MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Mindset

Cognitive Adaptability

Read a viewpoint opposite to yours on a company topic—summarize its strongest point in one sentence.

Pause and ask: “What’s another way to see this?” when reacting strongly to a difficult situation.

Choose one habit today to do differently—change the order, method, or tool you normally use.

Read an article from a field outside your own—note one idea you could apply directly to your work.

Challenge your default choice in a low-stakes task—try the opposite to stretch mental flexibility.

Use the phrase “That’s interesting—tell me more” when something challenges your way of thinking.

Emotional Adaptability

When emotions rise during work, pause and name the feeling—labeling it reduces its control over you.

Use a grounding question during stress: “What emotion am I feeling, and is it helping right now?”

Practice replacing a reactive message with a calmer one—pause to edit before pressing send.

Repeat the phrase “I choose how I respond” before entering a task that feels stressful.

Smile or breathe deeply before responding to frustrating news—reset your emotional tone first.

Use a quick body scan during pressure—what emotion is stored in your shoulders, neck, or chest?

Behavioral Adaptability

In your next task, try changing your usual style—work faster if you go slow, slower if you rush.

Adjust your daily routine by shifting one recurring habit—notice what happens when you break a pattern.

Choose to observe one task fully before acting—adapt to the rhythm of the process before jumping in.

Say “yes” to something you’d normally decline—respond differently and document what happens.

Try a different approach in a recurring task—swap your usual method and compare the results.

Work in a new location or setting for half a day—track how it shifts your focus and behavior.

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