According to dictionary.com, a mindset is an attitude, disposition or mood. If the Agile Manifesto is a set of values and principles that lead to a mindset, then it would make sense that the Manifesto is a guide to help teams and organizations formulate their desired attitude and approach for getting things done.

Wait!

After decades of working in a traditional manner where we focused on toll-gates, creating a RACI, and trying to get our estimates right, how can organizations expect team members to shift on a dime and adopt a whole new way of thinking? Especially if the leadership is still focused on budgets, milestones, and figuring out who to blame when things don’t work out as planned.

Although I’ve only met teams and leaders who have positive intent, we only know what we know. That means, we can want to work in a certain way, but if we resist changing how we think and how we act, we resist moving in the direction we desire. AND if we resist moving forward we stay where we are.

As a life coach, I learned long ago that people only change when there’s enough pain. If your organization or teams have no clear understanding of why they ought to change their approach and there is no compelling reason to force a change in attitude, then your Agile transformation may be a long and winding road.

If your organization or team truly wants to develop an Agile mindset, start by considering your compelling reason why. When you know why you want to do something, not taking action towards your goals seems silly.

The first step to developing an Agile mindset is a compelling reason…know your WHY and pivot at the folk in the road.

All the best,

Paulie Skaja
your mindset muse 🙂