Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

*     *     *

Versatility is a key leadership trait. Managers must have the capacity to read and respond to change with a wide repertoire of skills and behaviors. So how can you actually build this ability?

o Start by soliciting feedback from trusted colleagues. Ask a simple question like, “What should I start doing, stop doing, or continue doing to be a more effective teammate?”

o You might also take a more systematic approach and complete a personality assessment to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. Follow up by asking colleagues if they agree with the results. Finally, learn some new habits from people you respect.

o Set up a meeting with a colleague who has different strengths than you to pick their brain. Your goal is to learn to see things from their perspective, so come with an open mind.

o You might even ask what they are reading, how they learn, or what their day-to-day routine is.

Try to adopt some elements from their approach — it just might make you a more flexible worker and versatile leader.

This tip is adapted from “The Best Leaders Are Versatile Ones,” by Robert B. (Rob) Kaiser

*     *     *

Here’s a direct link to dozens of other Management Tips.