Agile or not Agile

On the projects I've worked on so far, everyone implemented Agile ways of working, or at least tried to. I always found them not agile enough because things weren't as smooth as in books and tutorials; there were always exceptions like:

• longer sprints

• reduced daily stand-ups

• limited client involvement

And then I realized, just like there's no perfect clean code, there's no perfectly by-the-book implemented way of agile working either... so what's the secret then ?

Problem

A lot of books and tutorials tend to overlook the fundamental essence of Agile in their focus on tools and methodologies. They outline the steps, the frameworks, the processes, but they miss the heart of what Agile truly represents. It's not just about daily stand-ups, backlogs, and sprints.

Back to the reality

The reality of projects is often messier, with unexpected roadblocks, changing priorities, and unique team dynamics. This made me realize that the key to successful Agile implementation isn't about sticking to a rigid formula; it's about understanding the principles and creatively applying them to fit the context.

Just as clean code principles guide us towards writing maintainable and efficient code, Agile principles guide us towards delivering value and responding to change effectively. It's about finding that balance between structure and flexibility, between following a plan and adapting to new insights.

So, the secret lies in truly grasping the essence of Agile—embracing its values of collaboration, communication, and iteration. It's about being agile in your thinking, not just in your processes.

So here’s my recipe for working in an agile way:

1. where are your
2. one step toward where you want to be
3. evaluate and fix if broke

For the end

In the end, it's not about rigidly adhering to a specific set of rules, but about applying the Agile mindset. That's where the magic happens—where the tools and methodologies become vehicles for delivering impactful results, and where each project's Agile journey becomes an authentic and dynamic story of adaptation and success.