Danger of dependency

The opposite of 'agility' is 'dependency'.

This was the realisation that the senior leadership team of a well-known business had, during a strategy discussion that we were facilitating, that completely changed their perspective on risk.

When you are dependent on just one revenue stream, one key technology, one important client relationship, one image of the future...you are choosing to position yourself unfavourably.

You are giving up the right to having a few alternative options.

When you are reliant on a single driver of your future, over which you have limited control, your level of risk increases dramatically.

Dependency decreases the number of futures that are available to you, and limits your power to choose which one is right for you.

It's worth then asking a few questions to shine a light on where dependency is lurking:

• Where are you too invested?
• In which areas of your business are you too dependent on something that is out of your control?
• Which dependencies are possibly being unconsciously ignored?
• What alternative paths can you start to build today that will offer you more options tomorrow?
• What dangers do you face should you continue to choose to rely on your dependent relationships?

Many eggs + one basket = a path you probably don't want to stay on for too long.