Agile

#Beingaleader means you need to be agile. Agile is defined as taking an iterative approach to leadership. This means allowing for change along the way. And getting customers what they want sooner. This means providing them with an MVP (Minimally Viable Product) instead of waiting until the product is perfect.

This applies to a lot of areas. You need to allow opportunities (and even seek them) that provide for change. To your process. To your product. To achieve the success you are wanting in the ever changing world around you. Don’t get stuck. Don’t ‘stick to your guns’ when you discover a better, more innovative way of doing something. Scrap what you’re doing or change it to meet the new demands. Find a better way.

Sometimes, leaders won’t release a product until it is perfect. They somehow feel that their ego or self-worth is tied up into the acceptance and perfection of their product. And so they don’t release anything. Or customers get mad at waiting for every product to have every option before they get to have it. Agile means that you are willing to put out an MVP of your product so that others can help improve it.

Now this MVP approach can also be very frustrating for the larger consumer market (see any Windows update anyone?). But in most circumstances, we need the input of others to make our product or process better. We can’t allow pride of ownership to get in the way of making a better product. Your team especially needs to be allowed to innovate and make the product or process better. Stop getting in the way.

#Beingaleader means you need to be agile. Start today.