Shaping Portfolio Agility E13 - Evan Leybourn on the Vicious and Virtuous Cycles of Change
Jan 02, 2025
“Just as delegation is a skill that can get taught to leaders and often is, the ability to take ownership is a skill that needs to be developed in people, and organizations often do not invest in training that.”
Evan Leybourn
In this episode, we are joined by Evan Leybourn, the founder and CEO of the Business Agility Institute. Evan has been a thought leader in the realm of Business Agility since 2008, advocating for organizations to rethink how they operate, lead, and govern to become more human-centric and adaptable in the face of constant change.
Evan's journey began with a realization that organizations needed to move beyond traditional agile practices confined to IT and software development. In 2016, he established the Business Agility Institute, aiming to create a global community dedicated to redefining business structures and cultures. The Institute has since become a hub for research, thought leadership, and collaboration among professionals striving to transform their organizations.
During our conversation, Evan delves into the fundamental differences between agile and Business Agility, emphasizing that Business Agility extends beyond methodologies to encompass organizational behaviors and mindsets. He shares insights from recent research studies conducted by the Institute, including "Bridging the Divide" and "The Balancing Act," which explore the challenges organizations face in collaboration, prioritization, and leadership.
Evan discusses the decline in organizational collaboration observed between 2022 and 2023, attributing it to factors like fear-based leadership and siloed structures exacerbated by economic uncertainties. He highlights the importance of moving towards human-centric governance and leadership models to foster organizational resilience and unity.
Through candid reflections, Evan offers valuable advice on breaking down silos, aligning goals, and investing in leadership development. He underscores organizations' need to build the muscles required to respond effectively to change, no matter how unexpected.
In this episode, we cover:
- (00:00) Introduction
- (04:07) What led to the founding of the Business Agility Institute?
- (10:15) What differentiates Business Agility from agile?
- (17:20) What emerged from the institute’s recent research study on trends in organizational collaboration?
- (24:40) What did the onset of the pandemic teach us about organizational agility?
- (33:24) What did the “Balancing Act” study on prioritizaton reveal?
- (39:50) What lies behind the struggle to act on the gap between supply and demand for strategic capacity?
- (45:30) What’s the secret to sustainable change?
- (52:21) How do leaders create time for change?
Throughout the episode, Evan emphasizes that change is inevitable and constant. Organizations that proactively develop the capabilities to adapt and respond to change are better positioned to achieve their purpose and succeed in today's dynamic environment.
Cast:
Evan Leybourn
Eric Willeke
Mark Richards
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