To be agile you need to have the courage to pivot | Agile Story 37

Rajiv Banerjee
3 min readJul 27, 2023

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In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving world, businesses and individuals alike must embrace agility to navigate the uncertainties and challenges that arise. The ability to adapt and pivot in the face of change has become a crucial skill for success. At the heart of agility lies the courage to let go of the familiar and embrace the unknown

Change can be daunting, often triggering fear and resistance. However, true courage lies in acknowledging that change is inevitable and necessary for growth. It is the ability to recognize when something is not working and to have the audacity to veer in a new direction. This willingness to embrace change is the foundation upon which agility is built.

A pivot can be defined as a fundamental shift in strategy or direction. It requires a willingness to reassess and re-evaluate our current path, regardless of how much time and effort has been invested. Pivoting takes courage because it challenges our ego, forcing us to admit that our initial approach may not be yielding the desired results. However, it is precisely at this pivot point that we open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities.

A great real-life example of a business pivot when we understand the history of “Avon”. Avon is one of the most popular names in makeup, whose products are sold by beauty representatives throughout the world. David H. McConnell was a traveling book salesman, and he realized that his female customers were more interested in the free samples of perfume that came with the books than the books themselves. He began recruiting women to sell his perfume product, believing they would be able to relate and sell to one another better than male salesmen and the rest is history! — Sourced from “14 Famous Business Pivots”

In an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, the courage to pivot is an essential trait for success. It empowers us to embrace change, learn from failure, navigate uncertainty, and cultivate resilience. By letting go of the familiar and embracing the unknown, we unlock new possibilities and create a path to sustainable growth and innovation. So, let us embrace the courage to pivot and embark on a journey of agility, ready to seize opportunities and shape our future with confidence.

#letscreate2succeed #teamHCM #manage2succeed #growth #IBMConsulting #agile

This is the continuation of sharing our Agile Stories/Thoughts Series. I strongly recommend referring to the links below for previous insightful blogs from our #teamagile in IBM.

Content of Agile Stories/Blogs

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are my own and don’t reflect company’s opinion. They should not be considered as an advice or suggestion in any way.

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.

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