Unlocking Success: How Being Agile Gives You the Edge
What does being agile mean in today’s society?
And how does it give you that competitive edge over others?
You might have visualised a person who is quick on his/her feet. Someone who is physically athletic and fit. On the contrary, what we are going to explore in this post is about being mentally agile. What are the qualities that epitomises an agile mindset and how these qualities can empower you to do better not just in a professional setting but also as an individual.
The Concept Of Agile
“Success today requires the agility and drive to constantly rethink, reinvigorate, react and reinvent.”
- Bill Gates
I was introduced to the concept of agile when I pursued a project management certification from Project Management Institute. With the rise of technology and software development, product/project development goals change frequently throughout the lifetime of a project. There will be times when there is a drastic change in the preference of the market midway, and the project team needs to revise their deliverables for their project flexibly and on the fly. Being agile therefore emphasises the need and importance of keen perception, communication, receptivity to feedback and collaboration.
Methodology For Agile Project Management - SCRUM
In order for teams to deliver on projects in an agile manner, the SCRUM methodology is often deployed. Simply, the project team divides the deliverables of their project into manageable chunks of work that when completed within a predetermined short timeframe, delivers value that their customers request for. The selection for each chunk of work is strictly prioritised, in order to quickly and continuously meet the requirements of their stakeholders. This not only allows the customer to reap the rewards of their investment, but also facilitates frequent feedback and communication to the project team to ensure that the project remains focused and on track.
To illustrate the principles behind SCRUM, let me walk you through a dining experience that you might be able to relate with easily.
The (Agile?) Omakase Experience
Picture this, you and your partner dressed to nines to celebrate a special occasion at the highly reviewed Omakase restaurant in town. Upon entering the restaurant, the friendly waitress welcomes the both of you and presents the menu for your selection. This process is where the project team which comprises of the service crew, sous chefs and head chef, determine the deliverables of their customers (you and your partner). Your requests could vary from the number of courses preferred, dietary restrictions, to whether or not to have drink pairing to go with.
The chefs then proceed to prepare and serve a well thought out sequence of courses (manageable chucks of work) at a steady pace to maximise your appreciation and enjoyment (value creation and delivery) of the cuisine.
Midway through, you felt that the amount of wasabi inserted into the sushi by the chef was too much for your liking. Also, your partner was beginning to feel full and was concerned whether he/she could finish the rest of the courses. The service crew then shares these feedback to the chefs, enabling them to adapt by cutting the amount of wasabi for the remaining courses for you while they reduced the serving portion for your partner to allow him/her to finish the remaining courses comfortably.
Towards the end of the meal, you and your partner naturally slow down the pace of eating as the sensation of fullness sets in. The service crew and chefs notice and perceive the change, reducing their pace of food and drink preparation collaboratively to match the situation.
At the end of the dining experience, both you and your partner enjoyed the delicious food and the customised experience. A wonderful memory was created and perhaps, the eagerness to revisit the restaurant again in the near future. The service crew then ends off by asking how the meal went (more feedback). This allows the restaurant to measure their current performance of meeting your expectations while seeking consistent improvements in their service and food quality.
If the above experience was replaced with a project team using a traditional project management approach with a fixed mindset, you will likely find that once your order is received, the restaurant proceeds with the original menu regardless of the situation until the last course is served before asking you how the meal went. This accentuates the absence of adaptability and flexibility in their approach, which could compromise on customer satisfaction and business profitability in the long run.
Concluding
SCRUM is a methodology to deliver projects in an agile manner. While being agile, it calls upon a set of principles such as keen perception, communication, receptivity to feedback and collaboration.
Going back to the question of how being agile helps you stand out amongst the rest. The principles of agile are not restricted to just project management, but are highly transferrable to almost every aspect of your life. As depicted in the omakase experience, expressing agile principles can empower one to perceive changes positively, adapt adequately while embracing continuous growth and delivering great value to others.
I hope this post has sparked your curiosity to learn more about having an agile mindset, and the interest to practice some of its principles in your life!