Leo M. Tilman - Agility: How to Navigate the Unknown and Seize Opportunity in a World of Disruption

Agility is the most decisive factor in successfully navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution and fulfilling its promise to humankind. In this important and compelling book, Tilman and Jacoby provide a comprehensive theory of agility and a practical guide to developing and leading agile organizations.

Klaus Schwab, Founder & Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

A significant contribution to leadership thinking at a time of increasing complexity, intense scrutiny, and rapid change. Recognizing agility as an essential driver of success in business, industry, and the military is vital. Understanding how to foster and consistently deliver it is even more critical. This must-read book helps us achieve both.

Martin Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

This is a thoughtfully written book and one that will make the reader think. It makes you ask fundamental questions about the business you are in. Above all, it both broadens and sharpens the definition of what it means to be agile. Drawing on a rich set of historical and current examples from the private and public sectors as well as the military, the authors lucidly illustrate a framework that will be useful to leaders of all types of organizations in a time of accelerated change and adaptation.

Lakshmi Shyam-Sunder, Chief Risk Officer, World Bank Group

All leaders are facing an era of rapid change. Thats true across politics, the military, all areas of business and every geography. We are all asking ourselves how we can lead successfully as we deal with fast-moving events, ambiguity, uncertainty and volatility. Tilman and General Jacoby skillfully present clear and reasoned strategies for anyone interested in learning and applying organizational agility to get ahead and prosper in this age of disruption.

Doug Peterson, President and CEO, S&P Global

In business, government, and warfare, agility is critical to survival, competitiveness, and enduring success. This original and practical book is a must-read for the leaders of organizations and teams who want to really understand what it means and what it takes to be agile.

John Abizaid, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

The future belongs to agile organizations. With a rare clarity of thought and a wealth of experience, Tilman and Jacoby have given us an invaluable roadmap to how such organizations can be built and nurtured for the long-term.

George Mitchell, Former US Senate Majority Leader & Peace Envoy

MISSIONDAY

Copyright 2019 by Leo M. Tilman and Charles Jacoby. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, digital scanning, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact Missionday at publisher@missionday.com.

D isclaimer: Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. This book is presented solely for educational and informational purposes. The author and publisher are not offering it as legal, accounting, or other professional services advice. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or advice contained herein. Every company is different and the advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation.

With regard to General Jacoby's contribution, the author assumes responsibility for the veracity, accuracy, and source documentation of the material, including no use of classified material and conformity to copyright and usage permissions. The views expressed in the manuscript are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US government.

Interior design: AuthorScope

Distributed by Publishers Group West

To our families

for their unconditional love and support

and for their endless patience with our attempts to be agile.

In the realm of the unknown, difficulties must be viewed as a hidden treasure!

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The First Circle

The first, the supreme, the most far-reaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish the kind of war on which they are embarking; neither mistaking it for, nor trying to turn it into, something that is alien to its nature.

Carl von Clausewitz, On War