Will I ever have it all figured out? I sure hope not
I’ve been on this agile journey for a few years now. I’ve taken courses, received certifications, coached teams and individuals, and even taught others in our own training sessions. But if you were to ask me if I have it all figured out, my answer would be a resounding no. That got me thinking, will I ever feel like I’ve mastered this craft? And should I?
Agile is all about continuous improvement and on an individual level it seems to me that that’s an indefinite process. We can always learn something new- something about ourselves, the organizations we work within, the world around us, or simply something we just didn’t know before. And that’s exciting! Cultivating curiosity and a never ending desire to learn is a skill in itself. We want to continue to want to learn!
Agile encourages us to take the time to retrospect. The 12th principle of the Agile Manifesto tells us that at regular intervals, the team (and individuals) reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly. Can we really retrospect if we don’t see new opportunities to become more effective? We have to humbly acknowledge where our weaknesses lie and be willing to take the steps needed to strengthen ourselves.
Agile also helps us to adapt to the changes that are inevitable! The only constant is change, and that has never been truer than right now. This change offers us additional opportunities to reflect on where we are on our own journey and how we might adapt and grow to meet the changes we will continue to experience.
Sometimes I feel frustrated with myself that I still have doubts and question my abilities, but is that exactly the thing that makes sure I won’t sit on my laurels confident that I’ve already got all that I need? If you’d ask me where I rate myself from 1–10 in all of the skills and competencies I think I’m the strongest, I’d still give myself a 6 or 7 at the highest. And I’m excited to think that there’s still room to grow, to stretch and to learn! I know that my mentors and the coaches I respect and admire the most would rate themselves in the same way. We try to show up as lifelong learners, students of agile that will never graduate.
Confidence is important but over-confidence can stall us from welcoming new experiences and insights. Coaches seek to inspire curious inquiry in others, and they try hard to maintain it in themselves. I invite you to reflect on your own personal growth, what areas do you feel you’ve already mastered? With a fresh perspective, are there opportunities to stretch yourself further?
So I ask myself ‘will I ever have it all figured out?’ And my answer today is ‘I sure hope not!’
