A couple of days ago, I was drinking my coffee, looking out the window (I often need moments like this to clear my head – I also avoid distractions during this time). I was thinking about the teams I had a chance to work with – I tried to answer the question “why some of them are performing better?”. And there, after a moment of screening my thoughts, it hit me out of nowhere – one crucial factor that has played a massive role in the success of the high-performing teams I’ve been a part of: Courage. You might be wondering, “what’s so special about courage?”. Well, it’s a bit like that magical ingredient that makes everything taste better – only in our case, it’s about unlocking the full potential of Agile teams.
But, how does courage work its magic?
Let me break it down for you. Courage is all about facing challenges head-on, expressing our vulnerabilities, and daring to speak our minds. And in the Agile world, courage goes a long way. Here’s why:
- Building Trust.
Courage breeds trust. When team members are open about their fears and weaknesses, they create an atmosphere of openness and trust. And as we all know, trust is the cornerstone of high-performing teams. - Boosting Improvement.
Agile teams thrive on continuous improvement. By embracing the courage to learn, grow, and change, we can unlock new levels of performance. - Making Bold Decisions.
Agile teams need the bravery to make tough choices – even when they’re risky. Courage is that quality that helps teams take calculated risks and adapt quickly to ever-changing circumstances.
How about examples of courage in action?
Picture this: during a Sprint Retrospective, one of the team members shyly admits that they’re having a hard time with a particular task because they lack the necessary know-how. Now, this might seem like an insignificant thing to say, but it takes guts to expose one’s own weaknesses. And guess what? It opened the floodgates of communication within the team, allowing everyone to speak their minds and support each other better.
So, how can we cultivate courage in our teams?
The best part is that it’s not rocket science. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Foster an environment of psychological safety.
Encourage team members to express their thoughts and concerns without fear of judgment or retribution. - Emphasize the value of learning from mistakes.
Normalize failure as an essential part of growth and encourage team members to learn from their experiences. - Celebrate courage.
When someone demonstrates courage, acknowledge and celebrate it. Positive reinforcement will encourage others to follow suit. - Lead by example.
As a Scrum Master or Agile Coach, demonstrate courage in your actions and decisions, inspiring others to do the same.
So, there you have it. 🙂 Courage – the unsung hero of high-performing Agile teams. It might seem like a small thing, but it has the power to transform teams and unlock their full potential. And remember, “vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome“. This also applies to you if you are a Scrum Master/Agile Coach/Leader. Leadership isn’t a safe activity without risks. Leaders also fail.. but they learn from their failures.
Now, go forth and let courage lead the way. 🙂 Cheers!