Agile practices – Agile frameworks – are the answer to these challenges. Scrum is the most related Agile framework compared to previous years, significantly increasing from 45% in 2021 to 76% in 2022[1] . They support Business Agility by transforming ossified organizations around the world. Improving their time to market (52%), predictability (44%), Lower risk (31%) according to 2022 State of Agile Report[2]. For me – Agile Coach as an observer of these changes, it’s something deeper than just adjusting strategies, streamlining processes and making organizational structures more flexible. It’s a holistic approach that focuses on understanding the environment and making decisions based on measurable facts, rather than leadership instinct, characterized by infallibility, finding validation in fancy presentations.

Business agility, is nothing more than the speed with which decisions are made and the time to implement them.

Behind these key decisions is always some boss, CEO or owner – a more or less anonymous “someone.” Unfortunately, to the measure of business agility, it has to be an Agile Leader, a so-called Servant Leader. And it is usually at this first and most important transformational step that the biggest ones lose out with a false start, convincing the consultants supporting the change that inviting them in is a confirmation of their own agility. Well, no.

Only a true Servant Leader can lead this transformation. A leader of the new times, it means so much that you have to abandon your QUO status and undergo a total mental change. To organize oneself internally, to abandon all paradigms of ego thinking, to open oneself to change and to enter a completely new role of life, with confidence in oneself and in people. (…) it’s that human qualities such as authenticity, humanity, transparency and vulnerability – the skills that undergird leaders’ ability to connect with their people – have been critical in withstanding disruption.”[3]– say Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School. Step down from your position and stand shoulder to shoulder, with your employees, creating a completely new culture of cooperation. That means a culture of trust. Which the needs of customers and employees are put first. Employees and suppliers are internal customers of the organization. Therefore, internal and external customers, demanding the some attention. This is not a one-time Gamba Walk action, but the daily work of a team of people. Where life and work experience is a value above position. It is the essence of the value we bring to the environment we are in. Thanks to this properly selected and stimulated by the Servant Leader, a business environment that fosters change and innovation is created. Here, culture is no nonsense.

Culture is a challenging, dynamically changing process that affects what we feel, think and how we behave. If there is nothing, or worse a falsehood, behind the new values, it will perpetuate itself day after day, throughout the organization. It will clothe itself with procedures and people who will cover and reinforce this inefficiency. Transformation requires identifying any such waste and slimming down. Well-planned strategic cuts.

Business Leaders can then focus on business flexibility, where they must also take into account, the need to foster a new generation of employees who are aware, familiar with technology and not constrained by traditional technological and organizational barriers. This means investing in talent that understands the business environment and has the teamwork skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing business environment. Attracting and retaining top talent is a first in Top CEO Concerns in The Global Leadership Forecast 2023[4]. Business leaders must make themselves attractive by ensuring that their teams are educated and have access to the latest digital advances and how to use them to drive business growth. “Executive support is critical for success with agile – identify and invest in developing team members for higher overall performance.” [5] . These teams need to be stable to gain organizational flexibility in a changing market environment. “Stable teams are associated/correlate with: 60% better productivity, 40% predictability, 60% responsiveness.”[6]

A servant leader Creates a workplace where diversity, ingenuity and honesty are valued. Where successes and failures are openly discussed, where the only constants are intellectual stimulation, mutual understanding and respect. Young professionals must feel comfortable taking risks and accepting failure as part of the learning process – only then will they have the confidence necessary to embrace business agility as a competitive advantage and their style of work. It will strengthen engagement, which today is at a very low level, according to the State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report only 14% of European employees are engaged at work ranks last.[7] “Globally, employee engagement and wellbeing remain very low, and it’s holding back enormous growth potential.”[8]. The new generation of employees, in order to contribute effectively and stay ahead of the competition, must be taken care of by business leaders. Have access to not only technological resources, but also provide mentoring and soft skills training that will increase their understanding of each other, and teach them to empathize with the customer, building strong Customer Centricity. They will strengthen problem-solving and collaboration skills, and anticipate business trends.  Keep in mind that these employees are not afraid to leave their jobs “It’s no coincidence that “quiet quitting” was one of the most popular workplace catch phrases of 2022.”[9] The new reality of remote work has opened up many new opportunities for them. Difficult times have forced many people to reevaluate their sense of lives and works. “Greater work-life balance and better personal well-being” was the second factor in the decision to change employers.

Own attitude – mentor/coaching and these tools are essential for business leaders who want to make it in today’s market. Investing in young professionals, fostering knowledge sharing through your example and support community of practices.

Servant Leader It is not a role inscribed with responsibility, but the truthfulness of the Leader’s being and behavior, creating a top-down culture. A role model worthy of emulation. Constituting the future of the company. This is a huge responsibility, requiring specific skills and constant work on oneself. All this defines high-quality leadership.

By understanding this at the beginning of the transformation, many mistakes can be avoided when introducing agile practices into an organization. Then the recommended practices naturally fit into the organization’s daily life. They do not create a revolution, but an evolution, interacting with the organization’s life cycle. Simplicity and scalability collected in a few sentences The Agile Manifesto[10] and the 12-point Principle behind the Agile Manifesto[11] , possible to implement in a very short time, in any industry.  Their exceptional versatility and humanity is relevant to today’s times. It successfully works beyond IT structures, where they originated from. The development of digitization has reorganized the internal life of companies, introducing constant improvements in daily work, making Organizations more technological than ever before. Thus, business and technology are becoming one, where one without the other has no chance of success. “Agile development exploded in 2021, growing from 37% to 86% of teams in the software industry. This represents a 232% increase.” [12]Growth in non-IT industries – also, doubling each year.  This state of affairs requires new insights, understanding and learning from the experiences of others to make quick, “right” decisions in the role of Servant Leader. Putting your entire work environment into motion for action. Not for already, but for the “right” moment. In line with the market rhythm. In this way, Business Owners can prepare their organizations for the future in the ever-changing environment of tomorrow, while staying one step ahead of the competition through business flexibility.

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