How to Become More Agile
According to Aaron De Smet, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, agility requires stability. The two go hand in hand. This may sound counter intuitive, but in fact, the one constant thing in business is change. De Smet states, “Agility is the ability of an organization to renew itself, adapt, change quickly, and succeed in a rapidly changing, ambiguous, turbulent environment.” It’s more important now than ever to be agile in this changing business world as we adapt to a new normal.
In order to be agile, you must be able to adapt and move fast within the margins of your company’s stable foundation. Right now, there are many changes coming from all directions inside and outside of organizations. To be agile, you must learn to thrive on change and become stronger through the changes; like a rock becomes smoother under pressure. If you can master the skill of agility, you will have a real competitive advantage in today’s job world.
The businesses and employees who do not embrace agility, who are stuck in the ways of the past will have a hard time surviving this tumultuous world of uncertainty and volatility. Get creative, find cutting-edge and efficient ways to complete tasks, and be adaptable.
To become more agile, keep these three personal mission statements top of mind:
- I will move and adapt quickly.
- I will identify and solve problems quickly.
- I will be flexible, reliable, and fast.
Remember, the one constant is change. Be ready and willing to adapt, and you will be much more successful when change inevitably occurs to your organization.