Instill Skilled Flexibility

Lessons from prior experience have proven that three factors contribute the most to instilling skilled flexibility for skillful responsiveness. They are:

1. Clarity of vision, mission, strategy, and values – Clarity of direction helps employees see how the work they do contributes to the bigger picture and provides them with meaning and fulfillment in their work, which in turn enhances commitment.
2. Collaboration across levels – Organizations executives and managers practice collaboration by connecting with employees, asking questions, listening, responding, holding information sharing meetings, etc. When employees witness their leaders as active role models of collaboration, their sense of belonging in the organization is enhanced and they feel connected with their managers and leaders, and committed to their work.
3. Enhanced Capabilities – Develop capabilities to skillfully deal with uncertainty and change among individuals and teams. When members can readily apply skills, tools, and frameworks to tackle and overcome emerging challenges and deliver results, their confidence levels in dealing with uncertainty and change is greatly enhanced and they are better prepared to take on the unexpected as they arise. 

The 3Cs – Clarity, Collaboration, and Capability are interdependent and nurture one another to equip the organization with capacity to be responsive. Without Clarity, Collaboration, or Capability, organization members are ill-prepared to be responsive to the demands placed on them by cycles of uncertainty and change.