If we were to answer the question, "What do you need to succeed in your career?" most of us would respond intelligence, knowledge, skills, desire, talent, patience, perseverance, and so on.

However, a new scientific study by the University of Liège claims that the one characteristic that will help you develop professionally and reach very high is something different: cognitive flexibility, also known as cognitive shifting.

Before you get too worried about being “flexible” enough, you need to be aware that cognitive flexibility is something that is trained and can be developed over the years. A person with robust cognitive flexibility can change their thinking very quickly and adapt each project to each situation at hand. They have the ability to think clearly and fast in changing circumstances.

The researchers found that the most successful entrepreneurs had cognitive flexibility, which supported their decision-making. The study involved 727 people who took a self-assessment, and then the scientists used an MRI scanner to check the areas of their brains associated with cognitive flexibility. The top participants were found to have more significant cognitive flexibility.

Being cognitively flexible is a skill that can be stimulated and developed as long as you make some significant changes in your routine. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a student entering the professional world, or simply wish to improve your knowledge and thinking, these tips from neuroscientists will be very useful.

How to gain cognitive flexibility, according to research

Change your routine

Changing your routine doesn’t involve making drastic and radical changes. A routine change can happen in the simplest things. For example, this week, you may try changing the route to work or home, trying new foods and experimenting with different cuisines, working out at a new time, and generally modifying your schedule, when possible. Minor changes to your everyday routine can support you in keeping your brain alert and are a valuable aid in learning new things and gaining new experiences.

Reading is good for you for many different reasons. However, the research doesn’t imply that you should only read scientific or extremely technical articles. You can read books, papers, essays, blogs, or whatever seems interesting to you, no matter the content. This way, you train your mind to move into new paths, and you will discover new aspects and gain new stimuli. If you keep reading, you will see things from a different perspective, thus discovering another side of yourself and improving your creativity and flexibility.

Connect with people different from you

Interacting with people who are different from you will make you think differently and reflect on issues that may not have been of interest to you until now. We usually tend to interact with people with similar mindsets, values, and opinions, but connecting with people who will give you a different outlook, listening to their views, putting yourself in their shoes, and seeing things from a different perspective will enhance your cognitive flexibility and improve your creativity.