You’re more Agile than you think

How to be Agile

Shifting into Agile ways of working also means a complete shift in behavior, the fundamentals in which people collaborate/deliver, and ultimately a shift in role. It sounds daunting; in many ways it is. You feel like you’re being asked to hit the delete button, on everything you’ve ever been, to meet the demands of Agile.

Believe it or not, you’re more Agile than you think. Simply put, you just haven’t been shown how the skills you already possess as a Project Manager, Business Analyst, Project Admin/Coordinator, Developer, Tester, etc. can be applied in Agile, and what those roles might be.

For a Developer, Tester, UI/UX Designer, or otherwise, the transition may be less inconspicuous, as the actual delivery methods are similar. The primary difference being the whole development lifecycle is compressed into 2-week sprints, with limited and defined goals over an iteration (a group of like-sprints).

The ambiguity lies within the non-development roles; the Project Managers, the Administrators / Coordinators, the Business Analysts, and the like. Depending on which Agile framework you are following (DSDM, Scrum, SAFe), the roles will vary. So, what better way to solve this problem than to provide you with AMO’s guide to transitioning between your current role and Agile. We hope this provides you with some clarity… (although not an exhaustive list).

So, what are some Agile ways of working?

How not to be Agile

Speaking to a lot of people, there is fear when it comes to Agile. Often, people are led to believe that they will be out of a job and that they now have to spend a lot of money learning new skills. Know that a lot of your existing capabilities are transferrable and can naturally fit within an Agile environment. Likewise, there are a lot of things people should unlearn if they are to be truly Agile. These include, but are not limited to:

• Fixed mindset,
• Lack of curiosity,
• Rigid and inflexible,
• One size fits all approach,
• Not a team player,
• Unable to adapt quickly, and
• No sense of urgency.

There are many things that need to be learned and unlearnt. As long as you’re open to change, are curious and want to learn, are willing to fail, and be flexible in your approach; you have the starting steps to becoming Agile.

This is Agile Pocketbook

To learn more, make sure you join our regular mailing list and download our This Is Agile pocketbook publication that covers everything Agile from A to Z.

You can also check out this podcast episode to supplement your learning on Agile.

As always would love to hear your thoughts.