How We Help to Overcome Resistance in Agile

Change can be exciting and, at the same time, scary. Change brings a kind of uncertainty that most people are unable to deal with. Most times, it pushes people to leave their comfort zone or an existing routine which they are already accustomed to and venture into "untried waters."

This is why oftentimes, change is met with resistance.

Introducing any major transformation in an organization is bound to bring resistance. Not everyone would share an opinion, so there will definitely be some people on the opposing side of the introduction.

Now, Agile transformations can be particularly challenging. This is because, unlike other approaches, Agile transformation requires a change in mindset as well as a change in routine. When our consultants at IT Management & Consulting International coach people on Agile transformation, we encourage them to not just change the way they work but also change the way they see their work. It is this latter effort that will make the switch to Agile methods smooth.

If your company is trying to adopt Agile methods, then you should expect some form of resistance. This is very normal since this transformation is quite a difficult process.

What Does Resistance to Agile Look Like?

Resistance might be fast and immediate. The moment you introduce Agile, employees might start to resist it. It could also be slow and start creeping up gradually after a while of trying Agile. If you are looking for signs that will show that Agile is being resisted in your firm, then here are some;

●      Reluctance to completing tasks.

●      Delay in adopting new methodologies. When workers are slow in learning new techniques and implementing them, then this can be a sign that they are resisting them.

●      Employees that are trying to support the new movement of Agile are met with constant frustrations and opposition in the workplace.

●      Constant laxity is observed in one or more departments, thereby slowing the entire workflow process.

Resistance can come from anywhere. It is not subject to the level of the employee. It can arise from below when a member of a team is threatened by the possibility of the introduction of Agile methods in the team. It can also come from above when a manager is uncertain of the working methods of the new process or when the manager would rather not change his own made rules.

Common Reasons for Resistance to Agile

If Agile is such a good thing with several long-lasting benefits, then why does it get any resistance at all? Here are some of the common reasons for resistance to Agile in firms;

●      Ignorance:

In an organization, when people are not certain about the whys and whats, the drive to put in their best effort reduces. Most organizations start out the introduction of Agile by running a few weeks of intense training for their staff to educate them on how to implement it.

What they fail to do, however, is to educate them properly on why they should do what they're doing. Without this knowledge, they end up with unpredictable and inefficient results.

●      A Natural Fear of Change:

As stated earlier, people are scared of the unknown. Leaving your comfort zone to try out something new can be scary irrespective of the possible results of the new action you intend to try out.

This fear could birth resistance to Agile. Also, it has been proven that under stress, the brain reverts to old, familiar neurological patterns. Training the brain to adopt new patterns requires a lot of work and patience.

In short, old habits die hard.

●      The Wrong Mindset:

Change is more effective when you understand the long-term effects of the change. Managers might see the introduction of Agile as a loss of control and authority in the workplace.

This command and control mindset can be very detrimental to the entire organization.

●      Culture:

The kind of culture adopted in an organization can affect everything, including the growth rate of the organization.

If a firm's culture prevents them from experimenting, trying out new patterns, and learning from failure, then the employees and employers will be more reluctant to change. Organizations that have a history of managing projects traditionally will also have problems switching over to a more automated approach to working.

The likelihood of resistance is quite high. However, if managed professionally, the transformation to Agile can be smooth and fast.

How We Can Help Companies Overcome Resistance to Agile

At IT Management & Consulting International, we are invested in helping companies accelerate their transformation to Agile.

We believe that to get this movement in motion, four core roles must be dominated by men who are passionate about the Agile movement.

These roles include;

●      Coach:

This is someone outside the development team who steps into the organization as a guide to the big picture. This person plays the role of displaying the big picture of the Scrum methods to employees. This way, whenever employees are slipping back to their old ones, they can always get a prompt from this coach that puts them back on track.

●      Supervisor:

This is someone to who all members of the organization report. They fill the supervisor in on their day-to-day activities, and his responsibility is to ensure that they are on track. The supervisor manages their current and future performances.

●      Sponsor:

This individual is a firm supporter of the ongoing change in the organization. The sponsor is an influencer on an executive level, and this individual should have records and proof to back up his stand.

●      A Team Member:

An in-house member of the organization that has been greatly impacted by the use of Agile methods and provides real-time feedback as the change progresses and impacts him. This in-house voice will have a huge impact on the colleagues as they will draw regular motivation from him and adjust faster to new methods.

At IT Management & Consulting International, we believe that any organization that hopes to grow and stay relevant in the ever-changing world must be proactive and ready to adapt to new and efficient methodologies. Agile methods are here to stay, and we exist to help companies understand the importance of making the switch and also serve as a guide to make the transition from traditional working methods to Agile working methods smooth.

Here Is How We Help;

●      We teach businesses the right way to implement Scrum: As one of the most widely used frameworks of Agile, we help organizations implement this approach effectively.

●      We focus on the idea of short-term deliverables: Most broad tasks are easier to accomplish when they are split into smaller, more actionable deliverables. Breaking down complex projects with short-term deliverables is one of the effective ways to make Agile methods easier to adopt in your organization.

●      We establish and improve your Sprint plans: By establishing sprint planning, review, and retrospectives, we remove impediments.

At IT Management & Consulting International, we are committed to transforming and accelerating your projects with Scrum. Our methods are proven and have yielded results for several years. Want to overcome resistance to Agile in your organization? We assure you that we can complete this task effectively. Contact us now.