Have you ever noticed that your team is rarely as enthusiastic as you are? Do you try—and fail—to inspire your workers? If your business seems stuck in a rut, you can find solace in the fact that you are hardly alone. Many—if not most—executives have a moment of truth in which they realize a change must take place. Coming to this realization requires courage, and once you have had this epiphany, you will need even more courage to see it through. What you need is business agility, but there are three obstacles you must first overcome.
Identifying and fighting against these obstacles is the best way to get your business out of its rut and back on track towards success. This is about more than just profits, though—your efforts will benefit workers and the future of your company, too. Don’t let the following hindrances derail your efforts to make a difference and implement positive change.
1. Allegiance to traditions
There are many reasons why employees may be resistant to change. If your company Is comprised of workers who have been with the business for several years or longer, it is not uncommon for these staff members to feel a certain level of allegiance to their accustomed working style.
Clarizen created this infographic to show just how integral change is to business agility. Though it will be a challenge, if you intend to realize your company’s potential through business agility, you will need to overcome workers’ allegiance to tradition and motivate them to embrace the positive changes that are needed.
2. Resistance to collaboration
Just as some employees may not be enthused about impending changes, you may encounter some who are resistant to work with their colleagues, too. Much like change, though, collaboration is an integral value in the business agility model. Habits such as prioritizing learning and strategizing within a team framework are important to creating a work environment that facilitates business agility. Clarizen created this infographic that illustrates why collaboration is key to maximizing the efficiency of your business. Without collaboration, each worker acts individually, but joining efforts is likely to be far more effective to your company’s ultimate objectives.
3. Fear of the unknown
When it comes down to it, everybody is afraid of the unknown to some extent. Embracing a bold new business philosophy will certainly have its challenges, but it is up to you as a leader and executive to make the benefits outweigh these obstacles. When you sense that your employees may be falling prey to fear, it is best to offer encouragement and guidance. By giving your whole team the confidence needed to adopt a new approach, you can ensure that everybody is truly onboard with the principles you need to implement business agility in your company.
Overcoming these obstacles may not be easy, but it will certainly be worth it once you see just what business agility can do for your company. There are no limits to the success you can claim when you focus on realizing collaboration, efficiency, and adaptability in your workplace.