Agile first emerged in a 2001 manifesto drafted by 17 tech experts, and it’s since taken the world by storm by becoming one of the most popular business methodologies around. Even though the concept started with technology, its principles are being applied to all types of businesses. Built on the grounds of flexibility, collaboration, and best-serving customer needs, it’s no wonder more businesses are making the agile transition. Here’s how you can do it too.
Train Staff Properly
People like to follow routines at work, which is why introducing a new process like agile may end up being a catastrophe, especially if it’s not approached properly. To ensure a smooth transitioning period, we recommend hosting regular training sessions. Additionally, you should consider registering with an ICAgile certifications provider, which will make sure your team thoroughly understands what it takes to work in an agile environment.
Focus on Communication
When you first adopt agile tactics like spring planning and scrum training, you will need to communicate with your team daily to make sure everyone is keeping up. A great way to do this is with a daily stand-up meeting, which is something that agile businesses continue throughout their journey as a means of development and testing.
As well as keeping team members updated, regular communication allows leaders to identify points of friction, which can then be addressed through the process and environmental changes. After all, agile is built on the grounds of flexibility and adaptability.
Build a Mutual Vision
In most work environments, decisions come from the top and they trickle down to the bottom, regardless of what anybody else thinks. However, when you’re making such a large change like transitioning to agile, it’s important that every member of the business shares the ultimate goal and vision.
To ensure that all team members are working toward the same goal, with very little pushback, it’s a good idea to reconfigure existing KPIs (key performance indicators) and flush a new-found sense of purpose into the workforce.
Allow Time for Adjustments
Important changes don’t happen overnight, and the same goes for your company’s transition into agile. It doesn’t matter what level a person sits at, from support to C-suite, people need time to do away with old habits and take up new ones. In most cases, it’s best to begin agile when the project slate is clean because this signifies a fresh start and doesn’t complicate ongoing work. Even if most of your team makes a swift transition, it’s important that you don’t force change on the remaining players – keep making subtle changes and you’ll have everyone on board eventually.
Provide Plenty of Collaboration Opportunities
Every business’s agile transition journey looks different, but collaboration is always present. Communication and collaboration should be encouraged within teams and across teams, and you can facilitate with a number of digital tools and a shift in workplace culture.
Making the move from waterfall to agile won’t be easy for anybody, but nothing worth doing in life is. As long as there’s plenty of open communication, collaboration, commitment, understanding, and patience, success will take hold eventually.
