What Kiteboarding Taught Me About Agility

My husband, Rob, and I just returned from four days of kiteboarding in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Kiteboarding is a beautiful and fascinating sport, and learning to control the powerful kite to ride across the water was an amazing experience (check out Richard Branson’s video “why I love kitesurfing”).
My experience brought to mind a few principles for how we can take advantage of changes in the market to propel our businesses forward.

• In business, we are constantly reading the wind, monitoring how our customers’ needs are changing, and anticipating what might happen next. What action should you be taking now to prepare for the changes you anticipate?
• Every year, kite boarders have to decide whether to splurge to buy a new kite which will make higher jumps and better tricks possible. Similarly, new business technologies are constantly entering the market which can improve your efficiency, or enhance the value you provide to customers. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the choices. Therefore, be very clear in identifying your objectives before you begin to evaluate new technologies.
• When I saw experienced kite boarders soaring 10 feet off the water, then landing gently back down, I knew I was in for a long learning experience. Similarly, new business capabilities can take years to establish, whether through acquisitions, training, or other investments. Don’t constrain your aspirations based on the capabilities your organization has now. Create a vision for what your organization can be capable of five years from now, and build toward that vision. Before you know it, you’ll be there.