Social Agility is the essential human capability that integrates Social Intelligence with Professional Agility to drive collaborative, effective responses in complex, high-change environments.

The term was originally coined by Dr. Jon Hopwood through his PhD research in 2012, which explored the intersection of social creativity—the collaborative, adaptive, and human aspects of professional interaction—and the agile responsiveness required to thrive in modern workplaces.

As a hybrid capability, Social Agility requires:

• Social Intelligence – the ability to understand and manage interpersonal relationships with empathy, insight, and awareness of social cues.
• Professional Agility – the ability to respond effectively to changing environments, expectations, and systems while maintaining alignment with purpose and performance.

This research-driven concept positions Social Agility as more than a soft skill—it’s a measurable, behavioural capability that enables leaders and teams to perform with authenticity, adaptability, and awareness. It is assessed across ten key dimensions within the Social Agility Index, including Situational Awareness, Presence, Empathy, Resilience, and Adaptability—all critical for navigating the social complexity of today’s professional world.