Online, cat videos often reign supreme. But I remember 2015. Searching “Social Agility” showed dogs leaping through hoops on agility courses. The concept, for human leaders, simply didn’t exist then. Yet, Jon and I, already lived it. We co-founded Social Agility on a core truth: the more human you are, the better you lead. This philosophy is our bedrock. It shaped our unique personal and professional journey.

A Partnership Born from Home

Our story began in August 2009. Jon and I, Louisa formally established the Institute of Live Communications. Jon is my partner in life and in business. We set up the business from home. We juggled family life, kids, cats and building a flexible work model. That was long before COVID and hybrid working became common. Initially, we focused on training and consultancy for the events industry.

However, we soon saw a bigger picture. Effective ‘live’ or in-person communication and human interactions were universal. These skills were vital for leaders everywhere, not just in events.

The Research that Sparked a Movement

Jon’s PhD provided our intellectual foundation. Titled “Strategic Thinking and the Creative Process in Event Management,” Jon submitted in June 2012, just before our second child was born. His research highlighted a key gap: understanding how strategic thinking shapes creativity.

His work revealed a truth. Industries often focus on tactics. This hinders strategic thought. It limits divergent creativity. His thesis explored how strategic thinking, a more creative and intuitive process, can proactively shape creative output.

Crucially, the research directly informed our name: “Social Agility.”

• The “Social” Aspect: Jon’s work challenged the “lone genius” myth. Creativity is collaborative. It happens in “social contexts”. Groups of professionals work together. “Social interaction and collaboration” are essential. Events themselves are “social phenomena”. Social networks influence creativity.
• The Need for “Agility”: Industries face unpredictable and chaotic environments. Organisations need a “flexible and responsive approach”. They must “adapt to emergent challenges”. “Divergent thought” is key to innovative strategies. This embodies agile principles.

“Social Agility” captures this essence. It is about collective, collaborative, and adaptable approaches. It fosters creativity and strategic thinking. It means being “socially” connected and nimble enough to “agilely” navigate unpredictable environments.

Coining “Social Agility” and the Drive to Measure Impact

This deep understanding led to our formal rebrand and launch in May 2016. The Institute of Live Communications became Social Agility. At that time, when you googled “Social Agility” for humans, it just yielded “dog agility” results. We had pioneered a new concept for human development, but how long would it take for our thinking to catch on. Our focus shifted to 100% interpersonal skills training for organisations and business professionals. We believed these vital human skills, learned informally, were crucial for the boardroom.

As we solidified this new concept, we knew measurement was key. How could we prove the impact of these human skills? This led to the development of our Social Agility Index. Discussions for this crucial tool began and in early 2019 we launched. Our belief was simple: “what gets measured, gets managed”.

The Social Agility Index is an ongoing survey and performance metric. It measures interpersonal effectiveness. This includes individuals, teams, and industry sectors. It explores 10 carefully researched dimensions of interpersonal effectiveness. Over 1500 people have completed the Index. This provides a robust performance comparison for businesses. The Social Agility Index has become integral to our mission.

Our Approach: Human Skills for Modern Leaders

Social Agility are leadership training specialists. We help organisations build essential human skills. Leaders need these skills in uncertain times. We focus on an organisation’s core: middle leadership. We develop their social and emotional intelligence. This empowers them to drive results, navigate change, support culture, and engage teams. We have been training human skills for over 15 years.

Our leadership training programs follow a clear, practical approach:

• Light touch and practical content for busy leaders.
• Immersive simulations and experiential learning.
• Personal diagnostic tools for self and team awareness.
• Peer-to-peer communities for collaborative practice.
• Rigorous, evidence-based thought leadership informs our content.

We help leaders know themselves and be themselves. They learn practical ways to extend their influence. They do this together, in a trusted environment, with clear outcomes.

Lead with Human Agility Today

Our founding philosophy remains vital. The more human you are, the better you lead. Modern workplaces demand this. Leaders must navigate uncertainty. They must foster psychological safety. They must drive performance through genuine human connection.

Ready to strengthen your human advantage? Cultivate a more agile leadership culture. Explore our programs. Empower your teams. Lead with purpose and profound human connection.