Are you agile yet?

Find out what’s stopping you from truly being agile.

Clency D' Almeida
Nov 8 · 7 min read

We tend to learn certain behaviours and adapt some mindsets that work for our specific situation. These mindsets and behaviours play a key role in determining if we are truly being agile.

Still don’t get it? This article is for you.

First, the meaning of agile…

What does it mean to be Agile?

“A collaborative discussion by the whole team with PO on the deliverables, estimating them with story points and self-assignment of deliverables to bring ownership/accountability within themselves (a Pull Approach). Detail discussion to break down at task level to understand the deliverable feasibility as well help them understand Business Value to be Derivable with Sprint Goal.”

— Rahul Ainchwar, in his blog on ‘Stop doing agile and start being agile.’

Being agile is not just a different approach to work, it’s also about the mindset and associated behaviours.

Watch this video for more:

Mark Shead helps us understand what is being agile all about in this video

You can implement an agile way of working, with its tools and processes, but if you’re not going to address the mindset or behaviour, you are definitely missing the heart and soul of being agile.

Have you just made the shift to Agile tools, while you continue on with your old mindset/behaviour of working?

It can be compared to a situation where you have decided to upgrade your existing washing machine for a swanky new one, without paying attention to the user manual. Knowing how to use the machine effectively and making the most of it is equally or far more important than simply buying a new machine.

Agile mindset

“An agile mindset is the set of attitudes supporting an agile working environment. These include respect, collaboration, improvement and learning cycles, pride in ownership, focus on delivering value, and the ability to adapt to change.”

— Susan McIntosh, an agile coach and scrum master, based out of Denver, Colorado.

Here’s a lowdown on behaviours that can stop us from truly being agile…

Command and control behaviour

Photo by Bao Menglong on Unsplash

How often do we find it easier to simply assign tasks instead of operating in a collaborative workspace? Do you enjoy calling the shots and being in command or controlling who works on which tasks, to deliver projects?

While this may be a convenient option, it often leads to talents feeling disconnected from the project.

Instead, how about opening up a challenge or starting a conversation with your team about what needs to be fixed and why is it important or precedes the other tasks?

This will encourage your team to think strategically and often, volunteer to work on different tasks. It enables them to see the big picture, rather than just work in silos, which limits their understanding or their role in achieving the end goal.

Fixed deliverables are what inspire me

It’s definitely easier to plan out projects in the long term, when you have a crystal-clear picture of what clients are expecting from you. However, this is an ideal-case scenario.

In reality, if you are someone who needs fixed deliverables to work with and cannot adjust to changing expectations, agile is not for you, mate!

Clients may have different expectations, based on their exposure to new technologies. At the same time, your perspective or understanding of clients’ needs may be different, resulting in a gap.

What would help is frequent communication and updates.

It helps both parties stay on the same page.

Welcome change!

Holding people accountable for their work

Let’s take an example of a tool that is often abused — the daily stand up. Are you empowering people or do you sit pretty after holding people accountable for their piece of the project?

Is it a meeting where you discuss the status of tasks or do you check the emotional status of talents?

“The driving factor for change that stand-up supports, is addressing emotional state and eliminating blockers: Are you proud of what you worked on yesterday? What would help you do great today? What’s standing in your way that I can help alleviate?”

Adam Cuppy, in his blog on becoming agile.

It makes sense to empower talents to better their work instead of holding them accountable for a limited number of tasks. This will encourage talents to think creatively and come up with solutions for challenges that they face.

This may also mean taking the risk or failing sometimes.

Afraid of taking the flak for your team’s failures? Be a sponge.

Being agile requires giving the space for your team to experiment and face failure. However, if you have become so attuned to success, that you simply can’t accept any setbacks, you cannot expect to improve.

“The purpose of hiring ‘knowledge workers’ is so that they can be critical thinkers, decision makers, and change agents.”

— Jacqueline Sanders-Blackman, in her article on 9 things to avoid when being agile.

Do you prefer order takers or want knowledge workers to think up smart ways of tackling a challenge?

You should be able to stand firm in the face of adversity.

Be a sponge that soaks up the extra liquid spilled onto the floor. Soak up the negativity, the failures that your team encounters. Support your team and encourage them to take risks.

The flowers rooted in the sponge, draw strength from the water in the sponge to bloom. Give due credit to the talents who have created their own success stories.

Image by Anelka from Pixabay

Show off, even share your success stories with other teams.

When your team sees you being vulnerable, they will begin to trust you. Since they are not getting penalized for their mistakes, they will begin to think out-of-the-box.

When you become a sponge, your team will flourish, resulting in great work! Talking about great work, how do you reward your talents?

Do you reward ‘Heroes’?

We all have our favourites, when it comes to delivering a project. There are some people that you can rely on blindly to ensure a task is completed. We shall call them ‘heroes’.

The lead developer on the project or the ‘hero’ has gone out of the way to ensure project completion. Do you make it a point to recognize these ‘heroes’ or do you focus on teamwork?

Since agile is about collaborating, recognize teams for their efforts, rather than individuals. Don’t encourage heroes, but encourage teamwork that solve challenges together. The hero would not be able to complete the project without the support of the team.

Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash

This brings me to my next point, do you welcome a different point of view?

It’s all about ‘I, me, myself’

If you end up dominating meetings that you set up or attend, you’re definitely not being agile.­­­­

Do you enter a meeting with the objective of throwing out your carefully-planned ideas with no regards as to what other people may have to say?

It may be the right time to introspect. Go through the checklist below, and truthfully answer these questions.

­­­

  • Are you used to having your own way or say in most of the ­­­­­­­­­­­­meetings you attend?
  • Are you receptive to differing points of view?
  • Do you listen or frequently shoot down a suggestion/perspective?
  • Do you believe that you are the only person who can potentially solve a task/challenge most days?
  • Do you find faults or poke holes in other talents’ ideas, simply because you believe your idea is the best?
  • Have you created a safe space for talents to express their opinions or views without patronizing them?

If you answered yes to most of the questions listed above, it’s time to re-think your mindset and be ready for an attitude adjustment.

Being agile is finding the right solution through teamwork. It can be your idea or anyone else’s. The key is being willing to listen and move forward with what works for all, not just for you.

The question we are left with is:

Are you agile yet?

References:


About the author:

Clency D’Almeida is a Senior Content Writer at Softway. She enjoys designing employee experiences and dabbles in marketing. She has recently switched from singing ‘soprano’ to ‘alto’ in the church choir and is loving the change.

Stack by Softway

We are a digital agency in the business of transformation. Digital. Cultural. Procedural. Professional. We can transform anything. We do it through love — love for the work, love for our clients, and love for each other.

Clency D' Almeida

Written by

A singing sensation, weaving magic with words and designing employee experiences, who loves nothing better than cooking up a storm when her tummy is full ;)

Stack by Softway

We are a digital agency in the business of transformation. Digital. Cultural. Procedural. Professional. We can transform anything. We do it through love — love for the work, love for our clients, and love for each other.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade