TLP184: Agile - Yes. Constant Pivots - No.

When does it make sense to be an agile company? Jim and Jan discuss why being an agile company can work, but constant pivots can really hurt productivity. When does it make sense to be consistent, and when does it make sense to change direction? How often is too much? When is it OK to abandon a given direction/initiative? It depends on the core values, purpose, and vision - of all stakeholders. It has to be consistent with what drives innovation and commitment. Listen in to learn more!   News!  We made the !   Key Takeaways [4:55] We live in a world where being a flip-flopper is a bad thing, but why? Shouldn’t changing your mind when presented with new information be a good thing? [8:05] Look at things from three different perspectives — You as an individual, others/the team, and at the structural/organizational level. [10:15] We love intellectual consistency, but when we hold too much value in that, people get boxed in and that slows down decision making. [14:40] How would you define an effective leader? It depends on what the organization needs! [18:05] Why do startups need to pivot so frequently? It’s because they haven’t discovered their true value yet and do not have a firm hold on their market. [20:05] You want to remain consistent in your values and know firmly what value you give to your customer. [24:50] Dan Pink and General Stanley A. McChrystal will be appearing in an upcoming live show. Do you have any questions for them?   Quotable Quotes “Strengths in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people can derail leaders.” “As you get more information — more perspective, you eliminate assumptions and biases. You have the right to do that.” “You have to be squared away emotionally, physically, and mentally before you’re able to really lead others.” “We really value people who are intellectually consistent, but if you place too high a value on that, you can slow down decision making.”     The Leadership Podcast is Sponsored by:     Cultivate Grit. Amplify Action. The Self-Reliant Leadership® Manifesto reveals the Three Pillars of a Self-Reliant Leader, which encompass the character attributes, interpersonal skills, and levers required to lead today’s workforce. Get your free copy .     Free downloads of on Delegation, Time Management, Sales, and more.    ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Strategic Partners   The Leadership Podcast is proud to announce a new initiative with thoughtLEADERS to provide very short podcasts called Chalk Talks. They’re bitesize hacks on common (but challenging) leadership issues. Interested in learning more?  You can only access the Chalk Talks by subscribing to our mailing list at .   Beyond the Uniform offers over 300 free episodes to help military Veterans succeed in their civilian career. This includes overviews of potential career paths, deep dives on necessary skills to succeed, and reviews of other free services that support the military Veteran community. You can find more info at .