How flexible are you? Now, I'm not talking about your body, though that is important. What I want to know is, how flexible is your thinking? 

Flexibility is something that all effective communicators have in common. They know how to change their behavior and their style until they get what they want. They know that they can't pressure someone into understanding their point of view or hope, by forcibly repeating themselves, to get through to another person. They also realize that, "If you always do what you've always done, you will continue getting what you've always gotten." 

Now, flexibility doesn't always come naturally. Many of us follow the same patterns with numbing regularity. It appears to be a combination of ego and inertia at work. But the problem is that it works against you. 

If you're going to succeed in life and in your relationships, flexibility is a key. Now, by flexibility, I simply mean the willingness and ability to try new approaches if the old one isn't working. It is a willingness to admit that there may be a better time, a better approach, a better argument, or a better appeal than the one you are using at the moment. And, it is the ability to look for that better way and use it. 

It is certainly easier to do what you've done before. However, the easiest is often the worst thing you can do. Besides, the easy way will stop you from growing and from developing the flexibility you need to succeed.