Secrets of successful adaptation

Every now and then someone asks me about adaptation, adaptation to kindergarten, adaptation to being a mum or dad, adaptation to new life circumstances - having a second child, a new place to live, divorce.

Adaptation in my field of work is usually discussed in the context of kindergartens, but in consultations we often come to this topic when discussing one of the other situations mentioned in paragraph 1.

I often explain adaptation (adapting, fitting in, getting used to, settling in) through the business environment. Why? Because where there is money, research is faster and more efficient. A free market economy simply requires learning about the psychology, culture and processes of organisations so that business managers can make decisions that help them earn more.

So what interesting things have been researched about adaptation by the specialised researchers of the organisations? Take the example of a new employee joining a team, which is in some ways like a child joining a family and a child starting kindergarten.

Disclaimer - children are not little adults, so we must not directly transfer adult processes to children, but the basic principles remain the same.

... and interestingly, when it comes to adults, everything seems logical, but often we expect much more adult reactions from children, even unrealistic reactions and too high expectations.

Here are 7 facts about how a new employee adapts to a new working environment. For each fact, I've written down how it can be expressed, for example, when adapting to kindergarten.

1. Adaptation is strongly influenced by individual differences - personality traits, previous experience, learning speed Some will take longer to adapt than others.

For children - the child's temperament, age, previous adaptation experience all play a role. Some children will need more time, others less.

2. The clearer the new employee (and his colleagues) is about his role in the organisation, the easier it is for him to adapt. Clarity also helps you adapt faster.

For children - how informed is the child about what will happen in kindergarten, how does the kindergarten welcome new pupils, how does the kindergarten communicate what and how happens in kindergarten, according to the age of the child? What do parents tell their child about how their daily life will now change?

3. Relationships between colleagues are very important. An environment where employees have the opportunity to get to know the company culture, social norms and each other helps them to adapt more quickly.

For children - how do parents and teachers foster children's relationships? How do parents support and teachers build relationships with each new child?

4. The speed of adaptation is affected by the time it takes the new employee to learn the skills and rules needed for the job.

For children - what self-care skills does a child need when starting kindergarten? Does kindergarten expect age-appropriate skills? Are individual differences taken into account and how? What are the rules in kindergarten? How are they taught to children?

5. Regular feedback from colleagues, the manager and the new employee on the adaptation process is important. Identifying and providing the necessary support helps to facilitate the adaptation process.

For children - how do parents and teachers discuss the child's adaptation? How are the child's needs listened to? How is the necessary support organised for each child, taking into account the feedback received from teachers, parents and the child?

6 Organisations that value openness, collaboration and employee development are more likely to adapt well to new employees.

Children in kindergartens whose culture is embedded with the values of openness to solutions, cooperation with parents and children's well-being and development will certainly find it easier to adapt.

7 Research shows that it is not possible to determine the exact adaptation time. Many new employees can start to feel knowledgeable, skilled and confident in their new environment within a few weeks or a few months, but full adaptation definitely takes longer.

For children - although most children physically adapt to kindergarten within a few weeks or a few months, full adaptation definitely takes longer (think at least a year). And remember that adaptation is not just for the child, but for the whole family!

I am currently working on a new offer for those for whom the adaptation time in kindergarten is the most pressing issue of the moment! I'll share it here soon, but if you'd like to hear about it sooner, sign up for my newsletter 🙂