Key Points

• Agile is a flexible people-first approach to project management.
• Learning how to navigate the Agile philosophy can lead to a more adaptive team.
• Agile is embodied by leadership first and foremost, with the team following by example.

How are companies leading Agile teams? Agile is a methodology with quite a bit of buzz, thanks partly to its rapid adoption in software development. Primarily intended as a software development approach, Agile emphasizes the use of distinct phases that are meant to iterate upon one another.

The approach itself has caught on in a big way outside of software development, with many organizations turning to its adaptability. An Agile team in a digital-first environment requires strong leadership, well-thought-out strategies, and a willingness to adapt no matter what comes your way. So, let’s dive into the methodology and explore some of the best strategies at your disposal.

What Is Agile?

The Agile methodology is a project management approach that embodies the values of the Agile alliance while promoting a culture of constant iteration and improvement. The way it accomplishes its goals is through the use of a manifesto that emphasizes four major points. There is a heavy focus on individuals over the tools at your disposal.

Further, you’re looking to have a workable product, not extensive documentation on the procedures at hand. Additionally, you’re looking to collaborate with customers, not negotiate the terms of a given contract. Finally, your team is intended to be Agile, rather than focusing on a hard gameplan. While there are certain strategies at play, Agile is intended to live up to its namesake.

This methodology has transformed the world of software development, with most major job postings in the last 20 years focusing on mastery of this approach. However, its principles are something applicable across the board to just about any industry you can think of when it comes to the wider world of business.

Understanding Agile Outside of Software Development

Why Agile has caught on outside of the purview of software development comes down to the aforementioned principles championed in the Agile Manifesto. By putting people first, you’re encouraging a culture of growth and innovation, rather than one dictated by technology and processes. A working deliverable is far more flexible and attainable on the whole than extensive documentation surrounding your processes.

Having a healthy working relationship with your customers means you’re developing a rapport, and ultimately encourages return business. When you treat your customers as people more than as a means to an end, you’re opening a mutually beneficial relationship that can provide growth to your organization.

Finally, staying agile and nimble means you’re able to adapt when obstacles mount. You have the means at your disposal to sidestep or consider a different approach to a given problem. These are concepts that can be applied to manufacturing, services, and so much more. It’s no surprise that many businesses are looking to Agile to augment their business capabilities.

Strategies for Leading Agile Teams

Now that we’ve laid a bit of the groundwork, it’s time to take a closer look at some of the best strategies for leading Agile teams. Adaptation is a cornerstone of the Agile methodology and something you’ll see espoused frequently when discussing strategies with more well-versed practitioners of this approach.

However, leading Agile teams requires a shift in mindset as it were. It isn’t enough to simply provide a strong beacon, but rather you have to be able to roll with the punches. Further, Agile is an approach that encourages proactive movements. You don’t want to react to setbacks as they happen, you want to circumvent them entirely.

As such, if you’re new to the methodology, there is going to be a bit of a learning curve. However, when you get into the swing of things, you’ll notice this is a flexible and intuitive methodology. The iterative approach to things is a counterpoint of sorts to the likes of DMAIC and DFSS. In reality, Agile has more in common with the likes of design thinking than it does with some of the approaches we’ve covered in the past.

Encourage Independence

One of the best ways you can look at leading Agile teams is by promoting independence in your team members. Agile as a methodology champions proactive measures, and getting your team members to focus on solving problems on their own is a great way of doing so. Independence has certain advantages as you’re letting your team focus their knowledge and ability on solving a task.

You certainly want to have a guiding hand on how things proceed, especially for contract work. However, you don’t want to micromanage your employees. Let them take the lead on their work, and the results might surprise you.

Agile promotes innovation and creativity, and allowing your team to come to solutions they’ve devised themselves is a great way of doing so. Further, it leads directly into my next two points when it comes to leading Agile teams.

Foster a Culture of Communication

Agile is a methodology that lives and dies by the degree of communication you’ve established. If everyone is operating as a monolithic entity, only turning in work when it’s completed, then things aren’t going great. However, if your team is giving honest communication, then you’re succeeding at leading Agile teams.

Communication is a cornerstone of Agile, thanks in part to its people-first approach. Rather than focusing on the technology at hand, you’re listening empathetically to what has to be said. This also promotes stronger relationships between team members, making a more cohesive team.

Collaborate

Collaboration takes on nearly equal importance when it comes to leading Agile teams. After all, any project is a team effort. However, if employees are only working on their given tasks without inviting collaboration, they’re missing out. One of the most important things you can emphasize throughout the likes of your Agile project is collaboration.

You want your team to work together, as you’re all working toward the same end goal. Ostensibly, this shouldn’t be a hard principle to enforce, as you’re already fostering a culture of communication. Communication breeds collaboration, and that’s something you can encourage on your own.

There is plenty of space throughout an Agile project to provide opportunities to collaborate. Think of the many moving parts of something like a piece of software. If you have someone who specializes in UIs and another team member who does the functionality for the interface, you want them to work together. The end product will be stronger as a result.

Leadership First

It goes without saying, but any new approach or methodology takes a top-down swing at integration. If you aren’t embodying the values and goals of Agile, then how can you expect your team to do the same? You want to take the measures to be proactive, to be nimble, and ultimately be willing to adapt to whatever challenges might arise.

Further, just about every other point I’m espousing today needs to be adopted by the leadership of any manager leading Agile teams. It isn’t enough to enforce the principles and philosophy behind Agile, you need to embody it fully.

The best Agile managers are those who embody the vision and ethos surrounding Agile itself. Think of it like approaching Lean or Six Sigma. The strongest leaders are those who eat, sleep, and breathe the methodology. The same goes for Agile.

Remove Obstacles

While Agile is built on the notion of adaptation and agility, there is something to be said about avoiding obstacles as they arrive. You don’t go on a road trip to catch every red light and speed trap on the way. You pick the optimal route. The same needs to be done when leading Agile teams. Removing the obstacles in your team’s path is going to allow them to focus on the work that needs to be done with minimal delay.

Any project is going to have setbacks, that’s just the very nature of doing work. However, with leadership at the helm to remove obstacles, you’re allowing your team to stay on track. This can take a few different forms, whether it’s through refining faulty processes, advocating for changes in the workplace, or simply communicating what is needed to your stakeholders.

As I just mentioned, leadership in an Agile environment needs to be proactive. Making sure your team can work with minimal issues is going to go a long way in guaranteeing continued success throughout any project you’re looking to complete.

Improve Team Morale

One of the strongest ways of leading Agile teams comes in the form of mental health. A positive, encouraging environment is going to go much further than the likes of a high-tension, high-stress environment. Yes, stress is going to arise, that’s just a part of the natural project cycle.

However, it is up to leadership to foster a positive environment. Reward your team, celebrate the victories, and point out when someone is excelling. This will naturally encourage your team to give it their all.

Adaptation and Iteration

The methodology is called Agile for a good reason. If obstacles arise that cannot be removed, then you want to move past them as deftly as possible. Further, if a prototype for your deliverable isn’t fitting the requirements of the customer, then you’ll want to pivot. Agile is built upon adaptation and iteration, with many of the offshoots of the methodology embracing these as well.

Further, everything needs to evolve, as each project is going to have different needs. Agile isn’t quite like following a recipe for a cake. Every project will have different requirements, despite having similar end goals to previous projects. So, be prepared to change, and welcome it.

A Culture of Learning

Any good leader is going to be a lifelong student. Learning is how we can adapt to the changes and shortcomings of a given project as they arise. You might not possess the knowledge needed at the start of a project, but this is one area where a thirst for learning comes in handy.

Further, you want to encourage this across your entire team. It is a natural fit in the tech industry because of the ever-changing nature of things. However, this should be applied to all industries. Stagnation leads to failure, and that is something you want to avoid when leading Agile teams.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

Looking for other strategies to accomplish your goals? You might want to take a closer look at the change management models in use across businesses worldwide. Change is a difficult concept to convey, but these strategies make the transition a breeze.

Further, you might want to take a closer look at how to integrate Lean Six Sigma with Agile. These are different approaches but can be combined to make a truly excellent work environment. Our guide covers everything you need to know.

Conclusion

Leading Agile teams might seem a difficult task at first glance. However, with the right approach, you can allow your team to excel beyond your wildest expectations. Integrating any of the strategies discussed today are a fine way of giving your team exactly what they need to continue delivering solid results.

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