We all have one.
A comfort blanky.
In business, it often takes the form of a go-to tool, a well-worn process, or a strategic approach we’ve relied on for years. We convince ourselves that if we just know what’s coming—what trends, what tools, what technologies—we’ll be ready.
But that assumption is precisely the problem.
In 'Expansive', John Sanei and Erik Kruger describe how organisations become trapped in the search for “what”—as in, *what’s trending*, *what’s next*, *what AI tools to use*—while avoiding the harder conversation about *how*.
As they put it:
“Your obsession with what… is really a panic about how.”
And here’s the kicker from Kruger himself:
“If action followed knowledge and information, we’d all have six packs, right?”
Professional service firms—especially law firms—are steeped in intelligence and insight. We attend the workshops, circulate the slide decks, nod in agreement during strategy sessions.
But how often does insight turn into execution?
The problem isn’t intelligence. It’s inertia. Osmosis doesn’t happen in boardrooms. And “great understanding” doesn’t automatically lead to meaningful progress.
IQ and EQ are no longer enough.
The real superpower now is AQ—your Adaptability Quotient. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about being agile enough to keep moving when the answers aren’t clear.
AQ is your firm’s ability to:
And that only happens when you drop the comfort blanky of “we’ve always done it this way.”
During my own mountaineering training, I learned that it wasn’t strength that got me through the toughest climbs—it was flexibility.
That’s why I took up yoga.
Not for the aesthetic, but because it trained me to stay grounded and responsive when conditions shifted unexpectedly.
That same principle applies to business strategy.
If you want your firm to stay relevant and resilient in the face of constant change, it’s time to shift focus:
Ask yourself:
In a world that rewards adaptability, AQ isn’t a soft skill—it’s your strategic edge.
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