Agile leader is an inclusive democrat

Our lives today are evolving fast, and so are our workplaces. Majority of the workforce these days comprises of millennials, who are open about sharing their experiences and expectations from their jobs, bosses, and workplaces. They bloom in an environment where free-flowing conversations across the hierarchies are encouraged. A casual pat on the back to say, “I loved the way you planned that project!” goes a long way in making them appreciate their value in the organization. This new age workforce looks forward to striking a fine balance between life at work and outside. 

In this age of digital overload with very few constants, if I were to list out the qualities of a good leader, agility and adaptability would top the list.

Agility, however, is not just about soft skills, creativity, flexibility or adaptability. In leadership, it has been defined as “a desire for speed, commitment to change, and the communication skills to navigate ambiguity while remaining connected daily. It promotes connecting the dots and operating as one”. I see an agile leader as an inclusive democrat who is as open to new ideas and change; who can constantly reinvent self to influence the teams; thrives in the face of uncertainty by creating an environment where frequent, incremental changes constantly produce value. He is as focused on personal effectiveness as on empowering the team, and in my opinion is a visionary or an agent for change. They don’t merely drive and promote the change; they become the change and lead by example. They are aware of themselves, their strengths and shortcomings, and are not afraid of taking risks to enable transformation. 

An agile leader is open to new ideas and changes can constantly reinvent self to influence the teams and thrives in the face of uncertainty by creating an environment where frequent, incremental changes constantly produce value

To be effective change agents and be able to bring transformation at scale, the ability to think in terms of lean management, empowering and involving the entire organization, managing the risks involved, prioritizing between what stays and what goes, in order to make the transition smooth and widely accepted, are all part and parcel of effective change management. Agility, on the surface, may be a part of the other qualities that run in parallel in a business leader; however, in the end, it is about understanding that there is always need for transformation, be it in the people, systems, strategies or policies. It’s safe to say that an effective and truly agile leader understands that for any transformation to be successful, a one-size-fits-all approach will never work; agility in adapting to the changing needs of each individual and situation and tying it in with the overall growth of the organization, well, that could be the hallmark of an agile business leader.