I have the privilege of meeting and collaborating with smart and experienced business leaders on a regular basis. They consistently demonstrate vision, confidence, and decisiveness—all key characteristics in running successful companies. To truly thrive as a leader, facing the ups, downs, and unknowns, there is one quality that will set you apart and keep you at the top of your game: AGILITY.
Agility is the leadership superpower that will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and instead feel like change is the fuel that powers your next great opportunity and idea. Agile leaders don’t just survive change—they thrive in it. This is because agility is more than being quick on your feet. It’s the ability to adapt, pivot, and respond to whatever the situation demands without losing sight of the bigger picture. Agile leaders embody a blend of self-awareness, strategic flexibility, and emotional intelligence.
Agility in Action
Agile leaders are present, open, and willing to evolve. Here are some of the ways agile leadership shows up:
- Macro focus, micro pivots: An agile leader doesn’t stick to a plan just because it’s the plan. They course-correct when needed while staying true to the mission.
- Ask curious questions: Instead of needing to have all the answers, they ask better questions and seek expertise. This invites innovation and buy-in from their team.
- Fail forward: Mistakes aren’t catastrophes, they’re data. Agile leaders process learnings and model resilience.
- Clarity in chaos: When the ground shifts, agile leaders communicate clearly and consistently, creating a sense of direction even when the destination is unclear.
A Tale of 2 Leaders
Recently, I met with leaders of two different companies, both at a crossroads and needing to decide. As they were unpacking their options, they both demonstrated their agile leadership and their stories illustrate this trait in real life.
Leader 1: The CEO of an engineering company, “Robert” is a sought-out expert and has built a successful company that has enjoyed steady business. Their current projects have been smaller than their ideal, and his company is ready to tell a better story to drive bigger engagements. He is a self-proclaimed “marketing skeptic,” yet we were in the room with him and his team because he admits, “I know engineering; but I don’t understand marketing.”
Recognizing gaps and calling on experts demonstrates leadership agility and keeps a company from getting stuck in a rut. By helping him develop the vision for telling the “why” instead of the “how” to their prospective clients, his company has successfully pivoted, adjusting their messaging strategy and removing roadblocks to closing the right business.
Leader 2: The CEO of a data storage, backup and recovery company, “Jonathan” is preparing to launch a new product that could revolutionize the way companies protect their precious data. In order to launch it successfully, the company must implement a tool that will enable seamless sales.
He’s facing two choices: deploy a very expensive tool that is plug-and-play from a leading company or choose the close second that will have more flexibility and less long-term investment, but would require front-end development to make it connect seamlessly. Agile leaders know that a decision grounded in insight, calculated risk, and action is always the right one. His gut told him to go with the plug-and-play solution, and while an expensive pill to swallow, his decisiveness will inspire his team to get it live quickly.
What’s the ROI of agility? Companies led by agile leaders typically respond faster to market changes, anticipate threats and opportunities better, and foster cultures of continuous improvement. When you’re wondering about how to foster your own leadership superpower, aim for agility. It’s the one that keeps you on track by keeping you nimble.
We are experts at reaching target audiences with messaging they’ll respond to, pivoting to new markets, launching products, courting investors, integrating with sales teams, and so much more that growing companies need to thrive. We’d be honored to help you reach your goals by keeping you agile and responsive to market changes. Reach out anytime to discuss your challenges.