As Doers, we are heavily invested in the businesses and causes that we champion. It goes without saying that we want to give our company and its employees the best chance of success, but how do we do that in a world that is changing almost daily? Being agile can help. Being able to move quickly in a changeable business landscape could be the advantage your business needs. But how do we stay agile? Technology is ultimately the way forward, but it moves so fast that it can seem hard enough just to keep up and stay relevant, let alone lead the way.
I read an interesting article the other day in McKinsey Quarterly which I think makes some good points about this very subject, so I thought I’d share it with you. The article is primarily about tech giants having small, agile business teams. In the digital age, being able to move quickly can give any business an edge, so companies like Amazon are keeping their groups small, small enough to only need 2 pizzas if they order in lunch.
It’s obvious that the days of bloated business teams are gone, and the reign of the lean, nimble, and quick small business team is here. That’s a good thing, especially when unknown talent can bubble up and be recognized. And unlike the “Big Co,” small teams can move quickly in today’s business landscape and that can mean the difference between survival and extinction.
Recommend you read the article here and decide for yourself. What do you think about the necessity for small and agile business teams? How will you deal with the challenges of both the small team culture and the almost inevitable loss of corporate culture that can result? YEAH! When do you think is the right time to break up into small teams (NOW because any business that wants to keep up in the digital age is going to have to be quick and agile, period.)
Note: I am experiencing this in real time and if anything makes me smile, it’s the young and unknown talent that bubbles up in these small teams! It is magical to watch. Hope you get the opportunity to watch this, too!
Onward––
AZ
