Leaders with an agile mindset can be defined by three major mindshifts (see “The Agile Mindset for Project Management”, June 2018, Frank Forte and Timothy Kloppenborg). This will define your management style and impact your current and future success. The three major mindshifts include:
- Satisfy the customer
- Engage the team
- Simplify everything
Leaders with an agile mindset focus on satisfying the customer
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Being alert
Leaders are quick and alert. The world is a rapidly changing place, and successful leaders adapt to these changes quickly. They focus on continuous learning and reinventing themselves to remain relevant for their company or the clients they serve. In our complex, evolving and often turbulent times, leaders with an agile mindset stand out as a valuable asset to the team and organisation.
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Being open
Being agile is being open to shifts, getting feedback and starting again. Leaders with an agile mindset create a vision that reflects what their team, output or organisation should look like in six months. They then use it as a guide to inspire, but are also willing to adapt their vision at any time. (See Wendy Hanson, BetterManager)
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Being comfortable with uncertainty
Rigid leaders stick to doing what feels comfortable and familiar to them, regardless of the circumstances. On the contrary, leaders with an agile mindset adapt to current conditions, even if doing so makes them feel uncomfortable. The business landscape will continue to change and leaders with an agile mindset will learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. (See Gary Bradt, Bradt Leadership, Inc.)
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Being curious
Agility requires adaptability. This in turn requires the constant monitoring of changing conditions and formulating possible responses. Curiosity is an agile superpower. Curious people are always learning new things, discovering new ways of work and potential new approaches to solving problems. (See Aric Wood, XPLANE)
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Perceptive to trends
Leaders understand what is happening around them. They keep themselves up-to-date with the latest trends. This helps them to improve themselves and change their behaviour accordingly. This openness builds a stronger bond with clients which makes them feel valued and understood!
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Seeking feedback
Leaders solicit meaningful and timely feedback from customers, peers and colleagues. They take time to ensure that they are visibly responding to suggestions in order to close the feedback loop. Leaders with an agile mindset model an effective way of giving feedback that is open, honest and respectful.
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Improve quality of thinking
Leaders value high quality thinking. They know this will result in meaningful action. They view problems from many different angles. Leaders take input from those closest to the problem. This ensures that they are in touch with reality. This also means allowing time for thinking and focusing on the top priorities.
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Always listening
Leaders with an agile mindset are always listening to their environment. They reach out to their team, their clients and partners. These leaders are ready to hear what needs to be heard. They seek to do something meaningful with the information they receive. (See Kathi Laughman, The Mackenzie Circle LLC)
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Deal With frequent disruption
Leaders empower their people. These leaders do this by communicating way more than they necessarily think they need to. Thus they focus less on timelines and more on being open to trying new things. Knowing that we’re living in a time of frequent disruption. (See Janine Hamner Holman, J&J Consulting Group)
Leaders with an agile mindset focus engaging the team
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Leading through actions
Leaders are not only promoting change, but know that it is also about being the change. They inspire people through leading by example and actively engaging in their own development. Agile leaders develop themselves by demonstrating virtues such as compassion, kindness and care for people around them. Therefore they work on themselves first before working on others.
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Collaborating
Leaders with an agile mindset move away from hierarchies towards building a collaborative network. They see the future of work being more co-created and complex. They put teams at the centre of solving problems. This keeps companies nimble and competitive. (See Petra Zink, impaCCCt)
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Leading by example
Leaders are really okay with experimentation and learning. Therefore they are willing to take risks in order to introduce the agile approach that they want their teams to embrace. They lead by doing the things they want their teams to do, not just telling them. even more, they implement new common values to create a greater goal for the company through collaboration. (See John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.) Agile leaders are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
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Creating empowered teams
Being a leader with an agile mindset is less about processes and more about adopting a mindset committed to encouraging teams to self-organise, think, act and make decisions without the boundaries of traditional hierarchical structures. Leaders with an agile mindset go beyond the pivot to create inclusive and empowered teams. (See Tonya Echols, Vigere)
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Onboarding everyone
Leaders have the ability to get everyone on board with a vision and make teams work towards the same goal. They lead people by example. They motivate teams to work together, even if they are from different backgrounds or cultures! Leaders with an agile mindset understand that emotion is an important part of being human. Innovation and creativity is enabled through a leader who is accessible, open, honest and transparent.
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Holding people accountable
Leaders are able to hold people accountable for their actions. They know how to appreciate team member contributions while at the same time pointing out potential growth areas. This feedback mechanism has the dual benefit of encouraging excellence while also building trust among team members.
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Leading from any position
Leaders learn and adapt no matter where they are in the organisation. These leaders promote the development of depth in the organisation’s leadership capability by providing opportunities for their people to lead. Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders in the practices of leadership sows the seeds for the agile culture to thrive.
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Devolve absolute authority
Leaders recognise that people create value for customers when they are enabled, engaged and energised. Empowering individuals is a core skill of the agile leader. They bring the emerging needs of the organisation in balance. They recognise that empowerment is not an “all or nothing” concept. Instead, it is a continuum of leadership behaviour that responds to the changing context.
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Build collaborative communities
Leaders with an agile mindset build teams based on trust, respect and working relationships. These leaders create teams that function autonomously within boundaries. They know that tolerance, positivity, generosity and gratitude are important in a healthy working environment. People like this preserve psychological safety and encourage learning and development.
Leaders with an agile mindset focus on Simplifying everything
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Learning continuously
Leaders take the time to listen and learn before responding. They are not reactive and never make knee-jerk decisions. This is especially important during transitions or in a crisis. (See Annette Franz, CX Journey Inc.)
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Managing processes
Leaders manage processes and can handle change without letting things get out of hand. They master the art of delegating tasks, following up on progress and doing regular pulse checks with their teams.
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Being present
Leaders have a “yes, and” approach. Leaders like this are present in the moment and open to possibilities. These leaders accept the present circumstances without resistance. They even leverage skills, talents and resources to meet the current need. (See Rachel Bellack, The Improv Advantage)
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Being proactive
Although being responsive is essential, leaders with an agile mindset understand that it is even better to be proactive. They work on the company’s vision and ensure that everyone aligns with it.
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Being flexible
In past generations, leaders were judged by staying on course and sticking to their original decisions. Now, leaders with an agile mindset have good reality testing. They take current changes and trends into account and factor them into their decision making. They shamelessly set a more appropriate course based on new information. (See Roberta Moore, The EQ-i Coach)
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Continuously learning
Leaders thrive on learning new things every day. This helps them stay ahead of the curve. They are always ready to take up new challenges and keep an open mind, improving themselves and their team members. The neverending desire to learn more allows them to solve complex problems and make better decisions.
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Managing multiple projects
Leaders have an uncanny ability to juggle multiple projects while still delivering at a steady pace. While becoming an expert is an asset, learning multiple skills make team members even more valuable. As part of this learning process, members therefore need to adapt quickly because needs in the environment are constantly changing.
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Accept failure as part of learning process
Leaders do not get disheartened when things don’t go according to plan. They understand that pivoting and starting over is a part of the learning process. They use critical feedback to learn from mistakes and grow.
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Great ideas can come from anywhere in the organisation
People who are close to a problem usually have the best ideas about how to solve it. Leaders with an agile mindset allow themselves to be open to the influence of team members, regardless of their organisational position. They stop, listen and really hear the thoughts for improvement from their team members. They encourage a continuous flow of creativity.
Your turn, what do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments section below! Also, if you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends and co-workers.