How to Become Agile [UPDATED]

Let’s get this out in the open right now.

“Agile” isn’t something you just wake up and do. It involves more than simply telling yourself, “I’m going to be ‘agile’ today.”

The truth is, most people — and organizations — don’t truly understand what “being agile” means or involves. Being agile is a transformation.

In this article, we will define what agile actually is and how organizations can become agile.

What is Agile?

In short, being “agile” is the ability to understand, adapt, and change quickly in an ever-evolving environment.

Agile is a Mindset

I tell my clients that agile isn’t something you do, but rather a mindset that must be adopted by all in an organization. Agile practices must be rooted within an organization’s culture, values, and principles. But it doesn’t stop there. Those principles must be implemented across all operations and measured.

Below is an image that illustrates the agile mindset from The Agile Practice Guide by the Project Management Institute (PMI):