by his unwillingness to learn and modify his approach to meet the changing demands and expectations of the business.”

Paragraph Example 2

“Sarah’s inability to adapt to changes in work processes or job responsibilities has been unacceptable. Her consistent resistance to new ideas and ways of working has negatively impacted team morale and productivity, which needs to be addressed immediately.”

Paragraph Example 3

“Mary’s performance in adaptability has been unacceptable this year. She refuses to adjust to new situations or challenges, and demonstrates a lack of interest in learning new skills or processes. Her inability to adapt has resulted in significant negative impacts on her performance, causing delays and disruptions within the team. Immediate improvement is required for Mary to succeed in her role.”