While listening to Jamil Qureshi at a recent conference, he pointed out how we must be open-minded and continually look for ways to improve our business, particularly to innovate and re-invent. The phrase he used was poetic and made me smile: “We must learn to dance on a moving carpet, otherwise someone will pull out the rug from beneath our feet!”.
The moving carpet is of course the moving landscape of business. Jamil spoke of how “successful teams often work on maintaining the same success, rather than continuing to innovate”. He gave examples such as Skype, Uber and Tesla which innovated from outside the industries they innovated. “What defines you, confines you.” he said.
This all got me thinking, as it should get you thinking too. How can we practically bring this to our business, to our teams? It should be something to do now, and something we need to do ongoing. Here are a few ideas, but of course – think of your own – don’t be constrained by the limits of my own thinking!
AI image created by Tom Pickering using Midjourney. The image shows a business man trying to dance on a carpet while an innovator pulls out the rug from under his feet.

Dancing on the moving carpet of business while innovators pull it from under your feet!

Implement cultural agility

  1. Encourage Intrapreneurship: Foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the culture of the company. Encourage employees to suggest new ideas and initiatives, ensuring they have a stake in the innovation process.
  2. Cross-Industry Inspiration: Actively look around and seek inspiration from industries different from your own. This can lead to innovative cross-pollination of ideas. For instance, a hospitality business might look into how e-commerce companies keep their customers fully-informed of the progress of a transaction.
  3. Rapid Experimentation: Discuss the benefits of adopting a ‘fail fast, learn fast’ mentality. Encourage businesses to experiment with new ideas on a small scale before full implementation, thus reducing risk and learning from any failures.
  4. Flexible Work Arrangements: Explore how flexible work environments can contribute to a more agile company. This could include remote work, flexible hours, or a results-oriented work environment that focuses on output rather than time spent in the office.
  5. Customer Feedback Loops: Explain the importance of continuous feedback loops with customers to stay relevant and responsive. Use tools like customer surveys, focus groups, and online reviews to gather actionable insights.
  6. Dynamic Skill Development: Stress the need for continuous learning and skill development to keep up with industry changes. Workshops, online courses, and cross-training can help employees stay versatile and adaptive.
  7. Strategic Partnerships: Point out how alliances with other businesses or academia can enhance agility. Partnerships can provide new resources, markets, and technology that catalyze innovation and adaptation.
  8. Decentralised Decision-Making: Dive into how empowering lower-level employees with decision-making authority can speed up response times and enhance adaptability. This flattening of the hierarchy can help organisations react more swiftly to changing market conditions and customer needs. Encourage ownership, accountability, and responsibility.
  9. Diversity in Thought and Team Composition: Argue for the importance of cultivating a diverse workforce that can offer a range of perspectives and solutions. This diversity extends beyond cultural or gender considerations to include different professional backgrounds and life experiences.
  10. Transparent Communication: Finally, advocate for the importance of clear, transparent communication from top to bottom. An open culture where staff feel informed about company changes and strategies encourages a more adaptable and engaged workforce.

Action Point:

This week, choose one area where your business could be more agile. Whether it’s setting up a customer feedback system, trying out a new work arrangement, or planning a cross-training session for your team, take one concrete step toward greater agility. Share your chosen action with your team, and commit to implementing it together. Let’s not just wait for change; let’s lead it!

(With thanks to my son, Tom Pickering, for creating the image in Midjourney AI)