How can you make your agile team feel safe to experiment and fail?

Fail fast. Learn fast. Pivot. There is no better way to innovate. I was once working with a telecom client. Their highly anticipated product launch was in 6 weeks. 2 weeks later their competitor launched a similar product with better features. My client’s first reaction was to stop their launch.. ?? Instead they had a team to try out the other product. They discovered it was not perfect and was missing some basic features that my client was offering.. My client then invited a ‘beta customer group’ to try their pre-launch product. They were amazed by the new ideas that came out of the early user feedback. They picked the top idea that could be implemented in 3 weeks launched it. The launch was successful beyond expectations. ??

To make your agile team feel safe to experiment and fail, start by explaining the purpose and benefits of experimentation. Help them understand that experimentation is a critical part of the agile methodology, aimed at discovering new solutions and improving processes. Emphasize that failure is not a setback but a learning opportunity that provides valuable insights. When the team sees the strategic importance of experimentation and understands that it’s a pathway to innovation and growth, they are more likely to embrace it. A practical tip is to share real-life examples or case studies where experimentation led to significant improvements or innovations.

Discuss about the benefits and the purpose of experiments. Talking about the positive outcomes of experimentation, like discovering new solutions and increasing customer satisfaction. Also, showing how the experiment is aligned to principles like customer satisfaction, embrace the change.

Fomentar una cultura de experimentación y aprendizaje es como trazar un mapa claro para nuestro equipo: Necesitamos marcar los límites, pero también dejar espacio para la exploración. Al establecer expectativas y límites claros, les damos a nuestros compa?eros de equipo la seguridad para aventurarse en terreno desconocido. Definir qué queremos lograr y cómo lo mediremos nos da un camino a seguir, como se?ales en la carretera que nos mantienen en la ruta correcta. Y con un sistema de retroalimentación a bordo, podemos hacer ajustes sobre la marcha, como recalcular la ruta en un viaje por carretera. Asignar roles y responsabilidades, cada miembro tiene el poder para tomar decisiones y ser el capitán de su propio destino. ????

Providing clear expectations and boundaries is crucial for creating a safe environment for experimentation. Define what constitutes acceptable risks and what the limits are. Make sure the team knows that while they are encouraged to try new approaches, there are safety nets in place to mitigate major risks. Clarify the scope within which they can experiment freely and what steps to take if an experiment doesn't go as planned. This clarity helps team members feel secure in their actions, knowing that there are guidelines to follow. A useful tip is to document these expectations and boundaries and review them regularly to ensure they remain relevant and clear.

Providing clear expectations and boundaries is crucial in fostering a safe environment for experimentation and failure. ??? When team members understand the scope, goals, and criteria of their experiments, they can innovate confidently without fear of repercussions. Establishing a feedback loop ensures continuous improvement and alignment with objectives. ?? Timeboxing experiments and defining roles empower the team to make informed decisions and take ownership of their actions. This structured approach not only mitigates risks but also enhances creativity and accountability. ??

Support and coaching are vital for fostering a culture where experimentation is safe. Offer regular coaching sessions to guide team members through the experimentation process, helping them plan, execute, and review their experiments. Provide constructive feedback and encourage a growth mindset. Let them know that you are there to support them, especially when things don’t go as expected. A tip here is to hold regular one-on-one and team coaching sessions where you discuss ongoing experiments, offer guidance, and provide moral support.

Como experta en el comportamiento humano considero que para cultivar un ambiente donde el equipo se sienta seguro para experimentar, es crucial aprender a conjugar en plural: "hemos fracasado" en lugar de "han fracasado". Esta forma de expresión es más poderosa que decir "no pasa nada". Evita que los miembros se sientan juzgados y les permite concentrarse en encontrar soluciones en lugar de buscar excusas o justificaciones. Ahora bien, lo hecho, hecho está y forma parte del pasado. Lo importante es mirar hacia el futuro: "?Qué podemos hacer?" en lugar de "?Qué van a hacer?". Esto refuerza que todos estamos en el mismo equipo aunque no estemos directamente experimentando. Al final, la idea es también decir en plural "Lo hemos logrado".

As a leader, modeling the behavior you want to see is one of the most effective ways to promote a safe environment for experimentation. Show your team that you are willing to take risks and try new approaches. Be transparent about your own experiments, including what didn’t work and what you learned from it. Demonstrate resilience and a positive attitude towards failure. When your team sees you embracing experimentation and learning from failures, they will feel more comfortable doing the same. A practical tip is to share your personal experiences with the team during meetings, highlighting both successes and failures and the lessons learned from each.

As an IT Project Manager, I encountered a reluctance within the team to embrace experimentation due to fear of failure. To address this, I modeled the behavior I wanted to see. I openly shared my past project challenges and learnings, highlighting the value of failure in the learning process. By showcasing my willingness to take risks and admitting mistakes, I created a culture that encourages experimentation. Seeking feedback from the team and stakeholders further reinforced openness and growth. This approach not only transformed the team's mindset but also fostered a more innovative and resilient working environment.

Creating a safe and supportive environment is essential for encouraging experimentation. Foster a team culture where everyone feels respected and valued, and where mistakes are viewed as part of the learning process. Encourage open communication and ensure that team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment. Recognize and celebrate efforts and learnings from experiments, regardless of the outcome. A useful tip is to establish regular “safe space” meetings where team members can discuss their experiments, share insights, and support each other in a non-judgmental setting.

Creating safe environment is often misunderstood, safe and supportive environment is not something that looks forward to failures but it's more about how you approach and respond when a failure happens. If your teams feel confident to own any fails and look up to you to help and guide if they are stuck, consider it an achievement Run PIRs or retrospective which focus on finding how can you make system or process better for next time, collaboratively and with empathy. Provide a space where the team feels heard without any bias.

Como líderes, creamos un ambiente donde todos se sientan libres de experimentar y crecer. Celebramos los logros y aprendemos de los desafíos. Motivamos al equipo con palabras de aliento y reconocimiento sincero. Nos retamos mutuamente a mejorar y compartimos nuestras lecciones con humildad. El objetivo es simple: La innovación y el éxito a través de un ambiente de confianza, colaboración y transparencia.

Within our agile structure, we routinely hold retrospectives to applaud achievements, assess setbacks, and pinpoint actionable steps. Collectively, we execute agreed-upon alterations, gauging their influence on processes and products. Sharing insights with other teams fosters cross-functional understanding. By promoting ongoing experimentation, viewing failures as valuable learning experiences, and fostering a collective improvement mindset, we create an environment where teams confidently explore innovation and development amid the ever-evolving IT project landscape.

Encourage learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame. Highlight lessons learned from failures as much as successes. Ensure team members feel valued and heard. Show vulnerability and openness to failure. Promote small, manageable experiments to mitigate fear of failure.

As a leader talk about your own mistakes and what you learnt from them. People will learn its OK to fail when leaders go first