It seems like every few years there’s a new framework, process, or consulting trend that sweeps through the corporate world promising to revolutionize how we work. Lean, Six Sigma, Design Thinking, OKRs, Holacracy – the list goes on.
Each comes with its own language and models. We get pulled into day-long workshops to have the fundamentals drilled into us. Posters go up on office walls touting the merits of the new approach. And for a while, it governs everything we do.
But here’s the thing – at their core, they all tap into the same principles of Agile. They promote cross-functional collaboration, iterative delivery, adapting to change, empowering teams, delivering value to customers. Just with different branding, frameworks and terminology.
It reminds me of when I was a kid and food companies would slap a new cartoon character on the same old sugary cereal. Maybe the box was different, but inside was the same product.
Don’t get me wrong – many of these new ways of working do have merit. They promote mindsets, behaviors and structures that are badly needed in many organizations today. But often they get implemented as the next silver bullet, only to fade away as another comes along.
What we should focus on are not the terms or trappings of each management fad, but the core mindsets and practices. Clear goals, small iterative steps, rapid feedback, engaged teams, empowered leadership. The foundations of Agile are what count.
The language and labels may change, but Agile endures. Stay focused on the core principles, not the hype. Deliver value, learn and adapt. It will serve your organization far longer than any shiny new framework.
