There’s a particular kind of pride that comes from being able to say, “I can handle it.”
I understand that pride. As an undergraduate, I learned that I could physically wrangle a 4.5-foot alligator by hand while participating in a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission population study on Lake Orange.
But I also learned something more important: just because you can use a particular tool doesn’t mean it’s the right tool for the job. A 4.5-foot alligator was one thing. Anything larger than that required a different approach — a specialized noose, along with people who knew how to use it.
There’s a concept in psychology called cognitive flexibility: the ability to adapt our thinking and behavior when circumstances change. It sounds simple, but it can be surprisingly difficult. When something has worked for us before, we naturally want to keep using it.
In our careers, that might look like relying on the same communication style, leadership approach, problem-solving strategy—or even the same definition of success—long after the situation has changed.
Sometimes the answer isn’t to become better at the tool you’re already holding.
Sometimes you need a different tool.
If you’re facing a challenge that feels harder than it should, it might be worth asking: Am I lacking ability, or am I using the wrong tool?
That question can open up possibilities. Maybe you need a new skill. Maybe you need advice. Maybe you need a collaborator. Maybe you need to change the approach entirely.
Growth isn’t always about becoming stronger.
Sometimes it’s about becoming more flexible.