Why Businesses Must be Agile in 2026 to Grow

Yesterday, I had the chance to speak at an event hosted by ServiceRocket at the Atlassian office in BGC, Taguig.

The topic? How businesses can be Agile. The room was filled with senior leaders from government agencies, banks, and startups. The conversations were eye-opening.

After the session, especially during the Q&A, I walked away thinking that we still have a long way to go with Agile. Not just in terms of implementation, but in understanding what it really is and why it matters more than ever in 2026.

So I am writing this while it is still fresh.

Let’s Be Honest: Agile Still Feels Like a Buzzword

I asked the audience one simple question: “What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Agile?”

Most answered with tools like Jira or frameworks like Scrum. A few mentioned processes. That is fair, but it also highlights the problem.

Agile has been around for over 20 years, yet many still see it as something you implement rather than a way of thinking.

One executive asked, “If we stopped using Jira, does that mean we are not Agile anymore?” The answer is no. If your team falls apart without a tool or framework, then you were never truly Agile.

Is Agile All About Speed?

Agile is not about moving fast or finishing the most tasks. Agility is about adapting to change without breaking.

That change might be a shift in customer behavior, a new competitor, market disruption, or government regulation.

The world does not wait. If your business responds slowly, you are already behind.

So, What Is Business Agility?

Business agility is the ability to respond to change while continuously delivering value.

It means staying competitive when everything shifts, having teams that can adjust mid-quarter, and leaders who can pivot without chaos.

It starts with mindset, not frameworks or checklists.

Why This Matters in 2026 and Beyond

The pace of change today is relentless. AI, automation, remote work, new platforms, and economic uncertainty are reshaping everything.

Agile thinking must extend beyond IT into marketing, HR, compliance, and operations.

Long, linear planning no longer works. The two-year Gantt chart is dead. The market will shift before your plan does.

Real-World Example: The Flood Control Project

One example I shared was a government flood control project run using a traditional waterfall approach.

It involved a large plan, a large budget, years of execution, and no feedback loops. The result was poor quality, wasted resources, and citizens still dealing with flooded roads.

The problem was not execution alone. It was the mindset. There was no accountability for outcomes and no mechanism for honest feedback.

With Agile thinking—short iterations, stakeholder feedback, and collaboration—the results could have been very different.

The Resistance Is Real

Resistance came up repeatedly, especially from leadership.

Some leaders question whether Agile is worth it. Others wait for perfect conditions, full clarity, or total alignment.

But Agile exists precisely because conditions are uncertain. Waiting for stability often means waiting too long.

Without executive leadership, Agile change will not last.

How Businesses Can Become Agile

1. Start with leadership commitment

Agile cannot succeed from the middle. Leaders must clearly communicate that agility is the direction forward, not an optional experiment.

2. Start small, then scale

Do not attempt a company-wide transformation overnight. Start with one team or workflow, build momentum, then expand.

3. Invest in people, not just tools

Agile requires coaching, learning, and unlearning. Tools support agility, but mindset creates it.

4. Align structure, processes, and tools

Silos and slow approval cycles prevent agility. Simplify structures, create cross-functional teams, and remove unnecessary friction.

5. Inspect, adapt, and measure continuously

Agile is ongoing. Measure outcomes that matter, such as response time, alignment, and customer satisfaction, not just task completion.

What We Learned from the Event

Many leaders want change but do not know where to begin. Others have been burned by failed attempts or believe Agile only applies to development teams.

The interest is there. The momentum is there. With the right leadership push, meaningful change is possible.

I also wore our Myridius shirt that day as a reminder that we are here to help organizations move from theory to practice.

How Myridius Leads from the Front

Myridius works with organizations to make Agile real and sustainable.

• We focus on mindset shifts, not just frameworks
• We provide ongoing coaching, not one-off workshops
• We apply Agile beyond technology teams
• We work across industries and organizational structures
• We practice Agile in our own work

Change is driven by people, not processes alone.

Final Thoughts

Organizations that fail to adapt will fall behind. Agile helps teams stay aligned with real-world priorities and respond before it is too late.

In 2026 and beyond, success will belong to those who learn and adapt faster than everyone else.

If your organization is still asking whether it should go Agile, you are already behind. The real question is how quickly you can become Agile enough to survive the next change.

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