How can you identify an agile leader?

1 Agile mindset

An agile leader is someone who embraces the agile mindset, which is based on four values: individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. An agile mindset means being open to learning, experimenting, and adapting, as well as empowering and trusting your team to deliver value to the customer.

2 Servant leadership

An agile leader is also someone who practices servant leadership, which is a style of leadership that focuses on serving the needs of the team and the customer, rather than commanding and controlling. A servant leader is humble, empathetic, and supportive, and seeks to enable the team to perform at their best. A servant leader also fosters a culture of feedback, transparency, and continuous improvement, both within the team and with the customer.

3 Technical competence

An agile leader is not necessarily a technical expert, but they should have a sufficient level of technical competence to understand the challenges and opportunities of the team, and to communicate effectively with them. A technical competent leader can also provide guidance, feedback, and coaching to the team, as well as facilitate technical decision making and problem solving. A technical competent leader can also leverage tools and practices that support agile methodologies, such as automation, testing, and code quality.

4 Emotional intelligence

An agile leader is someone who has a high level of emotional intelligence, which is the ability to recognize and manage one's own emotions, and to understand and influence the emotions of others. An emotionally intelligent leader can build trust, rapport, and collaboration among the team members, as well as with the customer and other stakeholders. An emotionally intelligent leader can also cope with stress, uncertainty, and conflict, and help the team to do the same.

5 Growth mindset

An agile leader is someone who has a growth mindset, which is the belief that one's abilities and skills can be improved through effort, feedback, and learning. A growth mindset means being curious, resilient, and willing to take risks and learn from failures. A growth mindset also means being supportive of the team's growth and development, and providing them with opportunities and resources to learn and grow. A growth mindset also means seeking feedback and learning from others, and constantly looking for ways to improve oneself and the team.

6 Vision and alignment

An agile leader is someone who has a clear vision of the value and purpose of the team's work, and who can communicate it effectively and inspire the team and the customer. A vision is not a fixed plan, but a direction and a goal that can be adjusted and refined based on feedback and changing conditions. An agile leader also ensures that the team's work is aligned with the customer's needs and expectations, as well as with the organization's strategy and values. An agile leader also helps the team to prioritize and focus on the most important and valuable tasks and outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?