No matter the methodology you use to manage your projects or develop products, there is no absolute certainty that it is going to be a success.
Despite your best planning and risk management efforts, things can suddenly go sideways and you and your team are in a battle to get the project back on track.
For project management and product development, no matter how talented and skilled your team is, you need individuals who are individually and collectively inspired and motivated to see the project through any adversity to the end.
The question is how do you inspire your agile team to maximize productivity if they happen to be lacking in inspiration and motivation?
When your agile team is inspired and motivated, they possess the ability to respond quickly to changes and issues which are bound to arise in the fast-paced modern business world.
A team lacking in inspiration is basically at a low ebb and lies at the bottom spectrum of productivity. Having a motivated and inspired team is a necessity for maximum productivity.
As the leader of an agile team, your team is only as strong as you are, and it is your core responsibility to keep your team motivated, and aid in their individual and collective development.
In this article, we explore the structure and roles of an agile team, the importance of having an inspired agile team, and 8 tips on inspiring your agile team.
Agile Team Roles and Responsibilities
The agile methodology is an approach to project management and product development that is designed to be adaptable to changing needs of projects.
With 4 core values and 12 principles, agile uses a set of principles and practices to manage various types of projects through collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement.
The first value of the agile methodology from the Agile Manifesto places emphasis on individuals and interactions over processes and tools. This showcases the importance of the team and collaboration.
An agile team is a small unit of individuals who work together in cohesion to deliver high-quality products and meet the goals of the project.
An agile team is cross-functional and self-organizing. While every member of the team has individual roles and responsibilities, all members of the team are to work together collaboratively towards the project’s success.
The roles and responsibilities of an agile team include:
1. Agile Team Facilitator
An agile team facilitator’s role on an agile team is to help the team transition to agile and increase the productivity of the team.
While there is a range of official titles that fall into this category including scrum master, scrum coach, and kanban coach, the overall goal of the role which is to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the team is most important
By utilizing the agile methodology, the agile facilitator ensures that the agile team has the necessary resources and support to work effectively.
Depending on the organization and agile team, the agile facilitator may be involved in setting goals and priorities along with the team, facilitating team meetings and agile events, and facilitating collaboration and communication among team members.
2. Product Owner
The product owner on an agile team is the person that is responsible for defining and prioritizing the features and requirements of the product. This is a key role in agile software product development.
The product owner is responsible for developing and managing a product backlog that resonates with the goals and vision of the product.
By working with the agile team, the product owner has to communicate these goals to the rest of the team with clarity to make sure the product is developed to realize the anticipated goals of the business.
3. Agile Development Team
Within an agile team, the development team is a group of people with the responsibility of building the product according to the features and requirements.
They are an integral part of the team responsible for the technical aspect of delivering high-quality products that meet the goals and objectives of the business and stakeholders.
The team is cross-functional and self-organizing, as they decide internally how to actually build the product with no external interference.
While the size of the team varies, it ideally should range between 5 to 9 depending on the complexity and requirements of the project.
They are to work closely with the product owner to fully understand the requirements of the project/product and how to prioritize these requirements.
Why Should Your Agile Team be Inspired?
Why should anyone be inspired at all? People often need to be inspired and your agile team happens to be a group of people.
Having inspired and motivated individuals on your agile team can do wonders for the individuals and the organization by extension.
The reasons and benefits for inspiring your agile team include:
1. Increased Motivation and Productivity
When people are inspired, they experience an increase in motivation. With increased motivation, individuals in your agile team are likely to be more focused on work and achieving set goals. This in turn leads to increased productivity.
2. Improved Team Morale
Inspiring your agile team members is highly likely to have a positive impact on their individual and team morale. This can lead to a more positive and enjoyable working environment.
3. Improved Team Relationships
Having inspired team members with increased morale is also beneficial to the team relationship and builds trust within the team.
When there is trust and good relationships among the agile team members, this leads to a synergy that enables the team to achieve more.
4. Increased Creativity and Innovation
Inspiring your agile team members can help to foster a culture of creativity and by extension, there are improved innovative vibes.
When members of the team are in this mode, there is development of novel ideas and methods that can help improve the team’s productivity.
5. Greater Engagement
When you have team members that are inspired, they are more likely to be engaged with their work with a sense of purpose. This way, there is a high likelihood of low employee turnover and business continuity.
Ultimately, when you have inspired people on your agile team, there is a positive and improved work environment that ultimately leads to better outcomes for the team members and the organization.
Can You Inspire Your Agile Team?
Is it really possible to inspire and motivate people? The answer is yes. People can be inspired by a variety of experiences, events, and actions.
By setting up the right experiences and events, you can inspire your team members to be better motivated and enhance their individual and collective morale and productivity.
As the leader of an agile in any capacity, you can learn how to inspire others and even yourself by learning actions you can take to do this.
Read More: Who Determines How work is Performed During a Sprint?
How Do You Inspire Your Agile Team?
To inspire your agile team members, you need to first of all understand the fact that people are inspired by different events, and some people are more naturally motivated than others.
You need to know the best ways for individuals on your team to be motivated and inspired individually and collectively as a team.
To inspire your agile team, there are different ways to go about it. The best approach for you to use will largely depend on the team’s specific needs and goals.
These are some suggestions for inspiring your team that may be very helpful:
1. Communicate the Project’s Goals and Vision
It is easier for people to be motivated when they know they are working towards a goal, and they have clarity of it.
By concisely communicating the goals and vision of the organization, as well as how the project helps in achieving this, the agile team is more likely to be more focused and purposeful toward this goal.
An agile team works best when they understand the bigger picture and how their work fits into it.
2. Fostering a Continuous Learning Culture
The software development industry is continuously evolving as new problems and needs arise daily that require new solutions. Agile teams have to also change and adapt rapidly to stay ahead of the curve and remain relevant.
It is difficult for agile team members that are not up-to-date with industry trends to feel motivated and have high morale.
By encouraging and supporting members of your agile team to continuously learn new relevant skills, you are helping them to build their sense of purpose and be inspired.
3. Encouraging Teamwork and Collaboration
To be successful, agile teams rely on collaboration and teamwork. One way to inspire your agile team is by encouraging team members to collaborate and share ideas, and this gives them ample opportunities to get to know one another.
This way, you foster a bond and trust within the team that leads to increased productivity through synergy.
4. Recognition and Reward System
One of the best ways to keep your team inspired is by rewarding them for hard work. As a leader, you feel good when you are recognized for your efforts. It is the same for your team.
By showing your appreciation for team members’ hard work and contributions by recognizing their accomplishments and rewarding them for their efforts, you set the foundation for the development of a positive and supportive team culture.
5. Providing Opportunities for Ownership
Based on the agile principles, agile teams are to be self-managing and have autonomy and ownership over the processes that develop the product.
However, if you have worked with lots of organizations, you realize that a lot of them only use a pure agile methodology on paper. The reality is often different.
A lot of top stakeholders have years of micromanagement in their belt and the transition to an agile methodology may not be as smooth as you envisage. This can be demoralizing for your agile team.
As the leader of an agile team in any capacity, it is your role to remove impediments that impair the team’s agile flow. Helping them to be self-managing and own the process is key to keeping your team inspired and motivated.
6. Providing Resources and Support
To lead an agile team, you have to embody the role of a servant leader. The success of the team is your success and you are responsible for creating and nurturing an environment where they have everything needed for this success.
It is essential that your team members have the resources and support they require to succeed in their roles. Training, access to tools and technology, and time to collaborate and learn from one another may all be included.
7. Staying Positive During Setbacks
As a project manager or agile team leader, you probably dream of initiating, planning, and executing projects that run smoothly with little to no hitches. Well, you need to wake up.
The core of project management and product development is about anticipating and solving problems. If there are no problems to be solved, there probably will be no need of developing products.
While being proactive with proper risk management helps to increase the chances of project success, there is no certainty that there will be no setbacks.
In times when these setbacks come up, it can be demoralizing to you and the team. Your reaction to these setbacks is critical to how the team reacts. It is important to lead by example and stay positive. This way, the team gathers from your strength and seeks solutions.
8. Allowing Diversity and Creative Criticism
Incorporating diversity and creative criticism can help your team find better solutions to problems and improve communication.
Agile teams should be encouraged to foster a positive work environment in which team members can freely express themselves as transparency is key to harnessing the benefits of the agile methodology.
Read More: What is the Rationale for Scrum Team Implementing Short Sprints?
Conclusion
While it is possible to inspire people to be versions of themselves, it certainly is not an easy task. Dealing with humans requires different approaches due to inherent diversity. But it is a worthwhile endeavor nonetheless.
As a leader, possessing the ability to talk about and implement effective strategies, as well as the knowledge of how to effectively coach teams, are critical factors in keeping productivity levels high and motivating agile teams to succeed.
By using these tips to inspire your team, you are on your way to building a motivated team, and that is key to the success of any project or endeavor.
