Creating Agile Organizations

01/29/25 • 47 min

Unlocking Cultural Agility with Marco Blankenburgh

Around 70% of most change initiatives are unsuccessful in organizations around the world. How can we create organizations that have the agility to successfully create real change?
Join us as Marco Blankenburgh, International Director of KnowledgeWorkx, shares his insights into how agility has shifted from sports and military roots to a key component in business leadership and development. Together, Marco and Shelley explore the significance of collaborative cultures inspired by sports teams and military units, and the journey of agility's integration into business, especially in project management and software development, while tackling the real challenges of change management in the corporate world.
The conversation takes a cultural spin, navigating the complexities of implementing agile methods across diverse global landscapes. Cultural interpretations of agility can vary dramatically—sometimes even clashing with established hierarchical structures and traditional leadership roles. Dive into discussions on what truly defines a healthy organization beyond Western-centric norms, and the impact of different organizational structures on productivity and effectiveness. The episode untangles the assumptions tied to organizational health and their influence on agility implementation across various cultural contexts.
In a world where organizations are increasingly global, Intercultural Agility becomes indispensable. Learn from real-world examples how businesses have adapted their processes to respect cultural nuances, ensuring global success. Marco and Shelley discuss the "two spotlights approach" for fostering agile cultures, emphasizing the need for collaboration and creating pockets of success as catalysts for broader cultural change. With insights from John King's book "Tribal Leadership," discover how transitioning from competitive to collaborative modes propels organizations to the "we" level where true agility thrives. Join us to unlock strategies for building agile, culturally aware organizations ready to conquer the global stage.
| In this episode, you will learn:
-- About the linguistic and cultural issues that need to be taken into account when developing an agile environment.
-- The role of hierarchy within agile systems: directed vs directive destiny.
-- How to gauge when your organization has 'global DNA' and is ready to take on other geographies.
| Learn More about:
-- Global Leadership - How to Become a Culturally Agile Leader
-- How Global is Your Company's DNA?

-- Looking for a book to take your cultural agility to the next step, check out the Ultimate Intercultural Question Book brought to you by KnowledgeWorkx.com

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-- Looking for a book to take your cultural agility to the next step, check out the Ultimate Intercultural Question Book brought to you by KnowledgeWorkx.com

Previous Episode

Navigating Diversity Initiatives Globally | Part 2 with Linda Berlot

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What truly makes diversity initiatives succeed in today's complex global world?
Join Marco Blankenburgh and Linda Berlot as they uncover the qualities of courage and cultural learning necessary for engaging in impactful intercultural dialogues. Their conversation navigates through the intricate layers of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, dissecting the global hurdles these face. The episode reveals why some DEIB efforts fall short and how giants like Microsoft are rethinking their strategies to heighten cultural adaptability, specifically in regards to relationship-centric and problem-centric cultural approaches.
Cultural dynamics and intercultural relationships take center stage as we share insights on the significance of humility and forgiveness. Through a lens of personal experiences and organizational examples, we examine cultural assumptions tied to agency and hierarchy, illustrating the delicate bridge between respecting cultural expressions and maintaining authenticity. We discuss the unique challenges in developing leadership assessments that resonate universally, stressing the importance of considering cultural perspectives to avoid skewed results. With tools like the Three Colors of Worldview and the Cultural Mapping Inventory, we aim to enhance survey designs and data interpretation to better reflect organizational realities.
The discussion ventures into the realm of vulnerability in leadership, exploring how it can forge powerful connections, though its acceptance varies across cultural landscapes. We tackle the complexities of cultural sensitivity in addressing global issues and the clever adaptation required to foster meaningful change without imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. The episode invites you to embrace courage as a cultural learner, offering resources to deepen your understanding of intercultural intelligence. Special thanks to Linda Berlot and all contributors who made this enlightening exploration possible. Engage with us as we chart pathways to a more culturally agile world.
| In this episode, you will learn:
-- About creating DEIB solutions that thrive beyond an individual-accountability perspective.
-- How to acknowledge the significance of humility and forgiveness in cross-cultural spaces, especially in regards to language barriers.
-- The nuances of transparency and vulnerability in leadership among hierarchical organizations.
| Learn More about:
-- Global Leadership - How to Become a Culturally Agile Leader (https://www.knowledgeworkx.com/post/global-leadership-how-to-become-a-culturally-agile-leader)
-- Applying Cultural Agility to DEIB (https://www.knowledgeworkx.com/post/applying-cultural-agility-to-deib)
-- The Key to Unlock Success in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives (https://www.knowledgeworkx.com/post/the-key-to-unlock-success-in-diversity-inclusion-and-belonging-initiatives)

-- Looking for a book to take your cultural agility to the next step, check out the Ultimate Intercultural Question Book brought to you by KnowledgeWorkx.com

Next Episode

Discovering the 12 Dimensions of Culture | Part 1

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Have you ever wondered how cultural differences shape our interactions? In this episode, Marco and Shelley explore the transformative concept of intercultural agility through the lens of the 12 Dimensions of Culture. Each dimension offers a unique perspective on how we understand ourselves and others in a multicultural world. From defining growth strategies to navigating communication styles, understanding these dimensions can enhance your intercultural skills, building stronger relationships in both personal and professional settings.

We start by unpacking the Growth dimension, discussing how different cultures approach development and teamwork. We also differentiate between universal and situational relationships, offering insights into how your perception of connections influences your relationships at work and beyond. Furthermore, we examine various outlooks on the future, from tradition-focused to innovation-driven perspectives, which inform our decision-making processes in diverse contexts.

Communication is crucial in any intercultural interaction - we dive into the differences between direct and indirect styles and how being adaptable can lead to more effective engagement. The episode also addresses accountability, emphasizing the importance of community alongside individual responsibility, reshaping how future generations view their roles in the workplace.

This rich tapestry of cultural dimensions not only enhances self-awareness but also provides tools for fostering better connections across cultures.

| In this episode, you will learn:
-- About the Cultural Mapping inventory (CMi), discovering each dimension.
-- How development and teamwork can be approached when considering the Growth dimension.
-- About fostering connection through understanding individual culture.
Read More about:

-- Looking for a book to take your cultural agility to the next step, check out the Ultimate Intercultural Question Book brought to you by KnowledgeWorkx.com

Unlocking Cultural Agility with Marco Blankenburgh - Creating Agile Organizations

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.661

And just be ruthlessly honest , because the reality is , if you have a super competitive organization , you're not likely to become agile anytime soon ,

Speaker 100:00:10.701

because people are not collaborating , the organization is not set up for collaboration and therefore the we stage will not be achieved . And that's where agility really shows up . And I've