Are You Using the Scrum Values to Thrive Through Organisational Change?

Change is the only constant, not just in business but in life in general. Whether it’s adopting new technologies, adapting to market shifts, or moving house, change is inevitable. However, thriving through a change depends on more than just processes. It’s about embracing a cultural shift at both the individual and group levels.

In the realm of Scrum, we have five core values – Commitment, Courage, Focus, Openness, and Respect – that can serve as guides when deciding which path to follow next. Beyond their applicability in product development, these values can play a role in supporting us as we traverse the (sometimes emotional) landscape of cultural change.

Commitment: Navigating Uncertainty with Purpose

Change often triggers uncertainty, leading to anxiety and resistance. This can be even more so when the change has been imposed upon you by the organisation you’re working for.

Commitment fosters a sense of purpose, providing individuals with a clear direction and a shared vision. It helps mitigate anxiety by telling each other that you’re all in it together and trying to achieve the same thing, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose amidst change.

A coach can support a team in this space by reflecting back to them their progress towards their goals, and reinforcing a positive narrative around the progress they’ve made so far.

Courage: Empowering Teams in Times of Transition

During times of change, it can be hard to speak up about what you’re thinking and feeling. Courage empowers individuals to confront their fears and concerns, which helps build resilience.

Courage also helps teams to take more interesting and creative risks as they continuously and iteratively improve. Teams need a sense that taking calculated risks is not only acceptable, but expected of them.This expectation helps to temper the amount of courage needed to achieve ever greater improvements.

Coaches can support teams by encouraging open conversations about the work they’re doing, allowing team members to be heard and collectively strategise on how to address them.

Focus: Channeling Energy Amidst Chaos

When everything around you is in a state of constant flux, it can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed or scattered. Focus provides clarity and direction, alleviating feelings of chaos by enabling teams to channel their energy on specific tasks.

In Scrum, the focus of the Team is directed to the Sprint and Product Goals. The lesson we can learn from this is how focusing on one thing at a time helps people working in complex environments.

Coaches can support the team to break down larger changes into small chucks to manage the feelings of being overwhelmed, leading to a sense of control and progress.

Openness: Building Trust Through Transparency

Change can create a sense of isolation or disconnect due to a lack of information. Openness through transparent communication creates a sense of inclusivity and belonging. In Scrum, Teams regularly talk openly with their stakeholders to ensure they’re developing the right thing.

By asking managers to have the same level of openness, they can help avoid feelings of isolation by creating an environment where individuals feel heard, valued, and part of the change process.

Coaches can help teams and managers learn how to more effectively throughout their work. By helping everyone develop their speaking and listening skills, we can help to reduce misunderstandings and unnecessary politicising.

Respect: Fostering Support and Inclusivity

Respect cultivates an environment where diverse opinions and experiences are valued, mitigating feelings of insecurity. Managers need to respect that Teams have a level of expertise and understanding of their products that can provide the organisation with a greater level of insight than the managers alone can. Likewise, Teams need to respect that management has a wider perspective of the market place for their product, and may need to ask the Team to change direction to accommodate fluctuations.

Coaches can address emotional vulnerability by creating a safe space where individuals feel respected, appreciated, and supported during times of change.

The Power of Values

Incorporating these Scrum values into the fabric of organisational culture is not merely about implementing a framework; it’s about embracing a mindset that thrives on change. By nurturing commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect, organisations can create an environment where individuals not only adapt to change but thrive, producing a culture that embraces evolution as a means of growth.