To the Agile Zealots...

Agile is often considered a game-changer for improving workflows, enhancing efficiency, and accelerating project timelines. However, some individuals, overtaken by their enthusiasm, elevate Agile to a sacred doctrine, ironically undermining its inherent flexibility.

These Agile zealots are not unlike fervent preachers, delivering passionate sermons about Agile from the virtual pulpits of their blogs. They march through the corridors of LinkedIn, foretelling the end of traditional methodologies and the reign of Agile. Like evangelists, they attempt to convert the uninitiated with bespoke 'transformation roadmaps,' and purists among them view anything beyond the original Agile Manifesto as heresy.

However, such excessive enthusiasm can go from blessing to curse pretty quickly. Zealotry narrows Agile's innate flexibility, sowing doubts within organizations and potentially jeopardizing future Agile adoption.

Take the United States Army as an instance. Known for its traditional 'Command & Control' style, the Army is now making strides towards Agile by adopting the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This monumental shift necessitates an extensive rethinking of their software development processes, a challenge the leadership is ready to take on.

Despite these steps towards innovation, Agile purists scoff, claiming 'SAFe is not Agile.' These detractors often retreat into their relatively small, regulation-free startups, failing to appreciate the complexity of transforming a colossal, highly-regulated organization like the Army.

In their fervor, they also contradict themselves by alleging that Agile failures result from lack of experience (1), culture clash (2), and lack of senior management support (3). So, what should we believe? Do we laud organizations transitioning towards servant leadership and value delivery, or condemn them for not being perfect Agile adherents from the outset?

Agile is about leadership over management, ensuring that there is openness to change through collaboration. It's about ensuring everyone is aligned and moving in the same direction, not about isolated perfection.

Agile is meant to be flexible, adaptable to diverse situations. However, extreme Agile adherents can intimidate potential adopters, hinder ongoing Agile efforts, and ironically, destroy the very flexibility Agile was designed to encourage. We need to recognize the damage this causes and promote a culture of understanding, adaptability, and, truly living up to its name, agility.