A team in California excelled in collaboration and skill but consistently failed to finish their sprint goals due to overcommitting influenced by an unofficial leader, Marc. The pressure to overcommit often stems from leadership or the team itself and can lead to reduced predictability for the organization. Three strategies are recommended to address habitual overcommitting.
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The Impact of Overcommitment on Agile Teams
During my time coaching and training a company in California, I encountered a team that struggled to finish all their work in a sprint due to overcommitment. This issue stemmed from the influence of an unofficial leader, Marc, who consistently pushed the team to take on more than they could handle.
Reasons for Overcommitment
Overcommitment often arises from external pressure from leadership or the team itself. This can lead to a lack of predictability and hinder the team’s ability to achieve its sprint goals. It’s crucial for organizations to maintain a level of predictability while allowing teams to realistically plan their sprints.
Practical Solutions
- Sprint Commitments Are Goals, Not Guarantees: Emphasize to leaders and the team that sprint commitments are goals, not guarantees. This distinction allows teams to commit to realistic goals without feeling pressured to guarantee their delivery.
- Never Consider Not Finishing a Failure: Shift the perspective on missing sprint goals from a failure to a learning opportunity. It’s essential to support the team and identify root causes of overcommitment rather than placing blame.
- Identify Root Causes of Overcommitting: Encourage the team to identify the underlying reasons for overcommitting, such as overly optimistic planning. By asking targeted questions during sprint planning meetings, teams can uncover risky assumptions and adjust their approach accordingly.
Value of Agile Solutions
By implementing these practical solutions, teams can achieve a balance between striving for ambitious goals and maintaining predictability. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement and empowers teams to deliver their best while also allowing for occasional adjustments to their commitments.
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