When the Rules Change: Why AQ Is Becoming More Important Than IQ
Written with AI based on input from Ralf Schreiber, reviewed and approved by him. Sources are linked at the end. How we work with AI
Publisher: Ralf Schreiber, founder of Qfour.ai, 20 years of business coaching and training
Qfour founder Ralf explains why the fourth Q in the company name – AQ for Adaptability Quotient – matters most to him personally: the ability to stay effective when tools and methods change. Current data shows that adaptability is now valued more highly than IQ. Ralf's tip: adaptability can be trained in daily work by consciously trying different approaches.
The Four Qs Behind Qfour
The name Qfour stands for four types of intelligence: IQ for cognitive intelligence, EQ for emotional intelligence, CQ for cultural intelligence – and AQ for Adaptability Quotient. The latter is personally closest to Ralf's heart. It's about the question: How do I stay capable of acting when the familiar path suddenly stops working?
This isn't a theoretical consideration. Ralf is deliberately building Qfour AI-first. Yet he still catches himself reaching for the tool he's known for years when facing new tasks. This is exactly where AQ comes in: the ability to consciously change course, even when the familiar would be more convenient.
Experience Meets New Tools
Ralf observes something similar in mid-sized companies. According to current figures from Bitkom and KfW, 41 percent of German companies are already using AI; in the traditional Mittelstand, the figure is around 20 percent. Those who have mastered a process for ten years often know best where AI can help – and where you need to look more closely. This experiential knowledge isn't becoming irrelevant; on the contrary: especially when tools change, you need people who know what matters.
Studies show that employers now value adaptability more highly than IQ or professional experience. According to Forbes, AQ is the clearest predictor of who performs under pressure and who remains effective in volatile environments.
Practice in Daily Work
Adaptability can be trained. Ralf's approach: tackle one work step differently. See what comes out of it. Next time, continue with what worked. Not a major overhaul, but conscious small steps.
His Sunday question for you: When did you last do something differently and wonder why you only tried it now?