Who Moved My Cheese?

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

How would you describe adaptability? Do you think adaptability is valuable in the workplace or in relationships outside the workplace? Are there times when adaptability can be a problem? Why do you think employers often ask questions regarding adaptability in interviews? What kinds of things have you had to adapt to in recent years?

Teaching Suggestion: In the book, the author describes characters who refuse to change and the consequences of refusing to change. It might be beneficial to begin the discussion with the role of adaptability in the workplace and in relationships generally, and then ask how adaptability as a trait is helpful in other areas (education, coping with unexpected events, etc.).

• This 7-minute TED talk describes three ways to measure adaptability.
• This article explains the importance of adaptability in the workplace and why it is valued in companies.

Short Activity

Consider the questions below based on personal experience or on your own adaptability. How would you respond in the given situations? How might you convince someone to change their mind if they chose to implement the policies below?

• An employer determines that a stricter dress code in your workplace improves performance. What is your reaction to the employer’s change in the dress code?
• Your company has decided to roll out a new computer program that will change the way you perform daily tasks. What is your response?
• Your career has consistent hours and routines. How does it make you feel?
• The manager of your company has decided to transfer you to a new department with coworkers you do not know. What will you do?
• You have been asked to work the overnight shift instead of the day shift. Your work overnight will provide more opportunities for advancement. How will this change affect your life?

Teaching Suggestion: Who Moved My Cheese? teaches readers to adapt to quickly changing environments by shifting perspectives to an adaptability mindset. Consider discussing the scenarios aloud to assess students’ adaptability to change. The reactions of students who resist change might suggest less adaptability, while others who approach change with a positive attitude may display qualities of adaptability. After discussing the scenarios, consider permitting students to take an adaptability quiz to further assess their ability to change.

• Students might take the University of Sheffield Careers Service adaptability quiz here or use a similar assessment tool.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge may find it beneficial to research examples of people and companies who resisted change and experienced negative outcomes of their resistance. These students might then come up with solutions to situations in which people resist change in a company.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Describe a time when you found it difficult to adapt to change. Why is it difficult to adapt to changing circumstances? How do people often react to change? Do you think adaptability is important in life and at work? What are some of the benefits of adaptability? What are some of the benefits of change?

Teaching Suggestion: In the book, the author deals with the consistency of change in work and life and the various obstacles that present themselves when change happens. The main factors for resistance to change, according to the author, are fear and discomfort. Consider discussing change, the difficulties associated with change, and why people resist it.