Unlocking Agile Delivery Team Success: Mastering the 10 Key Traits

In today's fast-paced business environment, organizations are under increasing pressure to deliver high-quality products to market quickly. To achieve this, companies are adopting Agile delivery methodologies that emphasise collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement. At the heart of this approach is an Agile delivery team, comprising individuals with different skill sets working together to deliver products or features that meet the customer's requirements. In this article, we'll explore the 10 traits that Agile delivery teams should adopt to ensure that they're delivering products or features that meet customer needs.

The Agile Delivery Team

The Agile delivery team is made up of your developers, product owners and other key stakeholders who work together to deliver a product. It's important that you have a good idea of what goes on within this team because it will help you understand how successful teams operate. Team members need to be accountable for their work and held accountable by the delivery head. They also need to trust each other so they can work together effectively, especially when building something new or changing an existing feature set in an existing product.

The agility of an enterprise is a function of its ability to deliver on time and within budget. Without this ability, companies cannot be agile - they're just not that way yet. It's critical for an organization's success that its delivery team has complete confidence in its ability to meet deadlines, stay focused on quality standards and deliver results efficiently.

10 Key Traits of an Agile Delivery Team

Time Management

Agile delivery teams should be able to manage their time effectively to ensure that they can deliver high-quality products on time and within budget. Effective time management enables teams to remain focused, prioritize tasks, and deliver value to the organization.

To promote effective time management, the Delivery Head should encourage the team to use time management tools. The team should also be encouraged to break down tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, making it easier to prioritize and manage their workload.

Collaboration

Agile delivery teams thrive on collaboration. They work closely with each other and with stakeholders, including customers, to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal. Collaboration fosters an environment of trust, respect, and accountability, enabling team members to contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the project.

To foster collaboration, we encourage communication and regular check-ins between team members. For example, daily stand-up meetings can be used to keep everyone informed of progress, share updates, and identify any issues that need to be addressed. Tools like video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management software can also help facilitate collaboration and communication.

Adaptability

Agile delivery teams must be adaptable to succeed. They should be able to respond to changes in requirements, market trends, and unforeseen challenges quickly and effectively. Adaptable teams can pivot their approach, change direction, and remain focused on delivering value to the organization.

To promote adaptability, we encourage experimentation and a willingness to try new approaches. The team should be open to feedback and be willing to make changes based on what they learn. Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban can also help teams remain adaptable by providing a framework for continuous improvement and experimentation.

Attention to Detail

Agile delivery teams should pay close attention to detail to ensure that they deliver high-quality products that meet customer requirements. Attention to detail enables teams to catch and address issues early, preventing them from becoming larger problems down the road.

To promote attention to detail, we encourage the team to perform regular code reviews, conduct thorough testing, and follow best practices for quality assurance. The team should be encouraged to take ownership of their work and to take pride in delivering high-quality products.

Continuous Learning

Agile delivery teams should be committed to continuous learning. They should be willing to learn from their mistakes and successes, seek out new knowledge and skills, and stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.

To promote continuous learning, we encourage team members to attend conferences, training sessions, and workshops. The team should be encouraged to share knowledge and insights with each other, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The Delivery Head can also encourage team members to pursue certifications or other professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Customer Oriented

Agile delivery teams should prioritize delivering value to the customer above all else. They should be able to understand customer needs and requirements, communicate effectively with customers, and deliver products or features that meet those needs.

To promote focus on customer value, we ensure that the team has a clear understanding of customer requirements and priorities. The team should be encouraged to collaborate with customers and gather feedback regularly, ensuring that they remain focused on delivering value to the customer. Metrics such as customer satisfaction scores and Net Promoter Scores (NPS) help track progress and ensure that the team is meeting customer needs.

Proactivity

Agile delivery teams should be proactive, anticipating issues and addressing them before they become problems. Proactivity enables teams to stay ahead of potential risks and to deliver products that meet customer requirements.

To promote proactivity, we encourage the team to regularly review their work and look for areas of improvement. The team should be encouraged to identify potential risks and to develop contingency plans to address them. The Delivery Head can also provide support and guidance, helping the team stay focused and proactive.

Positive Attitude

Agile delivery teams should maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of challenges or setbacks. A positive attitude enables teams to remain focused, motivated, and committed to delivering high-quality products.

To promote a positive attitude, we provide regular feedback and recognition for the team's accomplishments. The team should be encouraged to celebrate successes and to learn from failures, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and positivity.

Accountability

Agile delivery teams should take ownership of their work and be accountable for delivering high-quality products that meet customer requirements. Accountability ensures that team members take responsibility for their actions and work together to achieve common goals.

To promote accountability, we encourage the team to set clear goals and objectives and to develop a plan for achieving them. The team should be encouraged to hold each other accountable and to communicate openly and honestly about their progress.

Resilience

Agile delivery teams should be resilient, able to bounce back from setbacks and to persevere in the face of challenges. Resilience enables teams to remain focused on delivering value to the organization, even in the face of adversity.

To promote resilience, we encourage the team to develop a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. The team should be encouraged to support each other and to seek help when needed, fostering a culture of resilience and perseverance.

Summing it up, a team that can successfully deliver agile projects on time and within budget has a lot of advantages. These include the ability to have most of their work done in the last few weeks before going live with minimal changes required by testers or stakeholders. This will result in less time spent testing and more time being spent on what matters most: delivering value!