Agility Without Strategy Is Just Noise

The word "agility" has lost its meaning.

The word itself went on a journey from being cool to becoming a buzzword. Teams seem to avoid using the word "agile" because it's no longer considered cool.

The reason for this is that quite often, agility is used as a way to mimic strategy.

It becomes a way to justify changes in direction - simply because you're agile.

The underlying problem, however, is the lack of strategy driving that movement.

Strategy is like a map. With broad strokes, you can outline your obstacles - the mountains, so to speak - that you need to navigate to reach your destination, your vision.

Interestingly, anything close by might appear foggy. You can’t see it clearly but you can see the destination.

Sometimes, as you move forward, you encounter obstacles you didn’t foresee, things that were hidden. It could be something small, like a lake. So you pause, check out the lake and consider the best way to handle it.

That’s your agility - helping you navigate these small obstacles and unforeseen challenges without losing sight of the destination.

Is Agile dead?

The word might be dead but businesses that succeed combine an explicit strategy with a willingness to adapt. These businesses will move much faster than those relying solely on strategy or agility. You need both to succeed.