Steps to have an agile organization
Why Agility Is No Longer Optional: It’s Survival
Regardless of their size, organizations today must adapt rapidly to shifting markets and evolving customer expectations. Gone are the days when being a first mover provided a comfortable cushion for competitors to join the race later, with little risk of losing market share. In the 20th century, late entrants often had the luxury of time, an opportunity to analyze, strategize, and respond to emerging needs at their own pace.
But in the 21st century, time has flipped from an advantage to a liability. Now, time can act as an anchor—slowing down or even sinking organizations that can’t keep up. The gap between industry leaders and the rest is widening. Instead of using time to plan strategically, many companies find themselves caught in a constant game of tactical catch-up, losing sight of long-term opportunities.
The Organizational Race: Are All Departments in Sync?
Picture your organization as a racing team. Each department is a car in the race. If your development team is a Corvette but the rest of your departments are Chevettes, you’ve got a problem. Either the Corvette has to slow down to let the Chevettes keep up—wasting its potential, or it speeds ahead, leaving the rest of the organization behind. This disconnect leads to lost value, misalignment, and frustration.
The Keys to Agile Success
So, what does it really mean to be an agile organization? It’s not just about speed, it’s about moving together, in sync, with a shared purpose and vision. According to Annemarie Wolfrat and Hannah Price, six leadership behaviours are essential for agile success:
- Guide, don’t manage: Empower your teams instead of micromanaging.
- Involve everyone: Foster a culture where every voice is valued and matters.
- Trust and be trusted: Build mutual confidence across all levels.
- Be honest, transparent, and open-minded: Foster open communication and adaptability.
- Encourage a strong feedback culture: Make feedback a regular, constructive part of your workflow.
- Be a rule breaker: Challenge the status quo and embrace experimentation.
These are the DNA of an agile organization. Imagine dropping a high-powered engine into a Chevette without upgrading any other components. It might keep up with the Corvette for a lap or two, but eventually, things will fall apart. The same applies to organizations that focus on isolated improvements without addressing the broader system.
The Paradigm Shift: From Machine to Living Organism
Organizations can’t afford to act like rigid machines. To thrive, they must become living organisms, dynamic systems where every part has a unique function, yet all work together toward a greater, evolving vision. Think of the human body: many different parts, each with its own purpose, working in harmony to keep the whole alive and healthy.
Agile organizations operate the same way. Leadership behaviours, team dynamics, and organizational culture must all evolve together. This shift is no longer optional; it’s essential for survival.
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"I help create ecosystems that become legacies.”
- Jeremy Berriault
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