Adaptive and Agile

Today everyone needs to be committed to building a more adaptive and agile workplace and to understanding the associated benefits and challenges.

Building an adaptive and agile workplace allows related benefits to be realized but successful implementation requires a whole new mindset and way of doing things in so far as people are concerned. So here’s the question: What is the “secret” for creating and getting the best results — adaptive and agile outcomes — from teams?

Great companies value innovation, continuous improvement, and speed of execution and these desired “outcomes and behaviors” typically come from the work of teams. The ability of teams to be adaptive and agile are directly related to the culture of the organization and the culture internalized by teams. Culture must be carefully built and maintained and reflect behaviors related to core values promoted by the organization and by each team.

What values are key?  Here are the ones we think are absolutely essential!

• Courage!
• Openness!
• Commitment!
• Respect!

These values are introduced, modeled, and reinforced by leaders and also members of teams who understand the central importance of developing and maintaining a culture that supports an adaptive and agile workplace.

What concrete actions contribute to this culture?

• Know your people!

Get to really know people personally and deeply on each team you lead/belong to. From knowledge and insight into people’s unique skill sets comes the opportunity for mutual respect and understanding. And from mutual respect and understanding comes smarter, faster collaboration.

• Build trust!

People shine when they are jointly focused, trusted, trust others, feel accepted, accept others, and work together to share and make the best possible outcomes.

It’s not possible to create these team values in an instant or just by simply appointing a team — there is no magic wand! Leaders at all levels need to be constantly committed to building and maintaining collaborative excellence based on great communication and trust. The challenge is enormous — but necessary in modern organizations that plan to excel.

Working Together is a great book for all leaders who would like to learn more.

More for QwikCoach Users

• Additional Reading
  • The Discipline of Teams A Harvard Business Review article.