Understanding Agile Leadership Styles

Agile software development framework.

Agile leadership is a unique approach to management that is integral to successful Agile development. It is about creating and responding to change in uncertain and turbulent environments. It's about thinking through how you can understand what's going on in the environment, identify what uncertainty you're facing and figure out how to adapt as you go along. In this unit, we will explore the different leadership styles in Agile and their significance.

Servant Leadership in Agile

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy in which the main goal of the leader is to serve. This is different from traditional leadership where the leader's main focus is the thriving of their company or organizations. A Servant Leader shares power, puts the needs of the employees first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. In Agile, the Scrum Master is often seen as a servant leader for the team, helping to remove obstacles, facilitating discussions and enabling the team to perform at their best.

Transformational Leadership in Agile

Transformational leadership is a style of leadership where a leader works with teams to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group. It serves to enhance the motivation, morale, and job performance of followers through a variety of mechanisms. In Agile, transformational leadership can be seen in the role of the Product Owner, who has the vision for the product and works with the team to realize this vision.

Situational Leadership in Agile

Situational leadership is a leadership style in which a leader or manager makes decisions based on the specific situation at hand. They adapt their style according to the competence and commitment of their followers. In Agile, this can be seen in how the leadership style may change from one iteration to another. For example, a team that is new to Agile may need a more directive style of leadership, while a mature Agile team may benefit more from a delegative leadership style.

In conclusion, Agile leadership is about creating an environment where self-organized, empowered teams can thrive. Agile leaders are flexible and capable of leading in a variety of situations. Whether through servant leadership, transformational leadership, or situational leadership, Agile leaders understand their role in facilitating team performance and promoting a culture of agility.