Age of Agility

The Age of Agility: Building Learning Agile Leaders and Organizations focuses on learning agility, one of the most important trends in the business world during the past decade. Surveys have found that learning agility is the most frequently used criterion to measure leadership potential. Yet despite this popularity there is a need to more systematically examine the construct. This volume brings together more than 50 authors with backgrounds in both academic research and talent management practice to address crucial questions such as: What specifically is learning agility? How many facets or dimensions does it have? How do we measure it? And how can it be developed in leaders and organizations? This book enhances our knowledge of learning agility, distilling and synthesizing scientific evidence with best practices and examining the construct through both practical and scientific lenses.

Veronica Schmidt Harvey, PhD., is founder and principal of Schmidt Harvey Consulting and supports organizations in building strong, healthy leadership pipelines. Previously she was a partner at Aon Hewitt and has supported over a hundred organizations in accelerating the development of capabilities that allow leaders to not only survive, but thrive.
Kenneth P. De Meuse, Ph.D., is founder and president of the De Meuse Leadership Group LLC, a global network of more than 250 coaches certified on the TALENTx7® Assessment. Prior to establishing his firm, he had senior leadership positions at Tercon Consulting and Korn Ferry International as well as was on the faculties of Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin.

- Foreword
- Dave Ulrich
- Backword Glance by the Founders of Learning Agility
- Michael M. Lombardo
- Robert W. Eichinger
- SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING AGILITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO LEADERSHIP
- 1. Learning Agility: The DNA for Leaders and Organizations in the 21st Century
- Kenneth P. De Meuse
- Veronica Schmidt Harvey
- 2. Learning Agility and the Changing Nature of Leadership: Implications for Theory, Research and Practice
- Guangrong Dai
- Kenneth P. De Meuse
- 3. The Role of Learning Agility in Identifying and Developing Future Leaders
- Allan H. Church
- 4. Measures of Learning Agility
- Christine E. Boyce
- Anthony S. Boyce
- 5. The Neuroscience of Learning Agility
- Kim E. Ruyle
- Section II: Strategies and Habits that Develop Learning Agility
- 6. Developing Learning Agile Behavior: A Model and Overview
- Veronica Schmidt Harvey
- Raphael Y. Prager
- 7. Cultivating Learning Agility through Mindfulness Training: A Framework and Recommendations
- R. Andrew Lee
- 8. Stepping to the Edge of One's Comfort Zone
- Cynthia D. McCauley
- Paul R. Yost
- 9. Seek and Ye Shall Learn: Exploring the Multiple Links of Learning Agility and Feedback-Seeking
- Seymour Adler
- Rachel Neiman
- 10. Reflection: Behavioral Strategies to Structure and Accelerate Learning from Experience
- Frederik Anseel
- Madeline Ong
- 11. Being In Learning Mode: A Core Developmental Process For Learning Agility
- Peter A. Heslin
- Leigh B. Mellish
- 12. Learning Agility, Resilience, and Successful Derailment
- Paul R. Yost
- CodieAnn DeHaas
- Mackenzie Allison
- SECTION III: ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT AND ENHANCE LEARNING AGILITY
- 13. The DNA of VUCA: A Framework for Building Learning Agility in an Accelerating World
- David B. Peterson
- 14. Becoming a Learning Agile Organization
- Kim E. Ruyle
- Kenneth P. De Meuse
- Charles W. Hughley
- 15. Building Learning Agility Through Psychological Safety
- Lorraine Stomski
- Kelly Jensen
- 16. Developing Learning Agile Leaders: What We Can Learn from the Top Companies for Leaders
- Jessie Leisten
- Jim Donohue
- 17. Sensemaking in a VUCA World: Applying Vertical Development to Enhance Learning Agility
- Laura Heaton
- 18. Learning Agility and Whole Leader Development
- Robert B. McKenna
- Emily Minaker
- SECTION IV: LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS
- 19. What We Know, What We Need to Know and Where Do We Go From Here?
- Veronica Schmidt Harvey
- Kenneth P. De Meuse
- 20. Case Studies
- Case Authors
- A. Ultimate Software: Nurturing a Growth Mindset in Our Leadership Pipeline
- Tanya Castiglione Andrews
- Julie Maloney
- B. PandG: Fostering Learning Agility in the Next Generation of Leaders
- Silke McCance
- Ann E. Schulte
- Brian J. Ruggeberg
- Joshua D. Bush
- Sharon A. Stratton
- C. Using the TALENTx7 to Identify Potential School and System Leaders
- Lianne Sipsma
- Yolanda de Beer
- D. IBM: Incorporating Learning Agility into Front-Line Manager Selection
- Alison M. Hartmann
- E. J.M. Huber: Using Learning Agility for Succession Planning and Leadership Development
- Marilyn Buckner
- F. Developing Learning Agility: Through the Lens of a Leader
- Sarah E. Thomas
- Veronica Schmidt Harvey
- G. Fosun International Limited: Learning on the March to Adapt to Rapid Growth
- Jack Lim
- H. The Order of St. Francis (OSF) Healthcare: Assessing and Developing Learning Agility to Build Transformational Leaders
- David F. Hoff
- Todd VanNest
- I. Southeastern University, Free Methodist Church and OneAccord: Learning Agility Starts at the Top
- Robert B. McKenna
- Daniel Hallak
- Kent Ingle
- Glen Prior
- Jeff Rogers
- J. JandJ: The 134 Year Old Start-Up
- Miriam Nelson
- Sarah Brock
- Kevin Hedman