Welcome
Welcome to the home of “Clearly Agile: A Leadership Guide to Business Agility,” a pivotal resource for leaders striving to navigate the complexities of today’s fast-paced business environment. This book, penned with the seasoned expertise of Giles Lindsay, offers a comprehensive exploration into the principles of business agility, from fostering an Agile mindset to mastering Agile execution. It’s designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to transform your organisation into an agile, responsive entity capable of leading in a world of constant change.
Dive into the twelve chapters that unfold a clear, actionable path towards achieving unparalleled business agility. Each chapter, from understanding the essential need for agility to anticipating the future of agile practices, is crafted to guide you through the critical aspects of leading agile transformations. Whether you’re building and managing agile teams, scaling business agility, or overcoming challenges in agile adoption, “Clearly Agile” is an essential guide to surviving and thriving in the ever-evolving business landscape. Join us in embracing the journey towards becoming a truly agile leader.
The Book
Formats available: Hardback, Paperback, eBook
Publisher: Practical Inspiration Publishing
Publication date: 9th April 2024
Praise for Clearly Agile
‘Great book, I came to this via an unboxing video.’
Simon Appleby, Director of Bookswarm
‘Giles’ voice, as an experienced technical leader and coach, sounds clearly throughout this book. It is both a manual of transformational leadership and a source of warmth and wisdom for those times when you just need another perspective.’
Russ Lewis, Transformation Specialist & Executive Coach
‘When I heard that Giles was writing a book on a shared passion, I jumped at the chance to read it and further fire up my passion for Business Agility. And that it did.
In many respects, Agile and Business Agility are often misunderstood. And worse still, misused. This often leads to a poor representation of a mindset that could serve businesses and their people in so many ways. And in this context, I love that Giles has written this informative book for those curious about Business Agility.
This quote from the book resonated with me and hopefully inspires someone to pick up the book and start their journey into the rewarding world of Business Agility through the lens of Giles’ CLEAR Model:
“Just as the world constantly evolves, so must the Agile Manifesto. We must look at it not as an unchanging scripture but as a living document that adapts to modern business needs. The future of business agility lies in its ability to evolve and grow with the ever-changing business landscape.”
Amen to that!’
TC Gill, Transformation Lead and People Development Coach
‘Clearly Agile is not just another business book on Agile—it’s a master class from Giles, a technology executive and business agility coach, and a renowned advocate for agility. With deep insights and actionable advice, Giles demystifies the principles of agility, offering a clear roadmap for leaders navigating our rapidly changing business landscape. This book is an essential read for anyone committed to future-proofing their leadership skills and ensuring their organisation’s continued success during the latest industrial revolution.’
Neil A. Walker, Business Agility specialist with 32 years of championing agile and agility
‘In Clearly Agile, Giles connects the dots of agility, guiding readers from the importance of leadership and mindset to team and enterprise agility… This book will leave you with actionable strategies to improve how your organization works – no matter what the future brings.’
Laura M. Powers, Chief Executive Chief Executive Officer, Business Agility Institute
‘Giles is well known as an excellent executive and agile coach. I am very pleased that he has shared his comprehensive knowledge in this excellent book. It covers a wide spectrum of guidance on business agility and is definitely worth a read.’
Mark Lines, Co-creator of Disciplined Agile
‘Giles’ deep experience, and ability to share that wisdom, shines throughout Clearly Agile. Any leader who is hoping to evolve their organization in an agile enterprise will discover actionable and impactful insights in this book.’
Scott Ambler, Co-creator of Disciplined Agile
‘Clearly Agile’ is the definitive guide for leaders navigating the ever-evolving business landscape. With deep insights and actionable advice, it demystifies the principles of business agility, providing a clear roadmap for those seeking to drive innovation and adaptability in their organisations. Giles, a seasoned tech executive and eminent business agility coach, has authored a must-read for anyone committed to future-proofing their leadership skills.’
Neil A. Walker. Business Agility specialist, BJSS Consulting, with 32 years of championing agile and agility
‘Embark on a transformative journey with CLEARLY Agile as Giles blends reflection and practical insights. As a seasoned leader in digital transformation, Giles delves into the dynamics of change, demonstrating empathy for all within the business.
Beyond the mechanics of processes and methodologies, CLEARLY Agile underlines the truth – it’s about the people. Giles describes creating an environment where colleagues not only deliver value but also feel valued. This book guides agile leaders to foster collaboration, navigate transformational conflict, and create a workplace where cooperation becomes the norm.
A compelling read that invites you to explore the heart of agile leadership and discover the impact it can have on both your team and the entire system of work.’
Anneke Panman, Director of Coaching, Agile Delta Consulting
‘What makes this book stand out for me are three things. Firstly, Giles brings clarity to the nature of business agility and what it looks like. Secondly, the move to business agility is far from trivial. It is not and cannot be a modification of business operations but a Transformation. While this second idea is enough to scare the life out of any Board member. Giles makes it clear not just what the risks of Transformation are but also the risks to the future of a business that fails to adopt business agility. Thirdly, there are useful tools embedded along the way, such as learning aids and reflection prompts. As an author on project agility, I understand the need for examples and case studies from various sectors, and so does Giles. I heartily recommend this book.’
Adrian Pyne, author of Agile Beyond IT
Five Key Components of Business Agility
The CLEAR Model
This section introduces the five pivotal principles of the CLEAR Model® – Culture, Leadership, Execution, Adaptability and Responsiveness.
These CLEAR principles provide a comprehensive, nuanced perspective on business agility and the outcomes we want to achieve. From the nurturing ground of Culture to the robust sprint of Responsiveness, each element plays a crucial role in steering the Agile journey. They encapsulate the essence of Agile, combining to form a synergistic whole that empowers businesses to thrive amidst change and uncertainty. As we delve into each chapter, these principles will serve as our faithful compass, providing context and clarity to our exploration of business agility.
Click the diagram to enlarge
C
Culture: “The Agile Nurturer”
Culture is the fertile soil from which agile organizations grow and flourish. It defines the shared values, beliefs, behaviours and practices that underpin an organization’s response to change. A culture supportive of agility encourages open communication, values diversity and promotes a learning mindset. It empowers teams to experiment and learn from failures, fostering resilience and the capacity to bounce back stronger. The key component of Culture will permeate our discussions in Chapter 5 on Building an Agile Culture and will serve as the foundation for our conversation on Embracing an Agile Mindset in Chapter 2. Culture is the crucible within which agility is fostered and sustained, setting the tone for the Agile journey ahead.
L
Leadership: “The Agile Conductor”
E
Execution: “The Agile Artisan”
A
Adaptability: “The Agile Shape-Shifter”
Adaptability is the shape-shifting ability of an Agile organization, the capacity to transform structures, operations and decision-making processes to thrive amidst evolving circumstances. It’s not just about reacting to changes; it’s about anticipating them, preparing for them and capitalizing on them. Adaptability ensures that the organizational structures we’ll discuss in Chapter 5 on Building an Agile Culture and the leadership strategies we’ll delve into in Chapter 4 are malleable and capable of morphing to accommodate new demands or directions. It fosters an environment where innovation flourishes and teams can experiment, learn and grow. It’s a key component that will echo through our conversations about managing Agile Teams in Chapter 6 and Scaling Business Agility in Chapter 10.
R
Responsiveness: “The Agile Sprinter”
Responsiveness is the Agile organization’s sprinting capability. It’s about moving swiftly, not aimlessly, but with clear purpose and direction. Responsiveness involves reacting to shifts in the market, evolving customer needs and emerging opportunities with velocity and precision. An Agile organization listens to its customers, monitors market trends and keeps an eye on its competition to respond in real-time. This is not about hasty decisions; it’s about informed, efficient action. The techniques we’ll discuss for Measuring Business Agility in Chapter 9 and the insights we’ll share on Overcoming Challenges in Agile Adoption in Chapter 11 will be underpinned by the key component of responsiveness.
The Author: Giles Lindsay
Giles Lindsay is a technology executive, business agility coach, and CEO of Agile Delta Consulting Limited. Giles has a track record in driving digital transformation and technological leadership. He has adeptly scaled high-performing delivery teams across various industries, from nimble startups to leading enterprises. His roles, from CTO or CIO to visionary change agent, have always centred on defining overarching technology strategies and aligning them with organisational objectives.
Giles is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI), the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT (FBCS), and The Institution of Analysts & Programmers (FIAP). His leadership across the UK and global technology companies has consistently fostered innovation, growth, and adept stakeholder management. With a unique ability to demystify intricate technical concepts, he’s enabled better ways of working across organisations.
Giles’ commitment extends to the literary realm with his book: “Clearly Agile: A Leadership Guide to Business Agility”. This comprehensive guide focuses on embracing Agile principles to effect transformative change in organisations. An ardent advocate for continuous improvement and innovation, Giles is unwaveringly dedicated to creating a business world that prioritises value, inclusivity, and societal advancement.
Giles on Medium.com
Follow Giles to get expert insights and strategies on Agile and Technology Leadership, Digital Transformation, Change Management and Business Agility.
Book News
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Embracing the journey of writing "Clearly Agile: A Leadership Guide to Business Agility" has been a transformative experience, filled with moments of vulnerability, breakthroughs, and, ultimately, profound insights into the essence of true business agility. Venturing...
The journey to unveiling Clearly Agile
The journey to unveiling "𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲: 𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆" continues to be as enlightening as it is exhilarating. Diving deep into Agile leadership's core, this book outlines a roadmap for leaders eager to cultivate adaptive, resilient...
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The Company: Agile Delta Consulting
Agile Delta Consulting Limited is an award-winning professional services organisation specialising in Business Agility Coaching and Fractional CTO, CIO, and Interim Technology Leadership Services. Our unique offerings encompass Agile Mastery: Coaching and Training Solutions, Agile Transformation Consultancy Services, Executive Leadership Coaching and Mentoring, and Agile Facilitation and Collaboration Training. We empower individuals, teams, and organisations to achieve unparalleled Business Agility through Agile Ways of Working, steering them to evolve, integrate, and excel in an ever-changing competitive environment.
Contact Giles
Whether you’re seeking transformative consulting, inspiring keynote speeches, expert insights on podcasts, or tailored assistance for your organisational challenges, Giles is ready to help. Don’t let this opportunity to collaborate with a leading authority in Agile ways of working pass by. Reach out now for a partnership that will redefine success for your business and beyond.