Over 50% of employees are classed as ‘non agile’. Gallup Agility Index Study 2018
In today’s fast moving and rapidly changing world, adaptability and agility are important for companies to stay relevant and successful – adapt or die, is a phrase we often hear.
The Gallup Employee Agility study points to “considerable room for improvement”, with about one in six employees (16%) falling into the “agile” category, meaning they feel strongly that their companies have both the mindset and the right tools and processes to respond quickly to business needs.”
But what we find drives agility is more about you! Employees can make this difference.
How agile are you?
What stops us being truly adaptable, flexible and open to new ideas?
I see so much fear and defensiveness when it comes to change. People lacking openness, being stubborn, the gates close and the same old things continue, or we look to prove competence and so reduce growth and what will make a difference. People can be afraid of challenge and giving and receiving challenging feedback, being really honest and learning from that. Strategies then come into play, including prove it strategies. Preventing real openness. People can dance around and don’t say it as it is, which can cause resentment.
Change can seem scary, maintaining existing habits can feel easier than changing. Trying something new can mean there is a possibility of failure, so people can prefer to stay in their comfort zone than venture into unknown territory. Doubting ourselves can also mean we avoid ‘risk’ and stick to safe. We can concentrate too much on what is being lost rather than what is being gained. Courage and opportunity are lost.
Activate your courage! We are gearing up and preparing to exhibit and talk at the HRD Summit next week to an audience of senior HR people and we are doing just that!
Here are some tips to activate your courage and openness;
- Believe in yourself; you know yourself and what works best, so do it. We know that when people really connect with who they are through iAM and control their reactions, they really like themselves and like being themselves. Like yourself and know that others will like you too.
- Every day at work step into the person that you are when you are most comfortable, (usually outside of work), and really enjoy revelling, expanding and being you – the real you.
- Let go of any fear of failure; contribute in an ‘I don’t care if I get this wrong’ kind of way.
- Open your gates; listen more than you speak, actively suspend your judgement about others or what they are saying.
- Smile and show the people around you that you like them and believe in them.
- Stop conforming to ‘professional and/or corporate’ norms at work. You don’t have to change to be cold, formal, professional or serious. Just be you.
- Be happy with where you are and don’t blame others or the people you work for if you are not. If you feel like this, take action – be accountable for your own happiness.
#beyourselfatwork