I have a dream

I have a dream that one day, the agile market will rise above the shadows of commercial exploitation and return to its original vision of collaboration, innovation, and genuine value. In this market, integrity leads, and value prevails, free from the grasp of those seeking profit over enabling organisations to succeed.

As the banner of agility unfurled across the business world, it drew a multitude seeking not enlightenment but profit. Amidst this surge, consultancies mushroomed, training programs multiplied, and certifications became commonplace – all promising agility, yet understanding it only superficially.

They, the novices in the art of true agility, sold not transformation but a shadow of it: repackaged project management, diluted soft skills, life coaching in agile's guise, and tools masquerading as solutions. They reshaped the names of Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, not to better the market but to profit from it. What emerged was not the agile mission of uncovering better ways but a marketplace mired in misdirection and misunderstanding, straying far from the path of genuine agility that leads to organisational success and real value.

In a world where agility promises transformation, we now witness its essence clouded by misinterpretation and misuse. Many have been trained and mentored in what is believed to be agile. Yet, their understanding is founded on fragile premises, far removed from the true strength of agile methodologies. Consider the widespread misperception of agile as a mere project management tool or the instances where Scrum is implemented rigidly, in a waterfall manner, betraying its ethos of fluidity and continuous improvement. Kanban is relegated to only visualisation. The theory of constraints is seen as a mere oversimplification of manufacturing, too. Lean has been forgotten and overshadowed.

This dilution of agile's true meaning is exacerbated as each new generation of practitioners inherits an increasingly weakened version of its principles. Believing themselves to be knowledgeable, they unknowingly perpetuate these half-truths. The agile market, once a collaborative and innovative space, has degenerated into a battleground of competing methodologies, with advocates often disparaging others to elevate their own stance.

Amidst this chaos, even seasoned agile coaches struggle to defend the fundamental principles of agility against the overwhelming noise of novices. Communities that were once bastions of support and learning have become mired in debates about what constitutes 'good agile', losing focus on their primary goal of aiding organisations in delivering valuable products and services. Agile coaches in organisations only focus on doing agile and must be acquainted with business needs.

The initial surge in agility's popularity triggered a vast demand for agile professionals, leading to an inflated job market. However, recruiters and hiring managers, often misguided, have brought in individuals with misaligned skills. Consequently, organisations attempting to adopt agile methodologies face double jeopardy: firstly, by being sold a distorted version of agility, and secondly, by hiring personnel incapable of implementing it effectively.

As a result, many executives and business leaders need to see the value of Agile and are turning away from it. Individuals negatively impacted by these misrepresentations voice their disappointment and frustration and sometimes even resort to undermining agile initiatives. In this situation, empathy is crucial, recognising that these individuals were unwittingly caught in a race towards a misunderstood and misrepresented version of agility.

What once stood as a noble vision, a beacon of transformative change, is now entangled in a disheartening race to the bottom. This descent, a far cry from its original ideals, presents us with a stark choice: we can either continue this downward spiral, watching as the essence of agile withers and dies, or rise to the challenge of reclaiming what has been lost.

In these tumultuous times, as the world grapples with unprecedented challenges and businesses face mounting pressures, there emerges a beacon of hope: real agility. The rough seas ahead for many organisations can be navigated and even harnessed through the principles of authentic agile practices. Now, more than ever, the need for genuine agility - resilient, adaptive, and deeply embedded in the ethos of continuous improvement - is paramount. This real agility has always been a steady undercurrent beneath the waves of change. It's our collective responsibility and opportunity to illuminate its true nature to demonstrate how it can help organisations survive the looming challenges and thrive amidst them. This is the moment to showcase the power of real agility, to guide and uplift businesses in their journey through these challenging times, and to reaffirm the transformative promise that agility has always held.

The path to rescue demands boldness and clarity. It requires us to expose the truths obscured by layers of misconception, to unmask the fakes who have diluted the agile spirit for personal gain. This journey may be confronting, as it challenges our perceptions and beliefs about what agile truly means. It's a call to introspection, to question and refine our understanding.

Our collective action must focus on purging the market of those who have exploited agile principles for profit - the sharks and imposters who have steered the community away from its core values. Whether we have been unwittingly swayed by misinformation or stand firm in our understanding, each of us plays a crucial role in this endeavour.

This is not just a fight for the soul of agile; it's a fight for the integrity of every organisation and individual striving for genuine improvement and innovation. It's a call to action for all who cherish the true essence of agility: to stand united, educate, and lead the way back to the path of authentic agile practice. The time for complacency is over. Now is the moment to act, to restore agility to its rightful place as a force for positive change in business and beyond.

In the face of towering organisations with deep pockets, the culprits behind the agile market's deviation from its proper course, we, the smaller communities and individuals, might seem overshadowed. Yet, there is profound strength in our unity. Taking on these giants individually may seem a Sisyphean task. Still, united by a clear purpose and strategy, our many voices can overshadow their budgets and influence. We wield a powerful tool: control over social media. What we currently need in coordination can be easily remedied.

The strategy is straightforward: align on the same page and address the issues collectively. Like a school of small fish capable of outmaneuvering larger predators, we can expose and drive away the forces that have skewed the agile market. Each of us possesses networks that can be leveraged, amplifying our collective message. The power must return to small businesses, individuals, and genuine agility practitioners.

This is no small feat. Many have been misled, hurt, and fed with distorted agile versions. Breaking down these walls, educating, and demonstrating the true essence of agility is our collective challenge. United, we stand a chance; divided, we face inevitable failure.

For those who share this vision and are tired of watching our market plummet and being exploited, I invite you to join me. My strategy starts with creating awareness. This is about more than presenting solutions immediately but sparking conversations on Agile's current state and its tarnished reputation. Please reshare my post and add your own perspectives. Let's put our collective strength on social media to the test.

Together, we can ignite a movement that starts with spreading awareness and progressively builds towards reclaiming and restoring the agile market to its original glory. Your voice, network, and commitment are crucial in this endeavour. If you're ready to be part of this change, to contribute to a cause more significant than any of us, comment below. Let's begin this journey together, starting with spreading the word and awakening our collective consciousness.

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