In this edition of the Managerial Excellence Masterclasses, Jérôme Barrand, founder of the Institute of Organizational Agility at Grenoble School of Management, shares his expertise on agile management. He opens his presentation by reminding us that new technologies are redefining our relationship with time: while Netflix took three and a half years to reach one million users, ChatGPT achieved this feat in just five days. This speed of transformation requires organizations to become more agile to remain competitive.
What is Agility?
Jérôme Barran defines agility as a continuous adaptation capability. Historically associated with IT projects using methods like Scrum, it is now relevant for all sectors. However, Barran emphasizes the importance of adapting methods to each company’s specificities.
Know-how to Act: a Third Way
In his book The Agile Manager, Jérôme Barran introduces a structuring concept: know-how to act, which he distinguishes from know-how and interpersonal skills. He explains that performance is not solely based on technical skills (know-how) or personality traits (interpersonal skills), but mainly on the ability to adjust one’s behavior according to the context.
Three Pillars of Know-How to Act
Barran identifies three key skills to develop agility:
- Anticipation: foreseeing context changes to react better.
- Cooperation: understanding collaborators’ needs and establishing authentic relationships.
- Innovation: providing adapted solutions, beyond raw creativity.
These skills allow for establishing a connection with one’s environment and proactively adjusting to it.
Measuring and Developing Agility
Barran has created specific tools, such as the agility quotient, which measures the adaptability of individuals and teams. He proposes a two-step methodology:
- Training: teaching agile behaviors through practical workshops.
- Evaluation criteria: integrating agility into performance indicators, valuing the quality of behaviors beyond simple results.
Agility in Recruitment and Organizational Transformations
“Behavioral agility is a key criterion in recruitment, states Barran. Rather than solely prioritizing know-how, it is essential d” evaluate candidates’ ability to adapt. He also recounts how he helped a company overcome organizational obstacles in two collective coaching sessions, thanks to behavioral awareness.
The Inspiring Example of the Handyman
To illustrate “agility, Barran evokes the metaphor of the handyman. This person keeps everything and finds innovative solutions using what’s at hand. This ability to assemble, disassemble, and reinvent according to need is at the heart of”agility. However, Barran specifies that a true agile manager also knows how to step outside this framework when necessary to innovate radically.
Jérôme Barran’s Advice
For sales directors and managers, Jérôme Barran shares a key lesson: “Performance is in the journey, not in the result.” He encourages focusing on the quality of behaviors and interactions, rather than on short-term numerical objectives.
In a nutshell…
This Masterclass highlighted the crucial importance of agility in a constantly evolving world. Through innovative concepts and practical tools, Jérôme Barran shows how managers can transform their organizations to face tomorrow’s challenges.
Don’t miss the next Masterclass!