Topic Guide
What Is Agility?
Agility is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Agility
Servant leadership
This leadership style prioritizes valor, service, and dedication to a mission greater than oneself, focusing on enabling others. Vice Admiral Crawford exemplifies this by choosing to lead in higher education to empower students after a decorated military career.
Mission first, people always
A leadership mantra that balances the criticality of accomplishing the mission with the unwavering commitment to the well-being and development of the people involved. It highlights that the mission cannot succeed sustainably without prioritizing the human element, as articulated by a senior Navy leader.
Unguarded moments
Refers to a leader's actions and behavior when they believe they are not being observed. This episode emphasizes that these moments are often more powerful and impactful than scripted messages, as they reveal a leader's true authenticity and character, profoundly influencing team trust and perception.
Reservoir of strength
This concept describes an internal wellspring of resilience, values, or faith that a leader draws upon during challenging times. Vice Admiral Crawford argues that this is more critical than intellect or talent alone for withstanding significant adversity and consistently leading forward.
Strategic patience with a sense of urgency
A leadership approach that acknowledges that significant, lasting change takes time, thus requiring patience. However, it also demands a continuous, underlying sense of urgency to ensure progress is made and momentum is not lost, balancing long-term vision with immediate action and accountability.
What Experts Say About Agility
- 1.True leadership is revealed in times of crisis, where individuals revert to their training and core character, highlighting the importance of having strong foundational values.
- 2.Vice Admiral Crawford’s personal ethos of "faith, family, and service" guided his career choices, leading him to higher education after military service to continue enabling others.
- 3.Humility is paramount for leaders, serving as a shield against ego and arrogance, allowing leaders to embrace self-awareness and foster innovation among their teams.
- 4.The principle of "mission first, people always" emphasizes that mission accomplishment is inextricably linked to prioritizing the well-being and development of the people executing it.
- 5.A leader's "unguarded moments" — their actions when they believe they are unobserved — are profoundly more impactful than their scripted messages in building trust and demonstrating authenticity.
- 6.In a rapidly changing world, leaders and individuals must cultivate "strategic patience" while maintaining a "sense of urgency," constantly learning, and embracing agility.