PLANNING vs AGILITY: Plan meticulously but be ready to pivot. The conflict between planning and agility is a constant tension in leadership. We invest significant time and resources in strategic planning, setting goals, and charting a course for the future. Yet, we also need to be agile and adaptable, responding to unexpected events and changing market conditions.
How do you reconcile the need for robust planning with the imperative to remain flexible?
Planning
I believe the answer lies in understanding that planning isn’t about creating a rigid blueprint; it’s about establishing a framework for decision-making. It’s about setting clear goals and priorities, while also recognizing that the path to achieving them may change.
Agility
Agility, on the other hand, isn’t about abandoning plans altogether; it’s about being able to adjust them quickly and effectively. It’s about creating a culture where experimentation and learning are encouraged, where teams are empowered to adapt and innovate.
Conclusions – Planning vs Agility
Leaders who navigate this tension successfully recognise that tactical opportunism can sit alongside big picture thinking. They understand that planning is essential, but they also embrace the need to be responsive and adaptable.
Sticking rigidly to a plan is comforting but can land you in trouble when things change. Long-term strategies need to be planned for a whole host of reasons, like meeting your Vision and allocating resources. But you need to be open to emergent strategies along the way.
For more on successful leadership see www.5forcesofchange.com
