Five Behaviors that Drive Change Agility
As someone who has seen firsthand the impact of adaptability, I wanted to share with you five insights recently posted on hbr.org that create a competitive advantage by fostering change agility within organizations. I think 2025 will be a year of change for many of us, so this felt very timely.
1. Share a Clear, Compelling Purpose
Change begins with purpose. When employees understand the “why” behind change, resistance diminishes, and engagement grows. Purpose acts as a guardrail, aligning actions and decisions. Without a clear purpose, change initiatives risk faltering. Leaders must articulate a vision that resonates deeply, giving employees a meaningful reason to embrace transformation.
2. Look Ahead and See Opportunity
While many associate forward-thinking with senior executives, it’s crucial to empower mid- and front-line leaders to identify emerging trends and opportunities. Asking questions like, “What will our customers need a year from now?” and “What trends could impact us?” encourages proactive thinking. Organizations should minimize bureaucracy to foster experimentation and celebrate successes, creating a culture where the status quo is never enough. At ASE we often follow our all-team meetings with strategy sessions focused on these very questions, minimizing bureaucracy to foster experimentation and celebrating successes to create a culture where status quo is never enough.
3. Seek Out What’s Not Working
Bad news often struggles to travel upward. For real progress, leaders must create psychologically safe spaces where employees can share challenges openly. A team’s ability to openly discuss what is working and what isn’t leads to higher employee engagement and actionable solutions. Psychological safety isn’t optional; it’s essential for sustained learning and improvement. In my one-on-one forms I have my senior leadership team complete each week, one question I ask is what challenges they are facing – what is and what isn’t working.
4. Promote Calculated Risk-Taking and Experimentation
Innovation thrives when organizations shift from asking “Why?” to “Why not?” Leaders must encourage pilots, prototypes, and experiments, recognizing that failure is part of the path to success. Like R&D, where failures pave the way for breakthroughs, calculated risks can uncover new opportunities and drive progress.
5. Foster Boundary-Spanning Partnerships
The complexity of today’s work requires collaboration across functions. Breaking down silos enables the rapid flow of information and decision-making. Cross-functional partnerships help unify efforts, streamline processes, and create consistent strategies that address diverse needs. Effective collaboration enhances efficiency and innovation, paving the way for sustainable growth. This is where all-team strategy sessions are so beneficial. At ASE we divide team members into strategy groups while carefully ensuring a cross-section of roles is represented in each group.
Given that 2025 is shaping up to be a year of significant change for many of us, these insights are particularly timely. How do you encourage and support resiliency in your organization? Email me at mcorrado@aseonline.org.
How to Comply with the Earned Sick Time Act: A Guide for Michigan Small Businesses
February 6 @ 8:15 am – 9:15 am
The Earned Sick Time Act goes into effect on February 21, 2025. Tune in to this comprehensive webinar to learn about the checklist, tools, templates, and resources that are now available to Michigan small business owners. SBAM President & CEO Brian Calley will walk though what you need to do to be compliant and provide new details on how to integrate ESTA within your current paid time off policies and employee handbook.
Webinar Pricing:
– FREE for SBAM’s Basic, Premium, VIP and Elite members
– $40 for SBAM Starter members and future members
Can You Detect a Lie or Spot a “Corporate Psychopath?”
Recent studies highlight a concerning rise in occupational fraud and dishonesty, signaling the urgency for organizations to implement robust deception detection training. The ability to identify deception has become a critical skill for HR leaders.
The Demise of Executive Order 11246 – What it Means for Federal Contractors
On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This order revoked Executive Order 11246, originally signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 and amended in 1967.
Keep Your Company Safe: 6 Pillars of a Sound Cybersecurity Strategy
Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for organizations of all sizes. Only 34% of originations have a formalized cybersecurity program with an average cost of a cyber breach is $290,000.
As More Employers Implement Return to Work Keep an Eye Out for Problems
Last week President Trump ordered federal workers back into the office. His Executive Order directed federal agency leaders to “as soon as practicable” take “all necessary steps” to end remote work arrangements. This executive order is only applicable to federal workers. Private employers, even those that are federal contractors or subcontractors are not covered by this executive order.
Make an impact on Michigan’s small businesses
Make sure to save the date for Michigan Celebrates Small Business Summit and Awards Ceremony: April 21-22, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this premier celebration of Michigan’s small business community.
- Interested in Sponsorship? Click here to explore our sponsorship packages.
- Want to Speak at the Event? Click here to submit your speaker request form.
The Small Business Briefing
We’ve got the pulse of small business. Tune in today at 3pm ET for SBAM’s Small Business Briefing! Hosts Brian Calley and Sarah Miller bring you the latest news impacting Michigan small businesses.
Watch live on Facebook at 3PM or via Zoom.
WEBINAR – How to Comply with the Earned Sick Time Act: A Guide for Michigan Small Businesses
February 6 @ 8:15 am – 9:15 am
Webinar Pricing:
####
The Small Business Association of Michigan focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community through advocacy, collaboration and buying power. Today they serve over 32,000 members in all 83 counties of Michigan. SBAM is located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.
Images courtesy of SBAM