Agile Working: Navigating the Future of Work in a Rapidly Changing World

Quick Takeaways:

Agile working makes the office more productive and flexible – by offering your team control over how, where and when they work, you can improve engagement and let your team focus on results, not rigid rules.
It benefits both employees and businesses – you can significantly reduce your office cost and commutes, and you open up your workforce to diversity.
Business technology, such as an innovative leave management system, supports agile working. By leveraging the tech at your disposal, you can effectively track projects, workload, schedules, and manage absence, which is crucial for smooth agile working.

It’s hard to imagine that just a few years ago, working from home was a perk. Today, it’s not only the norm; many people expect it as an option. Now that we’ve seen how productive we can be in a pair of slippers, traditional working arrangements can feel as helpful as a floppy disk to a brand new MacBook.

So, how can you build a flexible and productive workplace? The answer is agile working, and everything you need to succeed is at your fingertips.

The transformation from old to new working arrangements is reshaping business cultures, but what does that look like for your team? Is it simply a strategy deck full of buzzwords, or is there a real chance for change? Let’s dive in and explore agile working, the benefits and obstacles you may encounter with your team as you embrace a flexible future.

What exactly is agile working, and why does it matter today?
What is the mindset behind agile?
The different approaches to agile working
Why agile working can be a win-win for everyone at work.
Where can it go wrong? (and how to make sure it doesn’t)
How to make agile happen in your business.
The future is agile

What exactly is agile working, and why does it matter today?

Put simply, agile working is a people-centric, flexible approach to working. At its core, it supports people in working when, where, and how they feel they can achieve the most in their role.

In the past, employees in most workplaces have been expected to adhere to rigid processes, working hours, and fixed office locations. Yes, traditional hours and office setups can still be effective. However, the reality is that more and more people are coordinating their workday with a 3:30 pm school pickup while still answering Slack messages just before bed to make up for lost time. With people feeling so connected to work wherever they are, why not build the workplace around it?

You may be surprised to know that early agile working structures were first established in the software industry in the early 2000s. Today’s tech companies, most famous for their innovative approaches, are well-known for their project management.

The problem that software and development teams faced during this era was that their projects were often delivered late, over budget, and were generally inefficient. The original Agile Manifesto created a system for prioritising people, communication and interactions over processes and rules to get their field moving. While it was not made to be a broader management strategy, that’s precisely what it became.

What is the mindset behind agile?

You may be thinking, ‘Isn’t this just a buzzword for flexible working?’ and while that’s a fair question, it’s so much more. At its core, agile working is a third dimension of flexible work, beginning with a mindset built on autonomy and outcome-focused policies. Add flexibility, collaboration, and empowerment to work independently as well as within a team, and you have a solid foundation for an agile workplace.

It is designed to give employees a strong sense of ownership and responsibility over their workload, environment, and schedule. Collaboration is one of the most crucial elements of agile working, incorporating open communication and shared responsibility. Achieving this relies quite heavily on technology and an investment in cutting-edge tools.

Here are a few examples of tools that can help facilitate an agile workplace:

Project management software

These tools can help teams manage project tasks between sprint meetings and avoid backlogs.

Team communication tools

Collaborate in real-time with instant messaging, video calls and group channels.

Documentation, knowledge and workflow tools

This type of software offers a customisable environment to manage projects in detail, take notes and create databases.

Code collaboration

Assists development teams in managing source code, debugging and streamlining coding projects.

Product roadmapping

Visualise and plan milestones with all stakeholders to prioritise your product features and when they will be released.

Agile planning and retrospectives

Enhances the outcomes of sprints and helps teams focus on continuous product improvement in small bites.

Workflow integration

Connects all of your favourite tools and automates repetitive processes.

Time tracking and leave management systems

Support your team’s availability and enable team leaders to plan for resource reallocation when team members take time off. Using a smart leave management system that staff can access any time could significantly reduce stress and burnout.

The different approaches to agile working

Not every business has, or needs, a ping pong table or a team scattered across the globe. Agile isn’t about being a Silicon Valley copycat; it’s just about finding what means the most to your team and working with it.

Flexible working - Allowing people to adapt their working hours to their circumstances.
Remote working - Enables employees to work off-site and perform duties at home, in a co-working space, or even from other cities or countries.
Hybrid working - Combines on-site and remote working, providing staff the opportunity to have time with the broader team, and be productive on their own.
Activity-based working - A more design-based approach to working in the office that provides zones for specific work tasks. It can offer collaborative spaces, quiet working rooms, research areas, and more.

Why agile working can be a win-win for everyone at work.

Today’s workforce values work-life balance more than ever, and businesses that have adopted agile working are well-positioned to support this culture.

Flexibility that reduces stress and absence

Offering employees more control over their projects and schedules enables them to integrate work with their personal lives better. It comes as no surprise that it can lead to a significant reduction in absenteeism, presenteeism, stress and burnout.

Onboarding and keeping talent

When it comes to recruitment, flexible working itself is a key differentiator in our competitive labour market. Many skilled professionals are seeking a balance that doesn’t sacrifice their in-work progression. Companies that offer flexibility and provide more autonomy can find themselves with an enviable problem: too many good candidates hitting ‘Apply’ on their job ads.

Retaining great staff is much the same. Agile working cultures provide staff with a compelling reason to stay and grow with the business.

Goodbye long commutes

Let’s be real, nothing kills motivation like sitting in traffic or a packed train for hours before and after a long workday. Often, for those still commuting, the time is spent pondering ‘What am I doing this for?’ yielding no compelling answer.

For those who feel passionate about lowering their carbon emissions, this type of work can also be a great choice. Ultimately, regardless of the reasons, agile working provides people with the time and space to pursue what is important to them.

Reducing business expenses

For businesses, agile working can be very cost-effective. It can minimise or even eliminate the need for a large office space. This could allow you to bid farewell to excessive rent, utility costs, excess furniture and equipment, and other resources necessary on-site.

Promotes diversity

An agile working model can open up opportunities for people in various locations or with diverse personal circumstances. The beauty of this is that your business can benefit from new approaches to problem-solving and strategy. Your company also makes employment opportunities accessible to more people who may not otherwise have the chance to further their careers.

Where can it go wrong? (and how to make sure it doesn’t)

There are some very compelling benefits to introducing agile working, but, like everything, it also has its challenges. Some workplaces, particularly those with more traditional leadership, can experience cultural resistance. It can be challenging for some team members, including management, to grasp the whole picture when adapting to new systems.

Finding a healthy balance between flexibility and oversight, keeping your team communicating effectively, and feeling able to hold your team accountable without micromanaging them can be challenges that require some fine-tuning in the early days.

Agile working relies quite heavily on technology, and the limitations of some tech can present hurdles. Everyone needs reliable internet, equipment and software to get the job done. This infrastructure is imperative because glitchy video calls on an old laptop will mean agile in your business will fail to launch.

Last but certainly not least, ensuring that your team don’t fall into the work-life blur trap, especially for those who work from home. While work-life integration is ideal for many, having the office at home can quickly blur the boundaries between work and home. Many countries are now introducing the ‘right to disconnect’ as a policy. Although the UK does not yet have this in place, it is worth considering crafting a policy around this for your team’s wellbeing.

How to make agile happen in your business.

You won’t be able to wave a magic wand and suddenly have a fully agile workplace, but creating a strategy that meets the needs of your team and adopting a phased approach are excellent starting points.

The approach should iron out inefficiencies, rather than completely overhauling a workflow that works well for your team. Identify the inefficient practices within your business and assess whether agile working could contribute to a solution.

A vital part of the process is including stakeholders throughout your business, especially your team, for their input. From management to frontline staff, we seek valuable feedback and, most importantly, their buy-in.

The future is agile

Most of us didn’t knowingly choose agile; we crash-landed into it during COVID. But now that we’ve seen how autonomous, flexible and productive we are, it’s hard to imagine returning to old ways.

Looking ahead, the cultural shift is in favour of all types of flexible and autonomous working where it can be effectively implemented. Agile working and similar models have put a spotlight on results, rather than counting hours as the primary measure of value and productivity. This mindset opens up endless possibilities for the way people could work in future.

No longer just a trend, it has transformed the way many highly successful businesses continue to operate. The key is to embrace the true principles of agile working and adapt them to the current workforce. Although agile was born in the early 2000s, it is ageing impeccably. With today’s technology and changing attitudes and expectations, now is a good time to stop wondering about ‘the future of work’ and start building it.

Agility isn’t just a buzzword or suitable only to a niche anymore; it could be your competitive edge. Whether you run a small team, a medium-sized business, or even a multinational, ask yourself: Are we working smart enough for the future?

Frequently asked questions:

Is agile working the same as flexible working?

Not exactly. While flexible work focuses on workplace hours and location, agile working goes beyond. Agile working is about building a culture that prioritises outcomes over rigid working rules, where management trusts their teams to work autonomously and collaboratively, according to their schedule.

What are the main benefits of agile working for businesses?

Agile working can boost productivity and help team members feel more engaged. It can also reduce absenteeism as staff feel they have a greater work-life balance. It can also reduce the business cost of servicing a large office.

How can we manage teams effectively in an agile workplace?

Using the right technology and clear communication are the keys to effective management of an agile workplace. We recommend starting with project management tools, messaging platforms, and a great leave management system, like Leave Dates. This ensures that everyone stays on track with their projects and knows who is in and out of the workplace.