The Agile Mindset – Why It’s not a Tool.

A mindset is a way of thinking. A tool is something you use to help you complete an effort. What is the true difference here? A mindset is ingrained into everything you do, almost like breathing. It’s completely autonomic. It’s definitely a state of mind that is a collection of thoughts and beliefs that shape your habits. Think about your habits–especially your thought habits. They affect how you think, what you feel, and absolutely what you do. Your personal mindset is your guide. It impacts how you make sense of the world and, ultimately, how you make sense out of YOU.

Over the last ten years, I have watched more Agile failures then successes! The failures were so prominent that I decided to go on a personal Agile learning journey. I wanted to learn and understand Agile away from my employer. This journey led me to dozens of classes, seminars, webinars, and over 10 Agile certifications. What did I learn from all of this? I learned that I wasn’t as Agile as I thought I was. I also learned that most people implement and practice Agile in a very NON-AGILE manner.

When I teach an Agile class, the first thing I do is give an example of a simple email inbox. I give the class multiple options to articulate back to me how they manage their inbox. Most of the options aren’t Agile, and, in almost all cases, people are managing their inbox inefficiently with tons of rework. I start off my Agile classes like this to help me explain the difference between a tool (an inbox) versus a mindset (how you manage your inbox). The best email inbox tools in the world typically do not alter how somebody manages it. The same goes for Agile. The best Agile tools in the world typically do not alter how somebody acts.

When we started our Agile Failure journey, we discussed Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle. His thoughts on The Why absolutely tie back to Agile failures. People view Agile as a tool. They memorize all the artifacts and ceremonies, yet they don’t understand why they are actually using Agile. They haven’t challenged themselves or maybe their employers don’t truly understand how Agile can make a difference. When I stumble across a team that gets Agile–it’s the biggest light bulb moment for me. I wish I could capture that moment…and teach it. It’s that moment of clarity and understanding of why Agile is so powerful that is missing in most Agile implementations. I always watch these successful teams closely. I watch their words, their actions, their overall behaviors. They believe in Agile. They get the Why. They have an Agile mindset.

If you are in an Agile world that isn’t working, I challenge you to start with yourself first. Look at your personal Agile Why. Look at how you do things. Challenge what you are doing. Challenge how you interact with others. Challenge everything. You will reach a point in all these challenges where you start to develop a personal Why and, ultimately, your version of an Agile mindset. We need more people with an Agile mindset. It’s contagious when it’s done correctly.

David Filer

‘The Divergent Agile Leader’

[email protected]

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/davidfiler1/