The Zigzag Path to Success: How to Embrace Side Quests in Agile Project Management

As Agile coaches, Scrum Masters, and project managers, we strive for efficiency and a clear path to project completion. We like to flush out all of the risk, technical debt, and more before we embark down the road. We have daydreams of perfectly planned sprints, smooth iterations, and a linear journey to the finish line. Yet, the reality is often far more...dynamic. Today, I want to share a personal story that highlights the value of embracing the unexpected side quests that can arise, and how they can even contribute to the ultimate success of our endeavors. Today, let's keep the tone casual and relatable.

My morning started with a classic "Agile" challenge: resistance from stakeholders (aka, my 8-year-old twins) who vehemently opposed the "sprint" to school on a lovely spring Friday. In WA, we get a few sunny days so I wanted to get home, take my bulldog for a walk, return calls, and emails, and shore up my interview schedule for the following week. This led to a slight delay and a detour to the grocery store – a side quest fueled by my cooking passion and the desire of the twins to try 2, new Gordon Ramsay recipes from one of his cookbooks. Next Level Chef is their new obsession. I think I spent more time looking for capers, even though I used the store app. I found a customer user story for them to list the aisle the product is in. Then, while waiting in line at Starbucks, so that I could fuel my job search, a seemingly unrelated conversation occurred with a group of ladies about my Valentino Dragon Sequined Coat.

They wanted to know all about the coat and if I coordinated it or purchased it just because it is the Year of the Dragon. This went onto a conversation about how they used to live in China, my love for dragon lore (que Trogdor the Burninator song - Google it. You won't regret it), history, culture, and antiquities. I was able to tell them how I was lucky enough to get my girls into the only Chinese immersion school in the area and they were celebrating this week with a lantern festival and dragon dancing. I never see people being remote so I was so happy to have a conversation with adults. It was awesome as well as I am an outgoing person and people in WA keep to themselves. Back on track, I arrived home with groceries and a head of cabbage Gary and Gertie Goose. My husband called me. A new mission arose: rescuing a lost dog on our street, complete with a 30-minute side quest of neighborly conversations and impromptu egg exchanges. Charlie the dog was reunited safely with his owner after his adventure, but I did offer to babysit because he was such a mush! I met more people in 5 hours than I have in the 3 years since we moved here for RTO. Even whilst writing this, I had a neighbor come over and ask me to look after their house whilst on holiday. By now, you are like OK Theresa...where are you going with this, and how it relates to Agile and Project Management? Stay with me. This chaotic departure from the planned day has the twist to tie each of these "side quests" into unexpected benefits:

1. Adaptability: Responding to the resistance at school meant adjusting the plan and prioritizing emotional well-being. It's a reminder that flexibility is key in Agile projects and sometimes detours lead to better outcomes.

2. Connection: The Starbucks conversation fostered a human connection, a valuable reminder that building relationships can spark unexpected opportunities and collaborations. I can't tell you how many projects I have expedited by relationship-building and communication. I have stories that I love to talk about when asked for examples during interviews. My fave is when I found out another team working in a silo had completed a similar project. We were able to leverage their code to help deliver from 6 months to 2 weeks. Talk about measurable results!

3. Resourcefulness: Locating Charlie the Lost Dog required planning (I made sure I had a lead and all of the other tools I needed before heading out) problem-solving, thinking outside of the box, and resourcefulness, skills crucial for navigating project challenges.

4. Community Engagement: Connecting with neighbors strengthened community bonds, which can translate to stronger project support and collaboration. When you have more people interested in your project, it helps build momentum and everyone wants to be involved or start doing projects like it. This is when I wear my ASK ME ABOUT YOUR NEXT AGILE PROJECT shirt.

Not all side quests are created equal. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

1. Scope Creep: While adaptability is valuable, unchecked side quests can lead to project scope creep. Learn to differentiate between valuable detours and distractions.

2. Loss of Focus: Getting lost in the excitement of new opportunities can distract from the core project goals. Maintain clear priorities and avoid getting sidetracked.

3. Time Management: Unexpected tasks can eat into project time. Always factor in buffer time and be prepared to adjust the plan if needed when planning capacity and story point estimation.

Remember, the "straight line" to success is often an illusion. Embrace the side quests that life throws your way, learn from them, adapt, and use them as opportunities to strengthen your skills, build connections, and ultimately achieve even greater success – both personally and professionally. So, the next time you find yourself on a seemingly unrelated detour, remember, it might just be the unexpected path to achieving better goals!

Why are capers so hard to find though...seriously? Perhaps another Agile lesson: sometimes, the best solutions require a little creative exploration. Agile is all around us! Enjoy your weekend everyone!

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