Lead and Get Out of the Way

Bart has been in ecommerce for over 20 years, and can't imagine a better job to have. He is interested in all things agile, or anything new to learn.

  Agile   Leadership   Strategy   Talent Management   Teams   ProjectsAtWork  

Leaders in an agile organization serve their teams, not the other way around. They are committed to developing and supporting team members. They listen, trust and get out of the way — always in the name of creating greater value. Here’s how it looks and works in the trenches.

To lead in an agile organization, you must truly understand the Agile process and what it represents. You must embrace a new leadership style and a new set of values, which can be difficult if you have enjoyed success leading in a certain way.

A good start is taking training with team members and attending daily sprint meetings, retrospectives and backlog grooming sessions. This is where information is exchanged, and it will also show the team that you are committed to the process. It’s not necessary to go to every meeting, but showing support and acting curious can go a long way in building a relationship of trust. By learning both the tactics of the agile process and the tenets behind them, you will be better equipped to rethink how you act as a leader.

In the Agile world, executives serve the team, not the other way around. While everyone is committed to delivering value to the customer and the organization, you must also be committed to the development of the team and its members. Rather than giving instruction, the executive mentors, coaches and trains the team, and is often required to …

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