The 4 Agility Must-Haves for Every Organization
Agility is a means to an end. It is an engine that enables an organization to meet
its current and future objectives more effectively. Agility allows an organization to
adapt as conditions change. The following four traits should be embodied by any
organization seeking to "BE" and not just "DO" Agile.
1. A Growth Mindset
A key pitfall of many organizations seeking to be, or
become, agile is in the lack of awareness and maturity
of dealing with change. Agility is the means to adapt
and change — our thinking and our actions. And
because change is difficult for everyone, leadership is
responsible for creating a culture of change, starting
with their self — being open to multiple perspectives,
seeking and using feedback and self-awareness of
their own thinking and organizational impacts.
Carol Dweck, Ph.D. describes this growth-mindset
orientation as a desire to learn by embracing
challenges, persisting through obstacles, seeing
effort as a path to success and an ability to learn
from criticism. Does this describe people in your
organization?
2. Catalyst Leaders
Most organizational leaders operate in an expert or
achiever mindset. That is, they operate based on their
expertise from when they were a contributor or based
on their heroic ability to direct others in accomplishing
goals. And while these operating mindsets can be
effective early, they limit the growth and maturity of the
organization to address future challenges.
Developing these leaders' growth mindset and catalyst
behavior unleashes new potential and value within the
organization. The term "catalyst" originates from the
chemistry definition as a change agent – the primary
element sparking the change in the system. As through
this change, the catalyst is changed as well – true
catalyst leaders change first to change others. The
leadership awareness and competency development
is represented in the graphic below.
The 4 Must-Have Agile Traits Your Company Needs to Succeed
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