Boost Your Productivity with Agile Techniques ??

In?this week's podcast episode?I talk with Michael Menchau about a topic that I first came across in 2017 while still working at Gartner: Agility.

Michael has come across Agile much earlier, he has been in that space for over 20 years, and he shared some insightful thoughts about how Agile isn't just a framework for organizations or software development. It’s actually something you can use in your own life to work smarter and stay flexible when things don’t go as planned.

Here’s what stood out for me:

Agile in a Nutshell:?At its core, Agile is about working in small, manageable chunks and making constant adjustments. Think of it as planning and acting in shorter cycles, so you can course-correct along the way if things change (and let’s be honest, they always do!). This is particularly useful when things are complex or when your project or personal goals feel overwhelming.

Scrum and Kanban: How to Stay Focused and Keep Moving:?Michael also highlighted the power of frameworks like Scrum and Kanban to keep you on track. He gave a great visual explanation: imagine a whiteboard with sticky notes representing all your to-dos. Each note moves through phases—from backlog (ideas/tasks) to in-progress and finally done. You prioritize what’s most important, focus on one task at a time, and track progress. It’s a simple but powerful way to stay organized without getting overwhelmed.

Personal Life Application:?The coolest part? You don’t have to be a manager or work in tech to benefit from Agile. Whether it’s managing multiple projects or just trying to make sense of a busy life, tools like Kanban can help. Thanks to Michael's recommendations, I am currently applying it to personal goals like revamping my website, designing new courses, and balancing all the respective various tasks at once.

Balancing Projects Without Losing Your Mind:?If you’re like me and juggling multiple things at once, the advice Michael gave about color coding your projects and focusing on one thing at a time really hit home. Trying to tackle everything at once leads to burnout. Instead, limit what’s “in progress” and give yourself permission to focus on just a few things. You'll not only get more done but feel less scattered.

Iterate and Learn:?One of the biggest takeaways was this: It’s okay if your first attempt isn’t perfect. Agile encourages you to test things out, gather feedback, and make changes as you go. This mindset takes the pressure off getting things perfect right away and helps you focus on progress rather than perfection.

Michael also dropped a fun fact: companies like Tesla have super short iterations—some as short as eight hours! It’s not about getting everything right the first time but about learning quickly and adjusting.

Staying Grounded:?Finally, I loved hearing how Michael keeps himself grounded. He’s big on meditation, self-reflection, and getting out into nature—especially flying his paraglider! It was a great reminder to carve out some time for yourself, even when things get busy.

I hope these takeaways are as helpful for you as they were for me! If you’ve been feeling like you have too many plates spinning, try applying a little Agile thinking to your day-to-day. It might just make all the difference.

Best, Christine

P.S. If you want to hear the full conversation, make sure to listen to the?latest episode of the Lead Well! Podcast!