Let me be clear: I could never win the show Alone.
In fact, I’ve never even been camping. Not once. Every night of my life has been spent in a bed and under a roof. I need air conditioning like a fish needs water.
And yet, for all my lack of survival and wilderness experience, Alone is one of my favorite shows.
If you haven’t seen it, the premise is simple: ten people are dropped into the middle of nowhere. Sometimes it’s near the Arctic Circle and sometimes, like the current season, they are dropped remotely in the desert of South Africa and challenged to survive solo.
This is a real survival show. There’s no camera crew lurking just out of sight, no producers with Clif bars in case someone needs a snack. Just each person, their wits, and a limited selection of survival tools. The last one standing wins.
Unlike those other survival shows, Alone skips the drama and posturing. There are no gimmicks, no alliances, and thankfully, nobody is naked.
Alone is the perfect binge
For me, the real genius of Alone is how it casts a diverse group of people for a fascinating social experiment. It’s not always the most skilled, the youngest, or the most rugged-looking contestant who lasts the longest.
It’s often the one who is the most mentally secure, emotionally steady, and adaptable.
Bob loses his fire starter? He adjusts and builds a fire with a bow. Tina can’t catch fish? She pivots to gathering berries or setting traps. When Fred’s shelter collapses in the rain, he simply builds a better one. And if a bear visits camp? They yell at it and start making loud noises and somehow, off it goes.
I would get eaten by the bear
That’s the funny part: I have Adaptability in my Top 5.
I’m very good at adjusting and operating in chaos or when conditions quickly change. But that’s a perfect example of how our talents are a foundation. We each apply them based on our hard skills, life experiences, and preferences.
I am great at using Adaptability. I just need to be indoors, in an office, and with no wolves around.
Adaptability at Work
While I may never need to catch a wallaby with paracord or make fire from fungus, I see Alone as an extreme metaphor for everyday life.
People high in the CliftonStrengths theme of Adaptability thrive in dynamic environments — not because they’re careless, but because they’re comfortable letting go of the need to have control.
They don’t panic when plans fall apart. Instead, they recalibrate and regroup. And that’s not weakness.
It’s strength under pressure.
Just like the most successful contestants on Alone, people with Adaptability don’t fight the storm. They weather it and figure out a different way to get through.
Investing in Adaptablity
So while I won’t be signing up for Alone anytime soon (or ever), I’ll continue watching and learning. As much as camping might not be my thing, I love the outdoors. I just got back from a trip to Vermont where I spent lots of time in nature, visiting waterfalls and hiking trails.
I just need to finish the day in a hotel room, not in a tent. I guess that’s my way of being adaptable. If the Marriott is booked, I’m good with the Hilton. Or even an AirBNB. As long as they have beds!
That’s where I think it’s so important to get to know your team and who you work with. If you or someone on your team leads with Adaptability, know that they might shine when plans fall apart or there’s a major surprise that takes you off path.
Let them scavenge — not because they’re lost, or they don’t have a plan — but because they’ll likely come back with something you never expected.
If you’re the adaptable one, it’s also helpful to communicate this talent to others, especially in team environments.
Because let’s be honest, if you’re someone who works best responding in real-time, others might mistake that flexibility for what I like to call “just winging it”.
They might think you’re just wandering through the woods with no map, but it’s all part of how you process things.
Let them know: “This is how I operate best. I’m not avoiding the plan, I’m ready for what happens when it hits the fan.”
There’s no Alone in Team
And here’s one more thing about the show Alone. By design, is the ultimate non-team activity.
It’s right there in the title.
Contestants are separated from everyone. They survive in solitude. They outlast others for weeks, maybe months, but they can’t survive that way forever.
Eventually, everyone but the winner taps out. And the winner is usually on the verge of tapping out.
Not because they can’t build a fire or trap a rabbit but because the human soul isn’t built to be alone. That, or they really need the money. But time and time again they share that they miss their loved ones.
I think that’s also true about CliftonStrengths, which also can’t sustain in a vacuum.
Understanding yourself is powerful, but understanding how your strengths support others and how their strengths support you is what creates real flourishing.
So if Adaptability is one of your top strengths, use your gift for staying calm and steady when everything is in flux. Just never forget that even the toughest survivors need connection.
Even the most adaptable person needs a community, a team, and a campfire to return to.
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