Mohammad H. Naghavi

Encountering “uncertainty” is inevitable, especially in innovative teams and organizations. The problem is that even small adjustments in response to uncertainty can disrupt routines and create challenges. To manage these impacts, managers must often make quick and time-sensitive decisions while closely monitoring the consequences of these decisions to ensure the desired outcomes remain on track. This can lead to an increased focus on control which inadvertently reduces employee engagement and stifles creativity. In this topic, we will introduce an approach called “managerial agility” which equips managers dealing with innovations and changes to effectively navigate this uncertainty.

The objectives of this topic are to::

• Reflect on your personal management style in response to uncertainty during innovation or change;
• Discuss the fundamental managerial paradox of “Unleash and Harness”;
• Learn about three drivers of managerial agility in innovative teams.