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Today, in the digital age, it is inevitable that technology has a huge impact on industries, societies and organizations. As more businesses embrace digital transformation, the concept of digital agility emerges as a beacon of organizational survival and success.

In this article, let’s talk about what digital agility entails and how leadership plays a key role in fostering that agility.

Defining Digital Flexibility

Digital resilience encompasses an organization’s ability to not only withstand but also to adapt, innovate, and thrive amid multiple waves of technological change and the uncertainty of global conditions. It’s all about the organization’s ability to face adversity, adapt quickly, and ultimately grow stronger.

Amidst the rapid technological changes that characterize our digital age, organizations need to constantly pivot to adapt to emerging technologies and the changing digital landscape. As such, digital flexibility is a necessity for organizations to succeed today.

Purpose and values ​​at the heart of resilience

Before we talk about digital resilience, we first need to look at the resilience of an organization in general. For any emerging organization, a strong sense of purpose and a well-defined set of values ​​can serve as guiding principles that can help navigate turbulent waters.

In times of uncertainty, a strong sense of purpose creates a sense of direction, aligning employees and stakeholders to direct their efforts and resources toward the same overriding goals. Additionally, company values ​​act as a moral compass that promotes decision-making, trust and integrity within the organization.

It creates a company’s overall identity, consisting of its vision, purpose and core values, which brings employees together and unites them around a common goal. It helps in better communication and coordinated ways of working.

By embedding a strong sense of purpose and a strong set of values ​​into the fabric of their operations, organizations foster a culture of resilience that transcends challenges.

Inclusive culture as a flexible

Another important aspect of building resilience is cultivating an inclusive culture. It refers to an organizational culture that celebrates diversity and empowers each individual to contribute their unique perspectives and talents through diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs.

Many experts have said that having D&I programs is key to building resilient workforces and organizations, especially when it comes to racial violence. An inclusive workforce is able to leverage a greater depth of human experience to enhance creativity, enhance problem-solving skills, and foster greater adaptability to complex challenges.

The role of leadership in fostering resilience

Such flexible organizations are often headed by leaders who demonstrate flexibility in practice. This can be done in many different ways. For example, these leaders can embrace change and foster a culture of continuous learning. Leaders in flexible organizations encourage entrepreneurship between and within teams by delegating decision-making to small cross-functional teams.

Through their commitment to innovation and their ability to let teams be held accountable in their own way, they inspire teams to take advantage of growth opportunities. Additionally, empathic leadership fosters trust, empowering teams to embrace uncertainty and face challenges with confidence. By instilling this innovative mindset in employees, organizations are also fostering a culture of resilience.

Linking flexibility to innovation

At the end of the day, resilient organizations are not simply reactive to change. They proactively identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities. By embracing flexibility as a strategic imperative, organizations are more innovative because they are open to experimentation and exploration.

This, in turn, fosters a culture of innovation where failure is accepted as a stepping stone to success, and continuous improvement is the norm. Additionally, as organizations are more able to adapt to changes, they are also better able to push new digital solutions.

A study on organizational flexibility and digital transformation found that digital transformation can improve an organization’s digital capabilities and upgrade an organization’s ability to adapt. Through this study, we can see how digital transformation affects digital innovation in organizations, which, in turn, can further improve their resilience.

Overall, in a digital age defined by uncertainty and rapid change, flexibility is a key aspect for organizations to achieve sustainable success. Amidst the hustle and bustle of digital transformation, it is also important for organizations to remember the importance of the human side of digital transformation. Like building digital agility, successful digital transformation relies heavily on a clear organizational purpose and strong values, as well as strong leadership that emulates and reflects those values.