Agility in the workplace

Being able to change quickly and to adapt to new situations is vital to your organisation and to you as an individual. The pace of change in all aspects of today's world is far greater than a few generations back, and in order to stay ahead of this you need to be agile. Being ready for anything allows you to take on challenges in the form of changing customer needs. A company that is responsive to its customers’ needs has a great competitive advantage in its industry.

What does it mean to be an agile organisation?

An organisation that is agile is one that is not defined by hierarchy and process alone, but encourages an environment that cross-pollinates people and thinking among different departments and industries. A company that is constantly aware of the emerging and evolving market opportunities and needs is an agile one. Employees are not simply people performing one defined role, but are collaborators and innovators that can and are willing to work on a number of projects and tasks. Agility in the workplace means that the managers empower their staff, and constantly look for ways to develop skills and provide opportunities for learning and growth.

What does it mean to be an agile individual?

An individual who possesses agility is someone who never wants to stop learning and is not afraid to take risks. An agile person wants to be a part of the solution right from the decision and execution phase. People who demonstrate agility are key to have in an organisation that wants to thrive in its market. A nimble individual can adapt to change easily and will make sure they develop the necessary skills to stay valuable in a growing organisation with constant changes in customers, markets, products, delivery systems and services.

"Speed to market and continuous improvement is no longer aspirational, but a critical strategy towards achieving desired outcomes."

- Susan M. Heathfield