Is business survival all about agility?
Mastering the art of agility in business is not always an easy feat for well-established companies. Consider a business as it starts up like the small speedboat, able to change course at will without causing too much of a ripple effect. Then consider a huge corporation, established for years, more like a cruise ship, steady on its course, but less able to respond to any changes needed without great preparation. But, as the world changes, this is just what’s required in order to ensure longevity and relevance.
While the world continues to change at an alarming rate, be that technology, innovation and an ever evolving workforce, has our definition of economic success changed with it?
Economists have suggested that it is agility, rather than productivity, that will define the future success of our economy. In fact, I’m sure when you think back over recent years about the number of respected businesses reported in the press to have failed, you will see the recurring theme; an inability to adapt to changing needs. Blockbuster video anyone?
What do we mean by business agility?
When we talk about business agility, what we mean in simple terms is the ability to quickly reposition your company resources, human or otherwise, to changing market conditions and competitors.
While your competition develops an online proposition and you’re busy drowning under piles of paperwork, guess who’s coming out on top? Now that may be an over simplified view, but you get the idea.
According to the chief economist at the Institute of Directors: “The future will belong to firms who are fast-moving, agile and can respond to consumer demands as quickly as possible.”* If agility isn’t on your priority list, maybe it should be.
How can you ensure your business remains agile?
Most changes need to occur at organisational level, starting with leaders. Leaders must have a strong identity that resonates among their company and brand, but also be flexible and open to new ideas, embracing change and the future. They must reaffirm the stability of their company while being able to present the ability to adapt and continually develop.
So what steps can you take?
- To ensure balance, organisations must make conscious choices about where and how to be agile, designing a robust backbone of structures, processes, and governance.
- By creating looser, more dynamic elements, you can adapt quickly to a changing environment and new opportunities.
- As previously mentioned, leaders must master agility; they need to balance a strong identity with flexible practice.
- Do you recognise those within your organisation that inhibit agility? By reviewing your reporting structure and relationships within the company, you can identify where you are likely to come up against problems and make adjustments to keep things moving.
- Develop new leaders. Whether through active promotion of those already of the right mind set or bringing in fresh blood, if they are able to adapt and enable behavioural change, then you’re on the right path.
- Development should be easy, with incentives, and managerial support reinforcing the way.
Don’t forget, if you do decide to make any big changes within your business, or diversify in order to stay ahead of the competition, this could affect your business insurance. Be sure to give your broker a call to discuss, ahead of any major changes, in order that your policy remains fit for purpose.
If you’d like a review of your insurances, contact:
Lee Gwilliam - 07971 170922
or
Simon Corderoy - 07980 894917
* IoD: Agility, not productivity, will drive economic success (1954)
Other sources:
mercer.com/our-thinking/career/voice-on-talent/the-future-is-agile-are-you.html
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