Kickstart Agile with Unconventional Tactics
Master agile methodologies using creative solutions that defy industry norms.
Shake Up the Daily Stand-Up Routine
Let’s face it: daily stand-ups can sometimes feel like they’re stuck in Groundhog Day. We’ve all been there, eyes glazing over as everyone recites the same updates in a monotonous tone. It doesn’t have to be this way! By adding a twist to your stand-up routine, you can inject some much-needed energy and ensure everyone is on the same page.
A tech company I worked with decided to introduce a “two truths and a lie” format where each participant shared two real updates and one fictitious one related to their tasks. The team then guessed which one was fake. This approach not only energized the meetings but also encouraged attentiveness and improved communication. Plus, it often led to a few laughs, which were sorely needed.
For those who prefer structure, consider setting a timer for each participant to encourage conciseness. Alternatively, swap roles weekly so different team members facilitate the meeting, ensuring everyone has a chance to lead. These changes can make stand-ups more engaging and productive. If you’re curious about how to implement these variations effectively, check out the Scrum Guide for foundational insights.
Agile Board Customization: More Than Just Columns
In the realm of agile, we often focus on how our boards are laid out—be it Kanban or Scrum. But let’s dig a little deeper. Why stop at just columns like “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Done”? Customizing these columns to fit the unique workflow of your team can greatly enhance transparency and efficiency.
For example, at another startup, we introduced an “In Review” column between “In Progress” and “Done”. This small change clarified which tasks were waiting for approval and reduced bottlenecks. It might seem trivial, but understanding exactly where a task stands helps align expectations across the board—literally.
Moreover, experiment with color coding to indicate priority levels or dependencies. Use swimlanes to separate tasks by project, department, or any other logical division relevant to your team. Incorporate automation to move tasks between stages based on completion of key criteria. For inspiration on advanced techniques, the Jira documentation offers excellent examples.
Embrace Chaos: Surprise Sprints
Sprints with meticulously planned backlogs are so last year. Why not embrace a bit of chaos with a surprise sprint? Here’s how it works: every once in a while, throw in a wildcard sprint where priorities aren’t dictated by the backlog. Instead, team members select the tasks they believe will deliver the most value, even if they’re not on the immediate roadmap.
This method encourages innovation and allows team members to tackle problems they feel passionate about solving. It can yield surprising results; during a surprise sprint at our firm, one engineer identified and resolved a recurring performance issue that had been annoying clients for months. It wasn’t a high-priority item, but solving it significantly increased customer satisfaction scores.
Of course, this approach isn’t for everyone, and it does require a mature team that can handle the responsibility and autonomy. If you’re interested in how to balance chaos with structure, the Agile Alliance provides resources on fostering team empowerment.
No More Task-Hoarding: The Pair Programming Challenge
Pair programming isn’t just for code reviews anymore! It’s an agile technique that can prevent task-hoarding—a situation where a single developer becomes the bottleneck for multiple tasks. By pairing up developers to work together, tasks get completed faster, and knowledge is disseminated across the team.
Start by identifying tasks that would benefit from collaboration and challenge your team to pair up and tackle them together. You’ll likely see improved code quality, faster problem-solving, and better team dynamics. Plus, it’s a great way to onboard new team members and get them up to speed.
If you’re not convinced, a study conducted by a university found that teams using pair programming delivered 15% more functionality than those who didn’t. Don’t just take my word for it—read the full study on pair programming effectiveness.
Here’s a simple configuration to get started:
pairing:
enabled: true
min_duration: 2 hours
max_participants: 2
goals:
- share knowledge
- improve quality
- reduce task hoarding
Retrospective Roulette: Random Feedback Selection
Retrospectives are crucial for continuous improvement, but they can quickly become repetitive if they always follow the same pattern. Enter Retrospective Roulette. In this variant, feedback items are written down, mixed up, and randomly selected for discussion. This prevents dominant voices from steering the conversation and ensures less obvious issues are addressed.
At one point, our team discovered through retrospective roulette that the time-consuming deployment process was causing frustration. It wasn’t something anyone had brought up in regular discussions, but the random selection forced us to address it, leading to a streamlined process and happier engineers.
Consider using tools like Retrium to facilitate digital retrospectives if your team is remote. The randomness factor can lead to unexpected but rewarding discussions that drive meaningful change.
Gamify Your Agile Metrics for Motivation
Metrics can be dry and uninspiring, but gamifying them can turn boring numbers into motivating challenges. By turning metrics into a game, you can drive engagement and increase productivity without compromising the serious aspects of agile tracking.
Implement a system where achieving certain metrics earns the team rewards or recognition. For instance, if the team consistently meets velocity targets or reduces cycle time, they earn points towards a group outing or team-building event. Make sure to focus on metrics that genuinely reflect team improvement rather than vanity metrics.
We once set up a leader board for code commits, bug fixes, and review completions—complete with a custom trophy for the top contributor each month. This friendly competition brought out the best in everyone and fostered a culture of mutual support and accountability. If you’re keen to explore metric gamification, the GitLab Docs offer insights into tracking and analyzing various development metrics.
Keep the Agile Spirit Alive with Cross-Functional Teams
Agile thrives on collaboration, and cross-functional teams embody this principle by combining diverse skills and perspectives. Encourage frequent skill swaps and role rotations within your agile teams to keep things fresh and dynamic. This approach can break down silos and nurture a culture of continuous learning.
One memorable moment from our journey was when a tester took on a brief stint as a developer, and vice versa. This switch not only broadened individual skill sets but also deepened empathy and understanding across roles. Suddenly, those testing bottlenecks had context, and the resulting synergy led to smoother workflows.
Use this configuration to kickstart role rotations:
cross_functional:
enable_rotations: true
duration: 1 month
roles:
- developer
- tester
- designer
benefits:
- broaden skills
- increase empathy
- break down silos
For those ready to dive into the world of cross-functional teams, the Spotify Engineering Culture offers an inspiring case study on their successful application.
Incorporating these unconventional tactics might raise some eyebrows, but embracing creativity in your agile practices can lead to remarkable outcomes. Remember, the essence of agile is adaptability, and what works for one team may not work for another. So, why not experiment and find out what sparks joy and productivity in your team?
