Key Takeaways:
- Agility strengthens competitiveness – Best Workplaces™ show revenue per employee 8.5× higher than the U.S. and Canada market average.
- Empowered employees engage more – They are 46% more likely to give extra effort and 34% more likely to adapt quickly to change.
- Data and trust guide decisions – High-trust workplaces make smarter choices and sustain growth.
- Agility fuels innovation – Companies with top “Innovation By All” scores see 550% higher revenue growth.
Business agility equips organizations to navigate challenges while creating space for innovation.
Not long ago, enjoying a movie meant driving to a local rental store for a VHS tape. Today, the once-familiar phrase “Be kind, rewind” feels as dated as making a collect call.
For organizations and their employees, the pace of change never slows. They are constantly adapting to new technologies, shifting market conditions, and the arrival of fresh competitors.
What distinguishes successful organizations is their ability to adapt and respond quickly. Business agility has become an essential strategy that allows leaders to turn disruption into opportunity. By embedding agile practices into core operations, teams gain the confidence and tools to approach complex challenges with creative solutions.
The benefits are clear. Business agility strengthens customer service, increases employee engagement, supports better decision-making, and improves efficiency. Together these advantages contribute to sustainable long-term growth.
Understanding business agility
Business agility is the capacity of an organization to adapt and evolve in uncertain or changing environments while remaining competitive and meeting its goals.
It is not limited to the technology sector. Agility is just as important in industries such as retail and hospitality. It reflects a set of capabilities that extends throughout the entire organization. This includes leaders placing trust in employees to make decisions, adopting new tools, and creating workplaces that encourage creativity.
Agile strategies may involve designing new products or services to stay competitive, responding to disruptors like artificial intelligence, or capturing innovative ideas from employees to drive improvement.
Key benefits of business agility
Organizations of every size can strengthen performance when business agility is part of their overall strategy. The following benefits highlight how agility supports competitiveness, people, and long-term success.
- Increased competitiveness
New competitors can appear at any time. Agile organizations are ready to seize new opportunities and respond effectively to challenges in the marketplace. - Improved customer satisfaction
Customers are central to every business. Agile practices place continuous attention on customer needs and feedback. At Wegmans, for example, frontline employees have the authority to serve customers in the way that best meets their needs at the moment. - Enhanced employee engagement
Agility creates a culture of empowerment and ownership. Employees in high-trust workplaces are 46% more likely to give extra effort and 34% more likely to adapt quickly to change. At The Wonderful Company, the “Way of Work” program trains employees to identify and solve business problems, such as developing a faster and safer process for changing heavy machine tires in the field. - Resilience in response to industry changes
Continuous improvement helps organizations adapt to emerging trends. KPMG, for example, prepares employees for artificial intelligence through its “GenAI 101” program, teaching them AI terminology, effective prompts, and safe implementation practices. - Reduced costs and improved efficiency
Agile organizations operate more efficiently and manage resources more effectively. Companies on the Best Workplaces™ in Canada List demonstrate this, showing revenue per employee that is 8.5 times higher than the U.S. and Canada market average. - Better decision-making
Agility supports quicker and more informed decisions. By using data and feedback loops, organizations avoid costly mistakes and make continuous improvements. Employee survey insights also help leaders strengthen the nine high-trust behaviours that drive both culture and performance. - Increased innovation
An agile mindset encourages fresh ideas and practices that create a competitive edge. Great Place To Work® research shows companies with the highest “Innovation By All” scores see 550% higher revenue growth than those with lower scores. Deloitte illustrates this by advancing ESG practices and collaborating with Indigenous communities worldwide to address environmental challenges.
How to improve business agility in your workforce
Employees play a critical role in either accelerating or slowing down business transformation. Great Place To Work® research identifies eight drivers that strengthen agility within the workforce.
- Recognition for trying new approaches
When employees are acknowledged for experimenting with new ideas, regardless of the outcome, they are 253% more likely to adapt quickly to change. - Psychological safety to take smart risks
Innovation flourishes when employees feel safe enough to take reasonable risks. Psychological safety creates an environment where even setbacks can lead to growth. - High levels of cooperation
When employees believe they can rely on colleagues across teams and departments, they are 132% more likely to adapt quickly to change. - Benefits that support life inside and outside of work
Childcare support, flexible work options, and retirement benefits give employees the security they need to take risks and contribute new ideas. - A clear vision from leaders
When leaders communicate a clear view of the company’s future, employees are 51% more likely to adapt quickly to change. - Employee involvement in decisions
Employees who feel included in decisions that affect their work are 41% more likely to adapt quickly to change. - Commitment to local communities
Employees who feel positive about their company’s community contributions are 34% more likely to adapt quickly to change. - A voice and respect for every employee
When employees feel respected and valued in their role, they are 31% more likely to adapt quickly to change.
Overcome challenges in building business agility
Agility depends on innovation and the ability to adjust to changing market conditions. Yet doing things differently comes with obstacles. Below are common challenges leaders encounter when applying agile practices, along with solutions to address them.
- Problem: Resistance to change
Employees may be hesitant to adopt new agile practices and feel uncertain about different ways of working. Some may even view agility as a threat to their role or established routines.
Solution: Empowerment and autonomy
Change is achieved through people. Workshops on agility practices can help employees view change as an opportunity. Encouraging initiative and decision-making reduces resistance and supports innovation. - Problem: Lack of growth opportunities
Employees who feel they cannot grow professionally may become disengaged and hesitant to share new ideas.
Solution: Continuous improvement
Create a culture of ongoing development by investing in employee learning and training. This leads to greater innovation and adaptability as teams build new skills and stay competitive. - Problem: Organizational silos
Silos can isolate employees, making it harder to share knowledge, resources, and collaborate across the organization. This limits creativity and slows progress.
Solution: Cross-functional collaboration
Break down silos by forming cross-functional teams that bring together diverse skills, perspectives, and expertise. These teams are a powerful tool for solving complex challenges and driving growth.
Measuring the impact of business agility
Improvement is only possible when progress is measured. Organizations need to track the impact of agile practices to make iterative adjustments that strengthen agility over time.
There are four areas that provide a clear picture of how well agility is working across the business:
- Customer satisfaction
- Operational performance
- Financial performance
- Employee engagement
Your workforce plays a central role in either accelerating or slowing transformation. Employee surveys are an essential tool for listening to your people as they share insights and identify solutions in response to change.
Embrace agility for long-term success
Rapid advances in technology and the constant demand for innovation mean that organizations adopting agile practices are best positioned for lasting success. While agility drives transformation and growth, measuring that success depends on benchmarking culture.
The Great Place To Work® platform provides analytics and insights that help leaders uncover opportunities for both their business and their people, even in complex environments.
Explore the survey platform and begin your journey toward Great Place To Work Certification™ today.
This article is an adaptation of the original Great Place To Work® , written by Seth Willis, Business Advisor and Culture Coach.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What does business agility mean in the workplace?
Business agility is an organization’s ability to adapt quickly in uncertain or changing conditions. It allows companies to stay competitive while meeting employee and customer needs.
2. How does business agility improve employee engagement?
Agility empowers employees by giving them ownership in decision-making, encouraging new ideas, and creating a culture of trust. This leads to higher engagement and stronger commitment to organizational goals.
3. Why is business agility important for long-term growth?
Organizations that are agile can respond faster to market shifts, adopt new technologies, and innovate effectively. This adaptability helps sustain performance and resilience over time.
4. What are the main benefits of adopting agile practices?
Key benefits include increased competitiveness, improved customer satisfaction, higher employee engagement, better decision-making, reduced costs, and more innovation across the business.
5. How can leaders build agility across their organization?
Leaders can strengthen agility by fostering psychological safety, recognizing new ideas, encouraging cross-team collaboration, providing supportive benefits, and communicating a clear vision for the future.
