How to be more agile at work

There is a lot of talk at the moment about being agile. This is not surprising. We have come to expect the unexpected and the mortgage market continues to change.

So how can we become more agile?

Here are some thoughts.

Learn to be Agile

Talking about being agile is one thing. Being agile is another. It is not easy because our brains our wired to different way of working. So, we have to try and find a way to think and be more agile. We need to relearn how we do things.

Forget What You Know

Consider this quote from Alvin Toffler, who is credited with saying: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

Learn Something New

Keep learning. That keeps you agile and open to new approaches.

Break Routines

One tip is to find ways of breaking routines. Don’t have that weekly 10am meeting at the same time every week. Find a different way to work. If you are working from home, don’t go straight to the screen, go for a walk. At the end of the day, do something you don’t normally do. Breaking routines help us think differently.

Focus on Your Outcomes

Don’t get too tied to your plans. Instead keep a focus on delivering the results and outcomes set out in your goals. Know where you are going and what you need to achieve – and adapt accordingly when need to.

Remember, strategy is your guide to get to where you want to get to – not milestones

Expect Product Changes

The market saw years and years of a flat interest rate environment. That has gone. You must expect a lot more product changes now. Therefore, free up time in your diary to allow for unexpected product changes.

Focus on Your Strengths

Know what your natural talents are and of those around you. Using each other’s strengths will help with agility.

Strive For Better

Focus on ways to continuously improve what you do. The better you are and the more effective your marketing, you will find that you can do less. A big ship with a heavy load takes longer to change course than one with a lighter load.

Reflect

Take time at the end of the week to reflect on what you do and how you do it. How agile were you. Reflect. Learn. Relearn.