Checklist for cultivating strategic agility

In today’s dynamic business environment, having the ability to adapt quickly and effectively is essential for any ambitious business. 

Here Boost business adviser, Jonny Slater, outlines how business owners can navigate uncertainty, embrace change and become a pioneer of business growth. 

Whether it’s changing market conditions, emerging technologies, or unforeseen challenges, take a look at some of the key elements to consider when cultivating a culture of strategic agility as part of your growth plans:

1. Environmental scanning

• Monitor and analyse your external environment to identify emerging trends, technological advancements, and market changes. 
• Encourage a proactive approach to change with a culture of curiosity and openness. 

2. Flexible decision-making

• Allow for quick decision making with flexible and responsive processes.
• Empower your team at all levels to make decisions promoting agility.

3. Cross-functional collaboration

• Promote team and departmental collaboration to break down siloes and promote a ‘one-vision’ understanding of your business. 
• Encourage diverse perspectives which may allow you to respond more effectively to complex challenges.

4. Adaptive leadership

• Develop yours’ and your team’s leadership skills to be more adaptable to support your business through challenging times.
• Your leaders should embrace change, inspire innovation and encourage learning from failures. 

5. Embrace technology 

• Invest in technologies that can enhance your organisation’s activities and customer experience, allowing you to analyse and act on any data collected.
• Leverage technologies that can give you the competitive edge.

6. Scenario planning

• Anticipate future developments and challenges through scenario planning and prepare strategic responses.
• Create contingency plans that can be implemented quickly. 

7. Put the customer first

• Actively seek feedback and engage with customer research to stay close to customer needs.
• Remain relevant in the market through developing products with a customer-driven approach.

8. Encourage innovation

• Encourage agile methodologies in product development and project management to enhance innovation.
• Allow for experimentation to develop the most innovative approach for your business activities, allowing you adapt quickly to a changing environment.

9. Become a learning organisation

• Support your employers to develop new skills, stay up to date with sector trends and embrace a continuous improvement mindset.
• Develop ways of sharing knowledge, expertise and insights across your business.

10. Review and adapt

• Regularly review your strategies and plans, including goals, and adjust in line with the external business environment.
• Have the ability to shift focus when necessary.

By embracing strategic agility and creating a culture that can quickly adapt to change, you will be able to continue to meet your long-term growth objectives.

About the author

Jonny is experienced in using and teaching the lean startup methodology for fast-growing businesses and has experience raising equity, writing and winning grants projects, and winning/delivering government contracts.

As a Boost business adviser, being an experienced entrepreneur, Jonny provides Lancashire-based scale-ups with tailored growth support and mentoring. He enjoys learning about new businesses and working with them to find new avenues of growth. 

Jonny's specialist areas include: Entrepreneurship, high growth startups, investment readiness, mergers and acquisitions. Having been through the exit process as a founder, Jonny has M&A experience with strategic acquirers, private equity, & investment bankers.

If you’re looking to grow, scale or start your business, use Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. We offer a range of funded business support services. Call our Business Support Helpdesk on 0800 488 0057 to find out more or complete our enquiry form.