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Mastering Business Agility — Strategies for Thriving in Competitive Markets

Giles Lindsay
7 min readAug 27, 2024
Global business success growth level up network graph illustration
Global business success growth level up network graph illustration

Introduction

Have you ever noticed how some companies seem to dance circles around their competition while others stumble and fall behind? The secret often lies in something called “business agility.” But what exactly does that mean, and why should you care? Let’s break it down and see how being agile can help your company stay on top of its game.

What’s Business Agility?

Imagine your company as a skilled martial artist — always ready to react, pivot, and strike when opportunity knocks — that’s business agility in a nutshell.

Your organisation can:

  • Respond swiftly to market changes
  • Deliver what customers want when they want it
  • Continuously improve operations, even in the face of uncertainty

There’s more to business agility than pure speed. Business agility is about being insightful, flexible and collaborative. Operating this way keeps companies growing and succeeding even as the business world changes.

Why Focus on Business Agility?

Adapting to Change: A Necessity, Not a Luxury

Recent findings from the Business Agility Institute paint a stark picture of today’s business challenges:

  • 79% of business areas are overwhelmed with strategically important tasks
  • Only 3% of organisations report tackling their priorities

These statistics highlight a critical need for effective workload management and clear prioritisation. Companies that can adapt to these pressures are better positioned to seize opportunities and avoid potential setbacks.

But what does this mean for your business? Simply put, you risk being left behind if you’re not agile. The ability to pivot quickly and efficiently can mean the difference between leading the pack and playing catch-up.

Staying Competitive: The Agile Advantage

Agile businesses don’t just keep up — they set the pace. Some develop new products, while others are still in the…

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Giles Lindsay
Giles Lindsay

Written by Giles Lindsay

Follow me for expert insights and strategies on Agile, AI, ESG, Technology Leadership, Digital Transformation, Change Management and Business Agility.

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