A pig without lipstick...

In my last article I looked at the symptoms of working in an environment that was simply going through the motions of Agile, just applying Agile Lipstick (https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/agile-lipstick-keith-jenneke/).

I was happy at how well the article was received but also sad, as it confirmed that many of us are working or have worked in this type of environment, which means many of us are left unfulfilled and unhappy in our work.

So, what can we do to try and turn things around, and stop putting ‘lipstick on a pig’ and be the best pig that we can be?

Here are few things that might help to get you started;

• Take a practical approach over a purist approach
• Create a common understanding of work practices (including how these will be measured)
• Have a continuously maintained and prioritised work queue
• Have regular demonstration of solutions
• Deliver solutions in small parts (incrementally)
• Regularly take time to reflect on what is working and what isn’t, and commit to improvements

These are just a few ideas to help you to turn things around, I'm sure that there are many more but I have used these at a team and personal level to help me get more satisfaction from working in the agile domain

The important thing to remember here is that any methodology, framework or philosophy can really only work when it is applied from the inside out. If you’re applying it from the outside in then you’re just putting ‘lipstick on a pig’, instead of being the best pig that you can be.