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Badass Agile

Badass Agile

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Episodes
  • 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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    30 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!**

    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.

    If you liked this epsiode, why not try…

    Episode 118 – How To Improve Accountability

    Episode 172 – Commitment Culture

    Episode 199 – Should We Eliminate Commitment?
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    12 mins
  • Win Executive Support by Marketing Your Agile POV

    Win Executive Support by Marketing Your Agile POV
    Dec 15 2025
    Solving the Agile Executive Support Problem There is a statistic in the Agile community: the number one reason Agile initiatives fail is a lack of executive support. We see this stat, we nod our heads, and then we proceed to complain that leadership just “doesn’t get it.” But CEOs and executives aren’t sitting around wondering how to make YOU and your team more effective. They are worried about revenue, market share, and survival. If you don’t have executive support for your initiative, it’s not because they don’t care; it’s because you haven’t given them a compelling reason to care. Executive support is something WE have to take responsibility for soliciting. The problem is that most Agile practitioners have zero experience driving high-stakes conversations with people in power. We are great at talking to teams, but we freeze up when it comes to the C-Suite. So, how do you fix this? You don’t do it by waiting for the next quarterly review to make your case. You do it by practicing in public. The “Muscle” of Influence Speaking to power is a skill, not a talent. Like any muscle, it needs resistance training to grow. You need to get in the habit of having a strong point of view on what Agile success actually looks like, and you need to start marketing that opinion aggressively. Here’s what I did. I took a specific, tactical approach to building this muscle: Start doing LinkedIn Lives. This isn’t about getting “likes.” It is about two critical outcomes: Clarifying Your Message: When you commit to broadcasting your expertise, you force yourself to articulate your thoughts clearly. You stop hiding behind jargon and start speaking in value.Building an Audience that trusts you: By hosting a platform, you create a space where you can invite leaders, stakeholders, and people of influence to join you. It changes the dynamic. You are no longer the person begging for five minutes of their time; you are the host offering them a spotlight. Stop Wishing for Executive Support. Claim it. If you want executive support, stop treating Agile like a methodology and start treating it like a product you have to sell. When you market your POV publicly, you build credibility. You build trust. Most importantly, you practice the art of holding your ground in a conversation. By the time you actually need to pitch an initiative or ask for executive support to your internal leadership, you won’t be nervous. You will have had that conversation a dozen times already on your livestreams. Don’t wait for permission to be a leader. Turn on the camera, state your case, and build the executive support you need to change minds and create Agile success. If you liked this episode, you might also like: Episode 228 – Agile Has Lost The Script Episode 230 – The Difference-Makers How To Revive Agile (And Your Career **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!** 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
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