React Fast, be Agile - Building Blocks 11

React Fast, be Agile

In a world that is constantly changing, it is more important than ever for businesses to be able to pivot, and being agile is critically important. What does agility mean in the business context? It means being able to quickly adapt to changes in the market and respond to customer needs. In order to create an agile organization, you need to first understand what impedes agility. Here are three common impediments: process rigidity, decision paralysis, and bureaucracy. We will discuss each of these obstacles and how you can overcome them. 

To be clear I am not talking about the project management method called Agile.  Having an Agile project is drastically different from leading a company in a way that is agile.  

Business agility gives your company the best chance of responding to an ever-changing world, you were sadly mistaken.  The business landscape is only going to continue to change and the companies that can adapt quickly will be the ones that thrive.  

So, what can you do to create an agile organization? Here are four key tips for ensuring that your business stays agile:

1. Start at the top
2. Reduce Bureaucracy
3. Be willing to Try
4. Focus on Value

These four tips will result in the foundational elements of an agile transformation.  

Start at the Top

There are a lot of ways to implement different management methods and company processes.  However, the only successful way to implement an agile mind set is from the top.  This means that leaders at the top level must understand what an agile mindset and method is an know what it will take for their teams to execute it.  

The items we cover below will touch on where teams will need support but at the top leaders need to understand how to best support their teams.   

Reduce bureaucracy 

Bureaucracy is an organizational model identified by a strict set of hierarchical rules and procedures. In order for an organization to be agile, it must break down these barriers that limit speed and flexibility. One way to do this is to encourage cross-functional collaboration and reduce the silos that exist between departments. Another way to reduce bureaucracy is to streamline or eliminate unnecessary processes and paperwork. 

Decision paralysis is another common impediment to agility. This occurs when there are too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak. When there are too many decision-makers involved in the decision-making process, it can lead to indecision and a lack of action. To overcome this obstacle, it’s important to have a clear decision-making process and make sure that everyone involved understands their role in the process. 

Bureaucracy is an organizational model identified by a strict set of hierarchical rules and procedures. In order for an organization to be agile, it must break down these barriers that limit speed and flexibility. One way to do this is to encourage cross-functional collaboration and reduce the silos that exist between departments. Another way to reduce bureaucracy is to streamline or eliminate unnecessary processes and paperwork. 

Be Willing to Try

In order for your company to be able to adapt quickly, you need to be willing to try new things. This doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind, but rather being open minded about new ideas and approaches. One way to encourage this type of thinking is to have a learning-oriented culture in which failure is seen as a natural part of the process. 

Great companies that utilize this ‘try first’ approach often brainstorm while trying different solutions, trystorm.  By trystorming you not only come up with the initial idea you develop a way of implementing the solution so that you can give it a shot.  

In improvement events, trystorming is not a new concept but it is often the way that teams narrow their selection of potential solutions by picking the one that produces the desired results.  

Focus on Value

In order for your company to be agile, it’s important to focus on delivering value to your customers. This means understanding what they need and want and being able to quickly adapt to changes in their needs. It also means having a clear vision and strategy that focuses on creating value for your customers.

An agile organization is vitally important for businesses today if they want any chance at success. By following the tips above, you can create an agile foundation that will help you stay ahead of the curve and respond quickly to changes in the market.

Conclusion

An agile organization is one that can rapidly respond to change. That’s why it’s so important for businesses today to create an agile organization.  There are many benefits of being an agile organization. One of the most important benefits is that it allows businesses to respond quickly to changes in the market. With a traditional business model, it can take months or even years for a company to make changes. However, with an agile organization, companies can make changes in days or weeks. This allows businesses to stay ahead of the competition and react quickly to new opportunities.

🎙Podcast

(www.lifesciencesuccess.com) The Life Science Success podcast is also on all of the popular podcast platforms.

Previous Shows:

This past week I will be interviewed Beth Bauer the Founder & CEO of PosiROI, LLC. Her company focuses on bridging the gaps between business, data, analytics, and technology to maximize shared value creation.  You can watch the replay here.