Can you describe a situation where you helped a client develop a more agile approach to leadership?

Question

In today's fast-paced business world, agility in leadership is a game-changer. Executive Coaches and Directors General share their top insights on how to cultivate a more responsive and adaptive leadership style. The discussion kicks off with the importance of launching an MVP and gathering user feedback, and wraps up with embracing flexibility in decision-making. This Q&A post compiles twenty-five expert tips to help leaders stay ahead in a dynamic environment.

Silvia Angeloro · Answer

I worked with a young but highly successful entrepreneur launching a new app in a competitive market, aimed at helping students find suitable housemates.
At the outset, my client's strategy was to plan every detail of the product launch all at once. I encouraged him to adopt a more agile method and we began by focusing on delivering value early and incrementally. Instead of waiting to release a fully developed product, I advised him to launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), prioritizing core features that would provide immediate value to users. This allowed him to test key assumptions, gather user feedback, and create anticipation among his target audience.
The MVP was released to a small segment of the market, and the feedback we received was invaluable. With this data, the product underwent iterative improvements, with features refined and optimized based on real-world input, speeding up the time-to-market and ensuring the app was closely aligned with the needs of its users.
As we worked together, I noticed my client was struggling to ensure collaboration across departments and, at times, leaned toward micromanagement, therefore I recommended assembling a cross-functional team that included representatives from development, marketing, sales, and customer support. Each team member was given the autonomy to make decisions within their area of expertise, while my client adopted the role of a facilitator, clearing roadblocks and empowering the team to perform their best.
I also introduced the concept of regular feedback loops to help the team stay aligned and adaptive. Weekly stand-up meetings were implemented, creating a dynamic environment where the strategy could evolve in response to both team input and customer insights.
One other key aspect was improving communication with stakeholders. I encouraged my client to maintain transparency by providing concise, actionable updates to executives, investors, and other stakeholders. This not only built trust but also ensured everyone involved understood and supported the agile approach.
By the time the app was fully launched, it had reached the market ahead of competitors, reflected the needs of its users, and strengthened team morale through a culture of ownership and collaboration. The experience also marked a significant shift in my client's leadership style, making him more agile and effective in guiding his team toward success.

Fawad langah · Answer

I once worked with a client facing challenges with decision-making and team collaboration in a fast-paced environment. The leadership structure needed to be more flexible, causing delays in adapting to market changes. To address this, we introduced an agile approach to leadership by emphasizing flexibility and responsiveness.The first step was helping the leadership team embrace a growth mindset, encouraging them to view setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures. We facilitated workshops to foster cross-functional collaboration, where leaders learned to empower teams to make decisions independently without waiting for approval from upper management. This not only reduced bottlenecks but also increased accountability.Next, we implemented regular feedback loops through weekly stand-ups and sprint reviews, ensuring that leaders could assess progress and adjust strategies quickly. Leaders were encouraged to prioritize short-term goals and adapt their approaches based on real-time insights from their teams.The result was a more adaptive, proactive leadership style that helped the client improve operational efficiency and employee morale. By empowering leaders to make quicker, data-driven decisions, organizations could respond to changes faster, making them more competitive in their industry.

Mindy Honcoop · Answer

I worked with a group of leaders who were stuck in a scarcity mindset move towards an agile approach toward leadership. These leaders unconsciously stifled the effectiveness of teams by needing to control every detail through approvals, digging into the weeds, and closely overseeing every aspect of the work of the team. Team members felt micromanaged and mistrusted. They hesitated to offer differing opinions or take initiative, fearing what might happen if they made a mistake. Collaboration across functions broke down, blind spots grew, and groupthink took hold. We underpinned the source of their behaviors-a mindset of scarcity dominated by fear of failure and a need for control-and replaced it with an abundance one: focused on trust of others, curiosity, and mutual accountability. First was to establish trust and clarity. Together, we reset roles and decision-making boundaries, allowing team members autonomy within clear guardrails. The leaders scaled back approvals, encouraging teams to make decisions and learn from the outcomes. Active listening meant setting aside one's assumptions in an effort to understand, and a beginning of open dialogue whereby feedback and different perspectives were welcomed. Encouraging agility, we emphasized collaboration and experimentation. The leader welcomed members' different opinions, turning disagreements around into better outcomes. They shifted performance discussions to future growth and outcomes rather than dwelling on past mistakes, embedding the culture of continuous improvement. Decision-making hastened with the assured team owning their work. Cross-functional collaboration was rejuvenated; innovation happened as team members felt safe to take risks, sharing their ideas. Letting go made the teams adaptable, aligned, and effective. By embracing agility, leaders didn't just fix processes; they changed and refashioned team culture.

Brandon Hardiman · Answer

As an engineer-turned-real estate investor, I helped my renovation team become more agile by breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable weekly sprints. Instead of getting overwhelmed by a complete house flip, we started focusing on one area at a time - like completing all bathroom renovations in week one, kitchen in week two, and so on. This approach cut our average renovation time from 8 weeks to just 5 weeks, while actually improving our work quality since everyone could focus better on specific tasks.

Amber Waugaman · Answer

As an ICF-credentialed leadership coach, I help leaders develop agility by starting with self-awareness, often using Hogan assessments as a complementary tool. These assessments provide valuable insights into how leaders behave under stress (derailers), their typical patterns, and unconscious biases that may limit adaptability. For example, I worked with a perfectionist leader who struggled with control, often second-guessing decisions and hesitating to delegate. Their Hogan results revealed a "cautious" profile, reflecting their difficulty trusting themselves and their team. Together, we explored the self-talk driving these behaviors and worked on reframing it to be more compassionate and supportive. To cultivate agility, we focused on building self-trust, learning to rely on others, and experimenting with letting go of perfection through manageable steps. Regular reflection helped us evaluate successes, address challenges, and refine their approach. By embracing trust and adaptability, the leader gained confidence to lead effectively in a constantly changing environment.

Ryan Whitcher · Answer

As someone who's flipped over 100 properties, I helped my project managers develop agile leadership skills by introducing daily 15-minute huddles where we address renovation roadblocks in real-time. Last month, when lumber prices spiked unexpectedly, our team quickly switched to alternative materials for three ongoing projects, saving us thousands without compromising quality. I've found that teaching leaders to make quick, informed decisions based on current conditions works better than following rigid project plans.

Joshua Odmark · Answer

I recently helped a B2B SaaS client transform their leadership style by implementing daily data check-ins instead of lengthy weekly meetings. We set up simple dashboards showing real-time metrics that leaders could quickly scan, which cut meeting time by 65% and helped them make faster decisions. What really made the difference was teaching them to focus on just 3-4 key metrics rather than drowning in data - it's something I learned the hard way in my own startups and now help others avoid that same mistake.

Sheraz Ali · Answer

I once worked with a mid-sized technology company struggling with a lack of speed in its decision-making process and poor responsiveness toward market changes. The leadership team recognized that it needed agility but wasn't sure where to start.
I therefore conducted a series of workshops to engage them with the agile leadership principles, which were founded on collaboration, adaptation, and customer-centricity. We started by sketching a diagram of their process, identifying bottlenecks in their existing structure that could help smooth out agility. Conversations revealed to me that the current hierarchal structure was impeding communication and market demand-related responses.
We then presented the concept of cross-functional teams with opportunities for leaders to give their teams responsibility, allowing them to work out problems in their areas of expertise. This involved training in trust building and effective delegation so that staff could accept ownership of their projects.
The outcome of such improvements was that the company greatly experienced turnaround times on projects and employee engagement. Teams were very proactive about customer complaints, and this led to faster iterations of products and services in the market. The leadership embraced flexibility and reassessed priorities on a frequent basis according to market conditions.
This transformed both the nature of the organization and its operational efficiency and caused a shift in its culture towards being innovative and responsive, making it better suited to any competitive landscape. The leadership's approach to embracing change and supporting the teams through this change was the key.

Vishal Shah · Answer

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to help a leadership team transition to a more agile approach. The leadership style they were using was effective in a stable environment, but as the pace of change accelerated, it became clear that a more flexible, responsive approach was needed to keep up.
The ApproachReframing Leadership MindsetThe first shift was changing how leaders viewed their roles. Instead of seeing themselves as the final decision-makers, we focused on empowering them to trust their teams. Leaders began to adopt agile principles like empowerment, accountability, and iterative decision-making, allowing them to focus more on strategic direction and less on day-to-day operations. This shift gave teams more autonomy and sped up decision-making.
Creating Cross-Functional TeamsWe introduced cross-functional teams where leaders worked alongside people from different departments. These teams had the freedom to make decisions, which not only increased collaboration but also boosted a sense of ownership. Leaders no longer had to manage every aspect of a project, allowing them to focus on higher-level strategy while teams drove execution.
Building Feedback LoopsAnother key element was incorporating regular feedback sessions. Leaders and teams were encouraged to share insights on what was working and where they could improve. This continuous feedback cycle helped leaders refine their approach and respond more effectively to challenges, keeping them aligned with team needs and market changes.
The ResultThe results were quickly apparent. Decision-making processes became faster, and teams were more motivated, knowing they had the authority to make key decisions. Leaders, now more confident in their role as coaches and enablers, saw their teams take more initiative, leading to higher levels of innovation and efficiency.
Key Takeaways:Empower Your Teams: Trusting teams with decision-making responsibility allows leaders to focus on strategic guidance.Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration: Breaking down silos fosters communication and enables quicker responses to challenges.Commit to Continuous Learning: Feedback and iterative improvements help leaders stay agile and adaptive.Adopting an agile leadership model not only improved decision-making speed but also helped create a more engaged, empowered workforce, driving better results and long-term success.

Jimmy Hertilien · Answer

Navigating the complexities of leadership requires an agile mindset. As a former construction manager, I spearheaded a project where deadlines were being consistently missed due to a rigid hierarchical decision-making process. By introducing a model inspired by agile methodologies, my team began holding daily stand-up meetings and established flexible roles based on current project needs. This shift slashed our average project delay by 30%.
Self-organizing teams were crucial in my network engineering role as well. When faced with IT infrastructure issues, I empowered team members to take ownership of tasks, breaking the project into smaller, manageable segments. This not only improved response times to network failures by 40% but instilled a sense of accountability and initiative within the team, demonstrating the power of agile leadership in technical environments.
In writing, I've applied agile principles by incorporating iterative feedback loops. When writing complex content, I engaged early and often with clients, using their input to refine and pivot as needed. This process ensured client satisfaction and reduced revision times by 50%, illustrating agility in even creative endeavors.In my previous role as a construction manager, I faced a situation where a client's rigid approach hindered project timelines. We integrated a digital project management tool that allowed for real-time updates and resource allocation, leading to more agile decision-making. The client was able to react quickly to changes on-site, reducing delays by 20%.
While working in IT, I helped a company transition to a cloud-based infrastructure, enabling the leadership to access operations data remotely and make informed decisions faster. This move not only improved flexibility but empowered leaders to adapt strategies in response to new data, improving efficiency across departments.

Russ Majanck · Answer

As CEO of Valley Residential Group, I helped our leadership team become more agile by implementing weekly market pulse meetings where we review real-time data and quickly adjust our property strategies. When Covid hit, this approach allowed us to pivot within days, shifting our focus to virtual showings and contactless transactions that kept our business moving. I've found that staying flexible and empowering team leaders to make quick decisions based on local market conditions has been far more effective than sticking to rigid quarterly plans.

Niclas Schlopsna · Answer

I remember working with a startup that was struggling to keep pace with its rapidly changing market environment. They had fantastic ideas but were bogged down by rigid processes and a decision-making structure akin to a snail race. When they approached spectup, I knew we needed to shake things up to get them into a more agile mindset. We began by introducing them to the concept of Agile Leadership using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), and believe me, it was like flipping a light switch.
The key was helping them see the value in setting clear, flexible goals that could adapt as they learned more from the market. One memorable workshop had everyone ditching their usual formalities and participating in dynamic brainstorming sessions. It felt like unleashing creative chaos, but a good kind, leading to innovative solutions that had everyone buzzing with newfound energy.
I vividly recall once prompting the CEO to embrace failures as learning moments rather than drags on defeats. It was the kind of mentality shift that turned their board meetings from a three-ring circus into streamlined sessions with actionable outcomes. The result? The team developed a nimble approach to problems, empowered by a culture that values adaptability and continuous improvement. Watching that transformation unfold was like witnessing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly-messy at times but ultimately rewarding. At spectup, it's those kinds of breakthroughs that keep us excited about what we do.

Austin Taylor · Answer

I recently helped my design team shift to daily 15-minute check-ins instead of lengthy weekly meetings, which made us way more responsive to last-minute trade show changes. When a client needed to completely revamp their booth design just two weeks before a major show, our new agile approach helped us pull it off without a hitch, even adding some cool interactive elements they hadn't originally planned.

Dhari Alabdulhadi · Answer

As a content manager, I worked with a client struggling to adapt their leadership style to a fast-changing market. I proposed implementing an agile approach by redesigning their internal communication strategies. We introduced regular, focused stand-up meetings to foster quick decision-making and collaboration. I created content and templates to guide these meetings and encouraged leaders to embrace feedback loops. By promoting transparency and iterative planning, the leadership team became more adaptable, responding to challenges proactively. This shift improved their responsiveness and empowered teams, resulting in increased productivity and morale across the organisation.

Ryan Miller · Answer

I discovered the value of agile frameworks while helping a healthcare client adapt to rapid market changes during the pandemic. We broke down their quarterly marketing campaigns into two-week sprints, allowing them to quickly pivot messaging based on real-time patient feedback and changing regulations. The key wasn't just the process change - it was coaching their marketing team to embrace uncertainty and see quick adjustments as opportunities rather than setbacks.

Steven Mostyn · Answer

One situation involved helping a client, a mid-sized tech company, transition from a traditional top-down leadership style to a more agile approach to support rapid market changes. The company was struggling with slow decision-making, low team engagement, and a disconnect between leadership and frontline employees.
We began by conducting a leadership assessment to identify gaps in adaptability, collaboration, and decision-making processes. The findings revealed that leaders were accustomed to centralized control, which stifled innovation and delayed responses to challenges. To address this, we designed a leadership development program centered on agile principles, focusing on fostering collaboration, empowering teams, and embracing iterative decision-making.
A key initiative was the introduction of cross-functional leadership sprints, where leaders worked in small, diverse groups to solve real-time business problems. These sprints emphasized rapid prototyping of solutions, gathering feedback, and making iterative improvements-mirroring the agile framework. Leaders also received training on effective delegation, active listening, and how to guide rather than dictate team efforts.
To reinforce these changes, we implemented regular leadership retrospectives, where managers reflected on their approach, shared lessons learned, and discussed how to improve adaptability in their teams. We also encouraged leaders to adopt agile tools, such as kanban boards and stand-up meetings, to enhance transparency and collaboration.
Over time, the client reported improved decision-making speed, greater innovation, and higher team morale. The shift to agile leadership empowered teams to take ownership of their work while enabling leaders to focus on strategic guidance. This experience underscored the value of aligning leadership practices with agile principles to drive organizational resilience and growth.

Craig Lewis · Answer

In one instance, I worked with a mystery shopper platform struggling with rigid payroll processes that were slowing down their operations. By implementing Gig Wage, we automated and accelerated their contractor payments, allowing them to remove unnecessary layers in their payment approval processes. This change not only led to a more agile approach in financial leadership within their organization but also in reallocating resources to areas fostering team growth.
Another example is with the CFO of a business outsourcing company who felt burdened with delayed payments and couldn't focus on strategic initiatives. Gig Wage's flexibility enabled more dynamic payment schedules that fit various contractor needs, allowing leadership to spend less time on administrative tasks. By cutting down the payment processing time, they were able to shift attention to scaling other business areas, demonstrating a more adaptable leadership style.

Brandon Shearin · Answer

The challenge of managing multiple property deals presented an opportunity to reshape our team's approach to problem-solving. I introduced weekly 15-minute stand-ups where team members could quickly share roadblocks and collaboratively find solutions, rather than waiting for our monthly meetings. What started as a simple change ended up transforming how we handle everything from inherited properties to foreclosures, making us more responsive to both client needs and market shifts.

Josiah Lipsmeyer · Answer

When helping plastic surgeons adapt their marketing strategies, I noticed many were stuck in annual planning cycles that couldn't keep up with changing patient needs and social media trends. I introduced them to monthly content planning sessions and weekly metrics reviews, which helped them respond more quickly to patient feedback and trending topics in cosmetic healthcare.

Shahar Rubin · Answer

I once worked with a boutique hotel group looking to adopt a more agile approach to leadership. We focused on leveraging our AI-driven insights to empower their teams to make data-informed decisions quickly. By providing them with a live dashboard showcasing real-time campaign data, managers gained autonomy and agility, reducing decision-making time significantly.
A concrete example is how we helped them pivot their marketing strategies mid-campaign based on real-time performance metrics, leading to a 35% increase in direct bookings within just a month. This real-time adaptability not only boosted their revenue but also cultivated a culture of agility within their leadership team.
The change was reinforced by our AI's ability to integrate seamlessly with their existing operations, ensuring the leadership team could focus on strategic decisions without being bogged down by system overhauls. The result was a leadership approach characterized by quick adaptation to market changes and a more nimble operational strategy.

Kevin Pike · Answer

I worked with a struggling e-commerce client by implementing two-week marketing sprints instead of their traditional quarterly campaigns, allowing us to test and adjust strategies based on real-time data. The shift helped them boost their conversion rates by 25% as we could quickly identify what content resonated with their audience and adapt our approach accordingly.

Ahmad Elzahdan · Answer

A pivotal moment in my career was when I collaborated with an educational organization struggling to adapt to post-pandemic shifts in learning needs. By leveraging Audo's AI-driven tools, I helped create custom learning paths for their employees, promoting a culture of continuous learming. This agile approach enabled the organization to rapidly upskill its workforce, aligning with the evolving demands of global education.
We used Audo's skill assessments to identify and address gaps in leadership capabilities, focusing on critical soft skills like adaptability and communication. Employees were then provided with customized learning resources, which not only increased engagement but also led to a 30% improvement in leadership effectiveness evaluations. Such initiatives emphasized the importance of a dynamic and responsive leadership style, crucial in today's fast-changing job market.

Cyrus Partow · Answer

During the early days of ShipTheDeal, I noticed our team was getting stuck in lengthy email chains that slowed everything down, so I introduced a mix of Slack channels and weekly sprint reviews that really changed things. This simple switch helped us respond to market changes faster, and I saw our team start making decisions in hours instead of days.

Dinesh Agarwal · Answer

I once had a client whose leadership team found it difficult to adapt to change. I encouraged them to rotate their responsibilities within teams for a few weeks and challenge problems from different angles. 
This enabled breaking down silos and making decisions faster and more effective. By the end, the team was very much better at responsive change and staying ahead.

Shehar Yar · Answer

I helped a client develop a more agile leadership style by encouraging them to embrace flexibility in decision-making. Together, we identified key areas where quick adjustments were needed, empowering their team to act with autonomy and speed. By fostering a culture of continuous feedback and iteration, the leadership became more responsive to change. This shift not only improved their operational efficiency but also strengthened team collaboration and morale.

What Are Examples of Helping a Client Develop a More Agile Approach to Leadership?

What Are Examples of Helping a Client Develop a More Agile Approach to Leadership?

Launch MVP and Gather User Feedback

Embrace Growth Mindset and Empower Teams

Shift from Scarcity to Abundance Mindset

Break Projects into Manageable Weekly Sprints

Develop Self-Awareness and Trust

Introduce Daily Huddles for Quick Decisions

Implement Daily Data Check-Ins

Adopt Agile Principles for Faster Iterations

Empower Teams with Decision-Making Responsibility

Introduce Daily Stand-Up Meetings

Review Real-Time Data Weekly

Adopt Agile Leadership Using OKRs

Shift to Daily Check-Ins for Responsiveness

Redesign Internal Communication Strategies

Break Down Campaigns into Two-Week Sprints

Transition to Agile Leadership for Innovation

Automate Payments for Financial Agility

Introduce Weekly Stand-Ups for Problem-Solving

Adapt Marketing Strategies to Trends

Leverage AI for Data-Informed Decisions

Implement Two-Week Marketing Sprints

Create Custom Learning Paths with AI

Switch to Slack and Weekly Sprint Reviews

Rotate Responsibilities for Better Adaptability

Embrace Flexibility in Decision-Making