Adaptability by Max McKeown Summary

Adaptability examines how to transform uncertainty into opportunity by refining your ability to adjust strategies, mindsets, and behaviors. McKeown emphasizes proactive adaptation—going beyond survival to dominate changing landscapes—using real-world examples from business, technology, and psychology.

Leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals in fast-evolving fields like tech, healthcare, or finance will gain actionable strategies. The book suits those navigating career shifts, organizational changes, or industries disrupted by AI and global trends.

Yes—it blends academic rigor (drawing on McKeown’s PhD in business strategy) with practical frameworks for immediate application. Shortlisted for CMI Book of the Year, it’s praised for its balance of theory and real-world relevance.

• Adapt to win: Shift from reactive coping to proactive opportunity-seeking.
• Human + system agility: Combine emotional resilience with structured innovation processes.
• Future-focused experimentation: Test ideas rapidly to stay ahead of disruptions.

While both address change management, Adaptability provides tactical frameworks for strategic reinvention, whereas Cheese uses allegory to emphasize accepting change. McKeown’s work targets professionals needing systematic tools for complex challenges.

• Conduct “pre-mortem” analyses to anticipate disruptions.
• Build feedback loops to detect early warning signs.
• Foster cultures that reward calculated risk-taking.

With 25+ years advising brands like Sony and Pfizer, McKeown integrates behavioral science, leadership coaching, and case studies on successful pivots. His PhD in strategy grounds the book in academic credibility.

Yes—it teaches how to reframe obstacles as innovation opportunities, build transferable skill portfolios, and leverage networks during transitions. The book includes exercises for personal adaptability audits.

Some reviewers note the concepts require organizational buy-in to implement fully. However, McKeown counters with micro-tactics for individual impact even in resistant environments.

The book’s principles align with managing AI integration, remote work dynamics, and economic volatility. Its focus on continuous learning and agile systems suits today’s rapid tech evolution.

While The Strategy Book focuses on planning, Adaptability complements it by addressing execution amid uncertainty. Together, they provide end-to-end guidance for sustainable success.

“Winning adapters don’t just respond to change—they design the change others react to.” This encapsulates the book’s thesis of proactive reinvention over passive adjustment.