6 Mistakes To Avoid as an Agile Team
As more and more companies adopt agile methodologies, there has been an influx of new agile teams being formed. While agile can be a highly effective approach, it's not uncommon for new teams to make mistakes that can hold their success back.
Having worked with teams of various sizes and industries, I've observed recurring themes of mistakes that new agile teams often face. Here are some of the top mistakes new agile teams usually make, as well as some tips for avoiding them:
Having no clear goals
It's important for agile teams to have a clear set of goals and objectives that they are working towards. Without this, team members may struggle to understand what they are supposed to be doing and how their work fits into the bigger picture. To avoid this mistake, make sure to clearly define your team's goals and ensure that they are aligned with the overall direction of the company.
Check out my related post on how a lack of clear goals can also affect your innovation attempts.
Focusing on the wrong metrics
While agile puts a strong emphasis on tracking progress and measuring success, focusing on the wrong metric to measure can misled the team to a false sense of achievement, and hold them back from growing.
Some teams rely heavily on metrics like velocity, which measures how much work a team can complete in a given time period. While this metric can be useful in some contexts, it may not always be the most relevant or important to users.
Instead, try to focus on metrics that are more closely tied to your goals and objectives. Look out for metrics that provide meaningful insights into whether your team is achieving certain outcomes, such as increase in user satisfaction, better customer retention, or reaching a record number of sales.
Relying too much on agile textbooks
Agile methodologies offer a wealth of concepts and best practices to draw from, but it's important not to blindly follow these practices without considering the needs and context of your team and project. Agile is all about adapting to change, so it's essential to be flexible and open to new ideas and approaches. To avoid relying too heavily on agile textbooks, try to think critically about which practices are most relevant and useful for your team, and be open to trying new approaches if something isn't working.
Check out my related post on why you should not blindly follow agile textbooks to solve real business problems.
Having false autonomy
Autonomy is a key principle of agile methodologies, and it's important for teams to have a high degree of autonomy to make informed decisions and take ownership of their work.
In reality, many agile teams only have autonomy on paper. This is the situation where team members have minimal or no say on the decisions behind what, how, or who does the work within the team.
When teams don't have the freedom to make their own decisions and take ownership of their work, it limits their ability to mature as a team. Without this, teams may struggle to make progress and may become reliant on external guidance, which can limit their growth and effectiveness. To avoid this challenge, it's important to establish clear channels of communication with stakeholders and ensure that teams have the trust they need to make their own decisions and take ownership of their work. This will help teams to work more effectively and grow over time.
Not clearly defining team roles and accountabilities
In an agile environment, it's crucial that team members understand the support, interactions, and accountabilities they can expect from each other. Without a clear definition, it's easy for confusion and conflict to come up, which can affect productivity. To avoid this situation, make sure to clearly define roles, accountabilities, and working agreements with all team members.
Having pointless meetings
Meetings are an important part of agile team’s interaction, but they can also be a major source of waste if they are not well-planned and focused on achieving specific outcomes. To avoid having pointless meetings, make sure to plan your meetings carefully and have a clear agenda and set of objectives. Avoid the temptation to have meetings just for the sake of it, and try to make your meetings as productive as possible.
Check out my related post on key interactions that typically exist within high-performing teams.
Knowing these common pitfalls that new agile teams often face can help you anticipate and navigate your challenges better. To avoid these challenges, it's important to regularly measure your team's progress and adjust your efforts based on what you find.
Many teams also find it helpful to work with an agile coach, who can provide guidance and support on their journey towards success. Remember that an agile coach can be a valuable resource for your team, helping you to overcome challenges and reach your goals.
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Cover photo: unsplash/@verneho
