Taming the Agile Chaos: Why Strategic Planning REALLY Matters
Agile is like jazz…fluid, flexible, and improvisational (and sometimes I just don’t “get it” but it seems cool). I will say that without a strategic plan agile for me feels more like a toddler banging on a piano: noisy and headed nowhere fast.
As someone who has worked as a Tech PM, Programme Lead and even ran large teams I love Agile (especially the theory) as it unlocks people’s ability to innovate and create. Getting the balance right remains key as to much "agile" is not always the answer.
Flexibility with a dash of foresight seems to be the order of the day.
Get Planning: The Secret Sauce of Agility!
Flexibility without a wider plan doesn’t make you Agile; it makes you “Fragile or Tragile” and rather shaky when the winds of change blow. A good plan sets the stage, adds guardrails, and gives you and your team a clear runway. It’s not about being rigid; it’s about drawing the map and leaving space to explore.Proactively
Nail Down Dependencies…
Dependencies are like that one mate who always forgets their wallet when it comes time to pay the bill, they hold everything up at the worst time!Unified planning, with your people engaged spots these sneaky blockers early and gets everyone moving together to address them (early and often) You need to sync your team on the mission and wider plan and remind people of this often to ensure you stay in sync.
“Maverick” Tips for Agile Planning – Or is it just common sense?
1. Horizon Hustle: Plan sprints that fit into the bigger mission—think horizons, not blind corners!
2. Call Out Blockers: Play a game of “What’s going to bite us?” as a team (no ideas are bad ideas at this stage) and tackle those dependencies before they actually sink their teeth in.
3. Remember to Backlog Like a Boss: Trim the fat, prioritise the gold, and align work with the “why” of your team’s goals throughout – we all get stuck on tasks that sometimes add limited or no value to the overall goal.
4. Show and tell the Story: Use visuals like roadmaps or boards. Tools Jira and Trello are great, heck a whiteboard with post its, even if you are ever in an office again).keep progress transparent and on point.
The Big Win
Being strategic and having a wider plan isn’t the Agile villain many people assume. It’s the open secret we all sometimes forget. It keeps your team aligned, prevents blockers from raining on your parade, and earns priaise from stakeholders who can see the overall picture / progress. Most importantly, it makes sure you stay truly Agile, not tragically Agile. So, keep it fun, keep it smart, and remember plan just enough to guide the way but leave room for brilliance.