Stability. Nothing is more crucial to the success of your business. 

Yes, profit matters, but it’s easy to achieve consistent profits when the markets are stable.

The reality is, the markets are highly unpredictable and everything can change in the blink of an eye. If your business’ viability is dependent on the marketplace (which it likely is), you must be prepared to face the challenges of carving a smooth path through an ever-changing landscape.

Businesses that survive and thrive through any circumstance share one main trait: they are agile. When faced with a challenge, an agile business—like a skilled soccer player—knows when to speed up, slow down, and change course. 

Organizational agility can help you adapt to changes both within your company and in the wider market.

Organizational Agility Starts With Your People, Processes, and Technology

People

Stable and flexible personality types must be prioritized in your hiring practices. This means hiring staff who are comfortable with change and who can leverage change to better themselves…and eventually the company. 

People are just as critical as processes in your organization’s ability to be agile. For instance, dividing positions by novelty versus repetition is a good idea (i.e., tasks with little to no context and which require a lot of research vs. well-documented duties with a playbook).

Companies who appropriately cross-train their employees to take on both work styles are generally better equipped to deal with changing market situations.

Processes

It’s a good idea to plan ahead, but it’s also advisable to leave room for the unpredictable. 

Every company’s tolerance for unexpected changes is different: you need to find the right combination for your business. A process can be 70% planned and 30% improvised, but knowing your typical mix ahead of time makes it easier to react quickly when the situation demands it.

To make your processes more agile, answer the following questions:

• How does your company assess agility? Is this working well, or do you need to broaden the definition to include departments beyond IT?
• Categorize the work you’ve done over the last 12 months. What percentage of it was planned vs ad hoc?
• Do you have the right people in the appropriate positions?
• What slowed your previous attempts to pivot quickly?

Technology

When handled properly, technology can substantially support your people and processes. However, you must make sure that the technology you use helps your business adapt quickly to changes. 

If it doesn’t, it could be the biggest hindrance to your journey towards agility.

Collaborate With SOL-I.S. for Success

Implementing all of the above at once can be overwhelming. After all, you already have your hands full running your business! 

That’s why collaborating with a specialist managed service provider (MSP) like SOL-I.S. is so important. We can manage your IT for you, taking that burden from your shoulders and giving you the peace of mind you deserve. 

Reach out to us today for a no-obligation consultation.

To learn how to improve your organizational agility, click here to download our checklist entitled “3 Ways To Make Your Organization More Agile.”