Agile Leader Behaviour Shifts
New ways of working need new ways of leading
Moving from old behaviours to new is a gradual shift
Look for diversity of behaviours in your leadership team to be effective
One of the trickier behaviour change programs required with organisational transformation is that of the leadership team behaviour shifts. And the reason why it is particularly tricky is that, by virtue of their tenure in organisations, the leadership team have been rewarded for old behaviours for a long time. To ‘suddenly’ shift to new behaviours can feel very dangerous and risky.
But shift they must.
Today’s environment for most organisations requires a commitment to organisational agility. Agile leadership is a very different beast to the style of leadership that has been useful for steering organisations in steady waters with known external factors and largely predictable paths.
From the work I’ve done with leaders in this space, I would say there are four primary shifts that need to occur. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that these are binary toggles of “on and off”. It is unlikely and unrealistic to expect everyone from your leadership team to move from the non-agile state to the agile state as a result of simply announcing that it is necessary to do so.
What is likely, and useful, is that all of your team seek to shift the dial a bit, and do that on a repeated basis. Expect diversity of adoption on your leadership team – some will have real strengths in one or two of these agile leadership states, but perhaps not all. And that’s ok. With every shift to the future state, the organisation is better able to respond to a VUCA environment (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous).
The Four Agile Leadership Behaviour Shifts
From Operational Subject Matter Expert
I want to have involvement in all of the details and current issues. I have great knowledge that needs to be used.
To Strategic Sponsor
My focus is on enabling our people to achieve future goals. I clear roadblocks and connect the dots.
From Command and Control
I expect to approve all decisions. Challenges to my thinking amount to insubordination and a lack of respect.
To Empowerer of Autonomous Teams
I trust my people and promote an environment where it is safe to fail and we share the lessons learned readily.
From Deflect through Delegation
I can only do as well as the people who support me. They need clarity and certainty to perform at their best.
To Complete Accountability
The buck stops with me – this means I promote and environment of continuous improvement and I am conscious of the consequences of not driving change.
From Perfection is Priority
Accuracy is paramount regardless of the time it takes. We need to ensure that everything we put forward is accurate and worded perfectly.
To Data-driven movement
80% and done is better than perfect. I use data to inform decision making quickly and am comfortable with the iterating on solutions based on feedback. Ship it!
And, for those who want something visual to print out and stick on the wall, here's an infographic version.
Over to you for your thoughts. If a leader, which of these behaviour shifts do you think is the most difficult to make? What makes for an easier transition for you?
I’m curious to know.