The Journey Begins with Good Intentions
We started off with the right mindset. A well-formed Scrum team, self-managing, value-driven, and focused on delivering quality. We had our definition of done clearly articulated, and for the most part, the team hit it consistently.
Then, reality hit: a project delivery date loomed.
This wasn’t just another milestone—it was an existential deadline. Money was running out, and suddenly, we had a non-negotiable target: “We MUST be live by April 10th."
The MVP Illusion
At first, we did what seemed logical. We shifted our focus to MVP, prioritizing production readiness and maximizing team efficiency. It made sense: one for all, all for one, let’s deliver.
But, as it turned out, that wasn’t quite right.
The Pro Cyclist Mistake
Time and time again, like a pro cyclist trimming weight before a race, we stripped away the very things that had sustained us:
- We made the team lighter.
- We reduced collaboration.
- We hyper-focused on just one or two developers.
- We turned Scrum into command-and-control.
And in doing so, we lost sight of what makes Agile work.
Scrum is Not Command & Control
Scrum thrives on collaboration, adaptability, and shared responsibility. But under pressure, organizations tend to fall back on old habits—prescribing roles, micromanaging, and falsely believing that making the team ‘leaner’ will make them ‘faster.’
In reality, this is not a race.
It’s a team sport.
Delivery isn’t about who crosses the finish line first—it’s about getting there together. When we forget that, we don’t just burn out individuals; we burn down the very principles that make Agile effective.
The Real Key to Sustainable Delivery
If we had to do it all over again, here’s what we’d do differently:
- Trust the process – Agile works when you let it.
- Resist the urge to trim too much – Every team member plays a role.
- Maintain collaboration – The best solutions come from shared ownership.
- Avoid command-and-control – Micromanaging never speeds things up.
- Keep the bigger picture in mind – Sustainable success is more important than short-term gains.
Scrum is not a rigid system. It’s a framework that requires balance, iteration, and trust. The sooner we recognize that, the more successful our teams—and deliveries—will be.
Final Thought
So the next time you’re faced with a ‘must-deliver-by’ scenario, ask yourself: Are we building a sustainable team? Or are we just racing to the finish line without considering the long game?
Because in Agile, winning is about finishing together.