Adapting for Success: How Business Leaders Can Thrive in an Era of Change

When Charles Layne reflects on his career, his journey is marked by one consistent theme: the power of adaptability. Drawing on his experience with founder-led companies and scaling SaaS businesses, Layne has worked across diverse industries, focusing on innovation, teamwork, and customer-centricity. Today, as CEO of GPS Insight, he continues to lead with strategies that inspire sustainable growth in rapidly changing environments.

Layne’s perspective on adaptability goes beyond surface-level advice. His leadership is based on actionable strategies, shaped by years of leadership experience, and driven by a deep understanding of business dynamics.

Clarity as the Foundation for Change

Layne believes that clarity is the cornerstone of adaptability. “We need to put our customers first and foremost in front of everybody,” he says. “We need insurance from a technology perspective that we’re not only meeting but exceeding our customers' consumption expectations.”

This approach starts with a well-defined vision. Layne emphasizes that leaders must communicate their goals and strategies across all levels of the organization. “You as the leader and your leadership team can all know the direction, what's going on, and what you're trying to accomplish, but you can't make that assumption throughout the entire company,” he explains. “It takes seven or eight times of clear communication company-wide to help your teams understand and adopt.”

Consistent messaging ensures that employees at all levels are aligned and equipped to adapt to change, fostering a culture that thrives on collaboration, a shared vision, and shared goals.

The Strength of Collective Adaptability

Adaptability is not an individual effort, according to Layne—it’s a team endeavor. He underscores this with a guiding principle: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. You need to come together to go really far and take the company to another level versus celebrating the speed of one athlete on the team. They're effective for a short period of time, but it never culturally moves the company forward.”

Building a unified team that embraces change requires more than just aligning on goals. It involves creating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.  Layne’s leadership emphasizes building trust, welcoming diverse perspectives, and making adaptability a collective effort across the organization.

Leveraging AI for Adaptability and Efficiency

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, technology is critical in enabling adaptability. Layne highlights how GPS Insight leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and enhance productivity. “The way our company uses AI is as an enabler for efficiency,” he says. “How do I get some of the more tedious and non-value-added work done? Why can't you get that noise taken care of for you so that you can focus on having great conversations, getting more involved with the customer, and having a more meaningful impact?”

This forward-thinking approach reflects Layne’s philosophy of using technology not as a replacement for human creativity but as a tool to amplify it. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows teams to focus on strategic, value-driven activities, positioning businesses to adapt proactively rather than reactively.

Learning from Resistance to Change

Layne’s career has not been without challenges, particularly when driving organizational change. “There’s always an element of not liking change, especially for teammates who have been around for a long time,” he shares. Reflecting on his time at IBM, he recalls leading a transformation that shifted sales from a channel-driven model to direct-to-end-user interactions—a move that initially faced significant resistance.

“The reality was, the market demanded it,” he explains. “If we didn’t adapt, our customers would go elsewhere. Once the team realized the potential, the business grew from zero to nearly $2 billion in revenue.”

This experience underscores the importance of perseverance and market awareness. Layne’s ability to anticipate and respond to market needs—even in the face of internal pushback—has been a recurring factor in his success.

Adaptability’s Role in Leadership

For Layne, adaptability is not just about navigating external changes; it’s about cultivating internal resilience. He often tells his team, “Things are going to change. Things always will. The people who do the best are the ones who embrace change, get excited about new opportunities, and keep going—even when it’s hard.”

This philosophy relates to fortitude, a quality Layne deeply values. It involves maintaining focus and persistence in the face of challenges while encouraging teams to innovate and explore new possibilities.

Final Thoughts: Lessons for Future Leaders

Layne’s leadership philosophy offers valuable lessons for future leaders. He emphasizes the importance of giving yourself grace and recognizing that not everything needs to happen overnight. He also encourages leaders to seek mentorship, learn from others' experiences, and embrace diverse perspectives.

“Spend more time listening than telling people what’s going on,” he advises. “You can learn a lot more from other folks in the room.” These principles reflect his belief that adaptability is not about knowing all the answers upfront. It’s about listening, learning, and leading with a vision that inspires growth, resilience, and collaboration.