2 min
Agile teams have been paramount in the success of many projects, and while they have, in the past, mainly been a staple of tech development fields, there are ways that just about any organization can adapt the principles to suit their needs. There might not be a perfect formula or a single set of procedures you can implement to make the agile team philosophy work for you, but there are some steps you can take to get yourself pointed in the right direction. Here are ten things you should keep in mind while creating your agile team.
You Have To Lay The Groundwork
If you’re operating in an environment where the benefits of an agile team aren’t well-known, you’ll have to take steps to educate your peers on them. Share honest stories of success and point to studies showing how the agile philosophy can work.
You Need The Right Team Members
The team is critical to success. The wrong mix of individuals will cripple your ability to form a unit that can respond to the challenges you’ll be facing. You’ll need members with technical skill, but you should also focus on bringing together individuals that work well in unison and know the importance of team effort. Speaking of which…
You Need To Put The Focus On Team Effort
The key component of the agile team concept is the cooperative contributions that yields result. Your team has to place a higher priority on your end goals than getting mired by their individual efforts. Think of it like a Plumfund campaign where the small parts further the grand goal.
You Need To Create Trust
If the team fears speaking up or making mistakes, your efforts will be dashed before they even begin. You have to trust that your team will handle their responsibilities, and they have to trust you will help them achieve the end goal. A little team-building excursion might help further the cause.
You Should Help The Team By Limiting Obstacles
Anything that you can do to make things easier for the team is going to help. Not only should you find out what’s currently hindering their progress, you should also take steps to anticipate and steer clear of future roadblocks.
You Have To Focus On Results
The process is secondary; the results are primary. You should worry less about how your team is accomplishing their goals, and more about achieving the goals themselves. If they are working remotely and not necessarily from the office -that is fine too. There are tons of ways to stay connected when you are working remotely or even on vacation. This opens your team to using the full breadth of their experience and skills to hit the target.
You Have To Respond To Change
Nothing is set in stone, and problems will arise that you never anticipated. The key is to recognize that changes will happen, and you should be flexible in your approach so that you can navigate a shifting landscape.
You Should Listen To Feedback
This is crucial for identifying some of those roadblocks your team might be experiencing. Check in with them regularly to learn what might be frustrating them and how you can ease the situation.
You Should Ask Questions
Not knowing things leads to problems down the road. Don’t be afraid to question that which you don’t understand to gain a better perspective.
You Can’t Force It
In the end, things might not go as planned from the jump. You might go through several stages or iterations until your team starts running smoothly, and that’s OK. It’s important to remain patient and stay adaptable to achieve success.
Article authored by guest blogger, Wendy Dessler.
Author Bio:
Wendy is a super-connector with ManageBacklinks.io who helps businesses with building their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. Wendy frequently writes about the latest advancements in the SaaS world and digital marketing.