Agile Mindset Training – Uncovering better ways of Developing Software
Before doing Agile Mindset training in Pune, first we try to understand
What is Agile Mindset?
Agile Manifesto starts with a sentence saying – “We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it”.
This sentence is one of the key sentences to understand agile mindset.
Agile Mindset of Uncovering instead of “uncovered”
Note that it does not say that “we have uncovered better ways to develop software…”, instead it says that “we are uncovering better ways….”
This points out the continuous learning mindset of people who authored agile manifesto, which has become the guiding principle for many software development teams, organizations, processes and frameworks.
It seems to me that the 17 individuals who came together to author the agile manifesto, truly believed that despite having years of experience in developing software, they are all still learning, they can improve further and it is only by putting conscious effort towards learning that they could get better at developing software.
Agile Mindset of Uncovering better ways “by doing”
Now let us look at another part of the sentence, which I think is also crucial to agile mindset – “uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it”. Individuals learn in many different ways and one of the most prevalent learning techniques is to read books and learn or go to a school and learn.
So, what is the difference between learning from a book or going to school versus learning by doing?
One of the key elements of learning by doing is that you learn from your own experience and you learn when you do it, which in this case is when you develop working software. This is the most integral part of Agile Mindset Training.
You could read a hundred blogs or books on product development, they can help to some extent but if you are developing your own product, your own experience and the outcomes would help you learn the most and will be crucial to your success.
How do I adopt this agile mindset of continuously “uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it…”?
This requires us to be consciously aware and practice
- Constant reflection and looking at ways to improve
- As professionals, many times we fall into the trap of being the “expert”. This can lead us to NOT learn from our experience. This is when we need to consciously take off the “expert” hat and wear the hat of “learner”, somebody who is curious to learn.
How do I help my team or organization to adopt this agile mindset?
This is one of the most important questions to ponder upon for leaders.
If you team isn’t following any of the agile methods or frameworks, then it is very likely that your team is following a set of process to do its work and the process a standard or fixed process, OR it is likely that your team is simply executing orders of their managers, without using much of their own mind.
For any team to adopt this learning mindset, employees/team members will need to be empowered to learn and make their own choices/decisions. This is not an easy thing to do.
Empowering your team members to learn and make their own decisions has some significant consequences for managers, leaders and organizations, they are
- Team members may take a decision that may turn out to be wrong. Now this happens quite often even when managers or execs take decisions however for managers and leaders to empower their employees to take decisions with regards to the work they are doing, this means letting go of significant control that the hierarchy and authority gives. This does not mean that managers are not making decisions, you still will have responsibility to make decisions however when it comes to decisions with regards to the work that your team is working upon, you empower the team to take their decision, with an awareness that they are most closest to the work getting done and they would know the best about the work they are doing. This requires a significant shift from being a manager to becoming a facilitator, where you facilitate team learning and decision making.
- Additional cost of learning – While this learning can be key to innovation and incremental improvement, yet most organizations may find it hard to accept that this learning will come at the extra cost of time and effort.
- As managers, we are used to telling people what to do or be the expert in the room BUT when you empower your team to learn and get better at whatever they are doing, you will be required to shift from telling to listening and asking. Your role changes significantly.
- The Other better method would to put them to Agile Mindset Training program in Pune for better understanding.
What are the benefits of adopting this agile mindset?
There are many benefits of Agile Mindset Training in Pune and adopting this mindset. Here are few that I have observed
- Organizations and teams constantly look at improving their work product and the way they are working
- Organizations and teams become mindful of their environments, changes and market conditions and they learn to adapt very quickly.
- Teams learn to incrementally innovate and come up with new ideas
- Shorter feedback loops – Real issues from ground surfaces very fast and get addressed.
- High performing teams – as team members reflect on the way they work, they tend to address internal issues faster and become a better performing and learning team.
- Competitive advantage – teams tend to experiment and develop high quality products that are more likely to serve customers’ needs.
- Incremental Innovation – teams are more likely to innovate new features or products, as they learn better ways of developing software.
