Adapting to efficiently overcome new hurdles is paramount to maintaining a lasting business legacy. Markets are ever-evolving and new trends and technologies are always disrupting the competitive scene. Agility, in the context of business, refers to the capacity to adapt and respond quickly to changing circumstances. In this fast-paced world, it is perhaps a critical factor in determining a business’s long-term viability.
Business agility encompasses the ability to anticipate upcoming changes in customer or market demands, and internal dynamics, and the ability to adapt business strategies and tactics to effectively respond to such changes. It requires a mindset that embraces change and fosters innovation. It also requires rapid decision-making and execution to not only survive disruptions but also transform them into opportunities that can be capitalised upon.
Businesses are only as agile as their processes
While business agility can be seen as reactionary due to its characterisation around responding to change, half of it begins in theory. See, while a single person’s reaction times are based on split-second decisions and muscle reflexes, the “plans” for those reactions are still developed and hard-coded into the body beforehand. While not a particularly biologically comprehensive explanation for human agility, businesses too require such preparation.
In order to be agile, businesses need to strategise around agility. What this means is that businesses should develop a well-defined and adaptable strategy. These strategies should be defined enough that concrete actions can be taken from them while also allowing enough flexibility to capitalise on emerging opportunities or mitigate potential threats.
Additionally, business processes and workflows affect agility as well. Traditional hierarchies and cumbersome decision-making processes can hinder agility. Workflows need to be built on efficiency and agility. Implementing agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban can foster iterative development and streamline workflows. In effect, cross-functional teams working in shorter cycles can enable faster response times and adaptability to evolving circumstances.
That brings us to another point…
Agile businesses require agile teams
Firstly, business agility starts at the top. That means that leaders influence how agile a business is. They are the ones that construct business workflows and strategies generally. But they also need to embody the idea of business agility. Workplace culture trickles down from the top and spreads to its employees. A good leader knows how to foster a culture of adaptability. Due to how agile workflows generally work, agile leaders are better off encouraging collaboration, open communication, and independent thinking. These build a solid foundation for creating agile teams. What’s next is to ensure that those teams are made of people with the right mindsets and skills.
An agile business requires workers equipped with the right mindsets and skills. Hiring individuals who demonstrate adaptability, creativity, and willingness to change is a strong starting point. However, to get existing employees on board and to maintain agility, ongoing training and development programmes are essential. In order to respond to new challenges, employees should be knowledgeable of current trends and technologies.
Technology also plays a role in enabling business agility by equipping employees with the right tools. Digital tools and platforms can streamline processes, facilitate communication, and enable real-time data-driven decision-making – all perfect for an agile work team. These tools take up a lot of the computing and analytical legwork to allow teams to focus on planning and execution.
Strategic partnerships can cover gaps
Many businesses do not work in a vacuum nor do they usually control their entire supply chain. No, businesses have to work with partners in order to survive. That means that if a business wants to remain agile, its choice of partners needs to be selective. Ideally, an ecosystem of agile and flexible businesses will complement each other in their responses to changes, but in practice getting this trusted ecosystem running is far more difficult.
Practically, a diverse array of strategic partnerships enable businesses to lean more on others’ resources in times of change. Collaboration grants a business access to markets, resources, and expertise that they may lack and can be very valuable in remaining agile. The sharing of information between partners is also quite valuable in anticipating upcoming changes.
