Episodes

  • Create A Movement With Your Voice

    Create A Movement With Your Voice
    Feb 19 2026
    It’s not just an ideal time to create a movement, it’s essential now. Agile isn’t going to rebound to its original shape. Corporate work isn’t going to get less stressful. Jobs aren’t going to become more abundant. And AI isn’t going to save you from anything. It’s not that things are crumbling. They’re shifting. And if you build the courage and skill, you can create a movement that will let you capitalize. A movement, like this podcast itself, starts when you can see something isn’t working. When a better way is obvious to everyone, except the people who sign your checks, and their unquestioning followers. Why You Should Create A Movement I get that this might be for everyone. Sometimes we just want to show up, punch in and collect our cheque. I wouldn’t judge anyone for not wanting to shout into the darkness. To be the first to say what we THINK everyone else is thinking. But then, that’s what leadership is about. You don’t have to be special, or even more ready than anyone else to create a movement. What I want you to know is that this is available to everyone. And from personal experience, I can tell you it feels good. It feels good when you start something that others have been waiting and hoping for. It feels good when your work causes others to rise, and build momentum. Change is often forced upon us. But there are times when we are inspired by a tiny current rather than a spectacular crash. A small group of inspired, dedicated individuals who believe there MUST be a better way. That’s how Agile itself started. Rooted in service, they decided to stop doing what wasn’t working and create a movement of their own. Not for everyone, but for US. And 25 years later, we are not only due, but I’d argue that currents more powerful than software development alone demand that we rise. If you liked this episode, you might also like: Have Your Own Voice Why You MUST Stand For Something **CHECK OUT FRED DEICHLER** I’ve really enjoyed reading Fred’s substack. He’s not just talking about AI, he’s playing with it and writing about what he makes, and why it matters from the perspective of an Agile practitioner. A very, very good read. Find him at www.triforceagility.com and let me know what you think! **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Q1 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    14 mins
  • Badass Agile Leaders – This Is Your Call To Lead The Pack

    Badass Agile Leaders – This Is Your Call To Lead The Pack
    Feb 9 2026
    You chose this tribe. You opted in, because you’re a Badass Agile Leader. This is the call. Time to raise your voice. You have experience, you have something to say. Your wisdom is worth something. Rather than chill on social media and bark about how bad things suck…why not DO something with that passion? With that point of view? Before we start, I want to shine a light on someone who’s actually out there delivering on the promise of Agile. Kevin Sutherland works in perhaps the most challenging environment. Public Services, or government, are complex, siloed, and mired in legacy. Kevin is holding firm, bringing real Badass Agile Leadership to state-level teams (and the taxpayers they serve). Check out Kevin Sutherland and follow his path to insititutional/large enterprise agility: Check out His State systems modernization video. Check out Kevin Sutherland on YouTube How A Badass Agile Leaders Answer the Call As I was saying, time to use your voice to lift up the entire tribe. No one is out there painting a firm vision of the future. What was written 25 years ago needs some adjusting for a modern context. Lessons learned through failure inform a new reality. A Badass Agile Leader recognizes there’s a better way that defies the pedestrian chatter. They refuse to follow the herd, yet the know innately that wisdom lives within the herd. They hold no desire on being ‘the leader’ as much as they inspire the masses to organize, and sometimes, to wake up. That’s what I love talking about now. A Badass Agile Leader knows how to stand for something, and to stand up for something. Not everyone is comfortable being seen, much less rocking the status quo. But if you’ve been following this show for any amount of time, you KNOW that change requires courage. Maybe even sacrifice, and growth. Or maybe you’d just like to be part of a new movement, from the second row or further back. This is all good. But a Badass Agile Leader hears the call right now. It’s undeniable. The old days aren’t coming back. No more calls from recruiters, no more premium rates. Unless…we do our duty and make Agile relevant to our modern context. If Agile isn’t doing the job, I know you’ve noticed. You probably have an opinion about what should be done differently. That’s your asset right now. If you enjoyed this you might also like: Episode 103 – Herds Versus Heroes Employee Mindset Why You MUST Stand For Something **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Q1 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    10 mins
  • Why You MUST Stand For Something

    Why You MUST Stand For Something
    Feb 5 2026
    Time To Stand For Something It’s our season to carve out an authentic place as leaders in the new universe of Agile. Following the crowd isn’t enough. In this environment, flooded with process trainers and framework enforcers, there’s an absence of meaningful leadership. We’re encouraged to focus on the steps and systems, but how are we developing the leaders we actually become, or what values we fiercely defend? We wander the halls of organizations spouting the same textbook answers, rarely asking if these practices serve our teams, or make a lasting impact on business outcomes. I challenge you now to stand for something. To risk stepping away from the safety of crowd-pleasing, and to lean into the experiences, struggles, and perspectives that have shaped us. Your personal battles and growing pains (in my case, it was dealing with criticism, overcoming bad habits, or finding confidence through disciplines like boxing) are more than just anecdotes. These struggles shape how we lead, communicate, and influence the culture around us. It’s only when you weave those hard-won lessons into your approach that you become truly distinct. And in this market, distinction matters. If nothing else, its a chance to lead by YOUR rules, not by those set by an industry. What sets us apart isn’t quirkiness for the sake of being different, it’s a principled stance forged from our real experiences. As AI and remote work have forever transformed the industry, we face a choice. We can recede into the background, recycle what everyone else is saying, or stand for something only we can offer. Our unique viewpoint, even if it feels vulnerable or counter-establishment, IS the value we offer to our teams and communities. This show has always had an element of resisting comfort and conformity. The best way to do that is to explore the truth that only we offer. Are we willing to risk rejection by speaking it? When you put yourself out there, whether in a podcast, a blog, or leading a team, you attract people who resonate with your message. That personal touch, rooted in our struggles and transformed into insight, becomes our greatest asset. In a changing landscape, its when you stand for something meaningful that you rise from an average leader into an influential one. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Non-Conformity is the Key To Your Agile Future Going Against The Grain **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Q1 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com **BREAK FREE OF CORPORATE AGILE!!*** Download my FREE Guide and learn how to shift from roles and process and use your agile skills in new and exciting ways! https://learning.fusechamber.com/future-of-agile-signup We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    13 mins
  • How To Switch to Leveraging Agile

    How To Switch to Leveraging Agile
    Jan 26 2026
    Time to Stop Doing and Start Leveraging Agile

    Let’s get real about the current state of Agile in our industry and what it means for your career. I get the fear and uncertainty many of us are feeling. We’re seeing pay cuts, shrinking opportunities, and the sense that the “glory days” of Agile might be over. But it’s not the end. Agile as a mindset and practice isn’t going away anytime soon.

    Companies still value Agile, even if it’s not feeding hype and dollars into it the way they once were. We’re now at the mature end of adoption curve. Like any other tech trend, the “new frontier” phase might be over, but there is lasting value in your Agile skills. As long as you’re leveraging Agile for the benefit of customers and shareholders, rather than policing framework rules.

    There are two main paths forward: you can leverage your Agile experience entrepreneurially by bringing it to new business areas, or you can help organizations connect Agile to real business outcomes, especially as companies struggle to harness technologies like AI. The future is about leveraging Agile and integrating it into business operations for tangible results, not following the mechanics.

    Waiting for the perfect new role isn’t a strategy. It’s time to get creative, gritty, and proactive. There are no well-worn paths here. You’ll have to use your skills of experimentation and continuous learning to restore momentum in your career. If you’ve been feeling stuck or like it’s time to give up on Agile, it’s time to think differently and seize new opportunities. Time to shift to Leveraging Agile.

    **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK**

    Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook

    **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE**

    All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan 2026

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis

    **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING**

    12 Weeks to elite leadership!

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning

    **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS**

    The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here:

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz

    **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:**

    https://learning.fusechamber.com

    **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!**

    The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips!

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling

    **JOIN THE FORGE***

    New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information:

    contact@badassagile.com

    **BREAK FREE OF CORPORATE AGILE!!***

    Download my FREE Guide and learn how to shift from roles and process and use your agile skills in new and exciting ways!

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/future-of-agile-signup

    We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me:

    https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile

    ******

    Follow The LinkedIn Page:

    https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile

    ******

    Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game.

    Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    14 mins
  • You Are The Certainty We Need Right Now

    You Are The Certainty We Need Right Now
    Jan 19 2026
    Certainty In Uncertain Times A turbulent world has an impact on our industry and our personal sense of purpose. Unrest, confusion, and uncertainty not only shapes markets, it bleeds into our daily work and our identities as Agile practitioners. We don’t shy away from admitting how tough things feel right now: many of us are tired, a little lost, and wondering if all the skills and experience we’ve built still matter in a climate that doesn’t seem to value what we bring. This crisis of purpose is widely shared, and it’s okay to feel frustrated. The Agile community, once hailed for its energy and transformative power, is now met with skepticism, and sometimes, outright dismissal. When we start internalizing these messages, we risk stepping back, waiting for someone or something else to make things better. To make things certain again. We wait for permission. We hope for a change agent or a new visionary to lift us out of this malaise. But what if none is coming? So Who’s Gonna Save Us? This moment forces us to ask tough questions: who organizes the millions of practitioners? Who inspires, motivates, and charts the next step? Instead of lamenting the “glory days,” we explore the idea that it’s up to us to fill that leadership vacuum. We create our own certainty. And yes, it’s daunting. Imposter syndrome and the noise of detractors can be paralyzing, but I want to push you to see the salvation in this possibility. Like open source—we have permission to own it. To do that, we’ll need to step beyond incremental tweaks and complacency. Small changes won’t cut it. We need bolder action. Perhaps creating new ways to engage leadership or communicating the value of Agile in executive terms. This may be uncomfortable, even scary, but the alternative is inertia, both in our work and within ourselves. In the face of uncertainty, we must BE certainty itself. Ultimately, we face a challenge: we must become the certainty, the leadership, and the vision the moment requires. Let’s refuse to wait for the torch to be passed. Let’s choosing to pick it up. If we’re honest, Agile practitioners are change leaders by nature. The world isn’t going to give us permission or clarity; we have to create it. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy: Badass Unscripted – Embody True Certainty Episode 230 – The Difference-Makers **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com **BREAK FREE OF CORPORATE AGILE!!*** Download my FREE Guide and learn how to shift from roles and process and use your agile skills in new and exciting ways! https://learning.fusechamber.com/future-of-agile-signup We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    11 mins
  • Outcomes, Not Outputs – How To Resurrect Agile

    Outcomes, Not Outputs – How To Resurrect Agile
    Jan 14 2026
    Outcomes, not Outputs We wonder why Agile is dying. Should we be so surprised? You’re probably watching your wallet these days. Prices are up, the economy is slow and uncertain. Your employers are no different. In 2026, story points, velocity, lead time and throughput might matter to YOU, but they don’t matter to THEM. Not to say that those measures aren’t important. Heck, you can’t tune your development, testing and deployment operations if you’re not looking at them. But if you were called to the mat tomorrow, if you were asked to prove the ROI of what you do, those metrics don’t tell a compelling story. It’s about Outcomes, not Outputs. Coaches and SM’s are now being called to defend their worth. They’re not interested in how well-tuned the development machine is if that doesn’t translate to real business results. The measures that the business cares about have to do with their financial outcomes, not outputs that don’t face the customer. Are your efforts helping the company create shareholder value? Do they impact earnings-per-share? If your boss spends a few million on a cadre of Agile Coaches this year, is that a net-positive investment for the company? More cashflow? More customers? Fewer abandoned carts? New subscribers? I know. I sound super-corporate right now. And maybe you hate that. But if you’re looking to accelerate your career in 2026, you can’t ask the people who fund it to trust you, sight unseen. They’re taking a closer look at the books, and these questions are long overdue. How are you contributing to our results? The Dev team might be considered a necessary expense, but if your Agile Shirpa talent aren’t making the team more impactful than they would be on their own, why are you even here? Remember, its Outcomes, not Outputs. This is the future of Agile practice in large enterprise. You have to collaborate with the business, and drive results for them. If you want to learn how, you should check out my brand-new Business Outcomes Partner Playbook. Get the edge so you can get your career back where it belongs, and say good-bye to to the upheaval and uncertainty that’s ripping through our industry. Did you enjoy this episode? You might also like these: The 2026 18th State Of Agile Report Episode 224 – Circulate Value – The Agile Survival Skill Episode 235 – Agile Is A Doorway **LEARN HOW TO DELIVER UNDENIABLE ROI THAT SAVES YOUR JOB AND ACCELERATES YOUR FUTURE** Get the Business Outcomes Partner Playbook Now! https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com **BREAK FREE OF CORPORATE AGILE!!*** Download my FREE Guide and learn how to shift from roles and process and use your agile skills in new and exciting ways! https://learning.fusechamber.com/future-of-agile-signup We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.
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    15 mins
  • The 2026 18th State Of Agile Report

    The 2026 18th State Of Agile Report
    Jan 8 2026
    Pivot your career by becoming an Agile Business Outcomes Partner. Help companies get what they’re begging for – real, measurable business value from their Agile investments. Buy the audio+PDF playbook here. The State Of Agile Report Finally Dropped For a bit there, I thought I’d missed it. I’m not 100% sure if there ever was a 2025 report, but for no good reason, I checked this week, and voila! There it was. The 2026 edition. I don’t exactly set my watch to the annual State Of Agile report, but it IS very very good. What I like most about it is the data focus. We’re not hearing from pundits or experts. The authors poll 350 organizations with a set of prepared questions about Agile as it is today; in doing so, they’re able to draw contrasts to how it looked in past years. They ask about adoption rates, satisfaction, quality issues or improvements, Agile role definitions, Agile’s impact on planning and business strategy…and the answers give a good internal temperature of how we’re impacting business and technology. Calling Out Trends The State Of Agile Report spends a good amount of space on trending stats. It’s good to know how things ARE, but even better to know where they’re going. There’s been some sharp changes since the last report, and they reflect what you’ve probably been feeling out there in the field. Investment Is Up, But Trust and Quality Are Down When you see all of the layoffs and dried-up opportunities, you’d likely assume that spending on Agile is down. That was the big surprise in the 18th State Of Agile Report…Investment is actually UP. Most companies are increasing or sustaining existing investment in Agile. And yet, we can clearly see that interest is waning. How can this be? Whether its sunk-cost fallacy or the commitment and consistency principle, companies are not ready to cancel all their Agile programs quite yet. For reasons discussed later, there is a lot more order and automation in development operations, and apparently that’s worth spending to keep in place. Buyers Demand Proof of ROI But at the same time, one of the biggest jumps in this year’s State Of Agile Report is the increased scrutiny on Value. Folks want to know – how is Agile impacting my core business metrics? Where is this investment mapped to improved business outcomes? The answer is often “we don’t know”. That’s causing a lot of shifting in how much companies invest – which is why we see roles being eliminated, repurposed, combined or redefined. Three quarters of respondents say there is an increased pressure to defend or prove the ROI of their Agile spend. Three quarters. This is a huge signal. Roles are Changing Most respondents reported that their Agile roles have changed in some small way. A small number have shifted off of Agile tasks altogether, but most have found their roles hybrid-ized with traditional PM or project/product roles. Some have found that the coaching-only role is diminished. Others still report that they are responsible for ensuring Agile has traceability back to business outcomes, as described above. Systems are Nice, But They Don’t Help Make Better Decisions It’s subtle, but its there….what we’ve professed all along is actually supported by data. Systems, tools and processes, while important, take a back seat to business imperatives. Many respondents in the State Of Agile Report describe satisfaction with they’re systems, in terms of visibility into the development pipleine. But again, the link between that pipeline and measurable value is cloudy at best. Ai Can Help (But Maybe Not Yet) But wait! Isn’t AI going to save Agile? Maybe someday, but not quite yet, according to The State of Agile Report. The problem with AI is the spotty, disorganized adoption. Guardrails are few and inadequate. Agentic AI shows promise for automating end-to-end workflows, but only if we treat AI like any other employee or business partner. Reading Between The Lines There’s good news and bad news in The State Of Agile Report. After a quarter-century, Agile has definitely settled in. A lot of what we used to be tresured for has become table-stakes. But the future belongs to those who can become Business Outcomes Partners – those who are able to tie Agile investment to business value. Get The State Of Agile Report Here Donwload your own copy here: https://digital.ai/resource-center/analyst-reports/18th-state-of-agile-report/ Get My Guide to Becoming A Business Outcome Partner Be the first to get this career-changing guide. If you get it before January 12, 2026, you can use coupon code BOXINGSAVE15 at checkout to save 15% off your total price. BOXING WEEK SALE Save 15% Off ALL MY PRODUCTS until Jan 12 2026. Use code BOXINGSAVE15 at checkout. https://learning.fusechamber.com **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need ot stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan ...
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    31 mins
  • Resisting Accountability Won’t Help Agile

    Resisting Accountability Won’t Help Agile
    Dec 29 2025
    Fighting the word “Accountability”

    Whether or not you like the word, you can’t run a high-performing team without accountability.

    I recently read a post that blamed accountability and commitment for all of Agile’s failures.

    One commenter went so far as to suggest that accountability was an affront; an assault.

    If you’re on a team, or even if you’re being paid to do a job, you’re accountable for something. Someone, somewhere needs you to sign up for a result. They need you to do a certain thing by a certain date. That’s a commitment. That’s accountability.

    Changing The Word Won’t Help

    Sure, we can get rid of the word, but it won’t do much to address the reality that makes us fear it; visibility, responsibility and persistence are required to make a great Agile team.

    There’s little value in being comfortable and easy. Instead, developing the muscle of making small promises and delivering on them CONSISTENTLY is what builds reputation AND speed. Maybe scale too.

    **BOXING WEEK SALE**

    Save 15% Off ALL MY PRODUCTS until Jan 12 2026. Use code BOXINGSAVE15 at checkout.

    https://learning.fusechamber.com

    **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE**

    All the skills you need ot stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan 2026

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis

    **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING**

    12 Weeks to elite leadership!

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning

    **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS**

    The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here:

    https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz

    **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:**

    https://learning.fusechamber.com

    **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!**

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