How do YOU define AGILE?

I received the best email from an agile marketer yesterday (if you want to see it, look to your right...)  It came at the perfect time and made me feel proud to be working with these marketing teams.

Now I always knew that our Marketers are among the very best and most creative in the world, but I am really impressed that Nick Vaglio took it upon himself to reflect on his year-long agile journey and come up with his own personal definition.  Talk about an agile mindset!

Of course we all know that the definition of an agile mindset can be found in our Agile Values and Principles!  But Nick's email got me to thinking about what my personal definition of agile is.

Coach Dan's Personal Definition Of AGILE (for today)

Well I'm going to start off with the word Aligned.  Agile teams and agile individual are absolutely aligned to a common goal - to provide the most valuable things to our customer, as quickly as possible.  That's an easy one - now on to G...

Merriam-Webster has probably my favorite definition of agile (the word):  Agile: marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace 

 

When I think of teams that I've worked with over the years that I would say that is an apt definition.  Teams that are truly agile are always ready to read and react to the data and pivot so they can deliver what's most valuable to their customer.  But graceful when they make those pivots?

When I think about how we value individuals and interactions; how we not only hold each other accountable, but truly look to work together toward our goals.  How we respect and challenge and support each other.   So now I stand corrected - it may not LOOK pretty when we pivot - but we do it together, and with respect for each other - so yes... graceful!

Speaking of using data to know when to pivot - agile teams and individuals are very data driven.  They are maniacal about knowing about their customer - what their customer wants, what their customer needs, how their customer thinks!  They strive to know more about their customer than anyone else, and they use this information, this insight to deliver what is valuable to their customer.  So agile teams and individuals are insightful.

All of the best teams I've ever been a part of take time to reflect and improve.  They are never satisfied with how they are, they know that they can improve and make things better. Again to Merriam-Webster:

Learning:   modification of a behavioral tendency by experience (such as exposure to conditioning)

So they are constantly looking to learn, to better themselves and each other based on their experience and exposure.  So I can also say that agile teams and individuals are all about learning. 

So that brings us to E - As you all probably know by now - I have 3 "Es" to choose from!  But which one to pick? Engaged? Efficient?  I think we've covered both of those with my discussion above.  Which turns my focus to the 3rd E - Effective.  

Effective:  producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect

I can't think of a better E to end my definition of agile on.  Producing the desired effect.  We give our agile teams business KPIs to achieve - and they constantly measure themselves against those KPIs whether it's new accounts, or reduced diminishment, or better software utilization and engagement - they produce what's asked of them!  Effective.

So now you have it.  Coach Dan's own personal definition of AGILE.  If course I'd be remiss if I didn't caveat this as my definition for TODAY.  Because each day I learn a little more.  Each day, I reflect and adapt to what I've learned.  I make mistakes and do things differently next time.  I win or I learn.  So if you ask me tomorrow - my personal definition of AGILE may be a little bit different, and that's ok. 

So here's my challenge to you - can you spend 5 minutes today and come up with your own definition of AGILE?  How would you describe it to a colleague who has never experienced an agile team, manager or leader?  What 5 words can you use to describe how you define AGILE today?  Share with us or send them to me privately!  I'd LOVE to hear what you think!

We all win together.