Agile Leadership Principles and Practices from edX

Agile can often challenge project managers in the realm of leadership. Old styles of command-control are now a thing of the past, except for the most conservative organizations. While good leaders employ a variety of leadership skills and leadership styles to motivate team members, even this is not enough. Simply setting a common goal and maintaining positive attitudes while raising your emotional intelligence will make you a better leader; but will it truly unlock your team's potential?

Instead of leadership traits, Agile leadership emphasizes facilitation and communication skills. This is teachable and much more powerful. This unique and effective leadership style challenges traditional beliefs in what leadership means.

Great leaders understand that the leader can no longer stand in the way of their team. Modern society, mindsets, and global competition demand new leadership roles, and leadership qualities all together that empower and motivate the team to new levels of productivity. Business leaders that miss this critical shift in leadership styles concede a powerful competitive advantage to the Agile leader.

In this course, you will learn how this new style of leadership redefines and redistributes team roles by:

Motivating through empowerment to gain better decisions
Facilitating the creativity and inclusivity of a high-functioning team
Identifying and managing decision making biases
Negotiating conflicts across individuals, teams, and organizations
Ensuring success through delegation and powerful constraint-based metrics.
You’ll learn to turn one internally motivated and critically thinking mind into many; and driving speed and innovation through leveraging all talents on the team.

While this course will not make you an agile certified practitioner (PMI-ACP), or certified scrum master (CSM), it offers a more fundamental agile certification based on agile principles and how agile leadership is applied in industry today. You'll finish this course more than ready to continue your agile journey, which we hope takes you to the next course in the series on Agile Process, Project, and Program Controls.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners can earn 10 Professional Development Unit (PDU) credits, which are recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). PDU credits are essential to those looking to maintain certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

What's inside

Learning objectives

Overview of agile and the key roles: scrum master, product owner, and agile team member.
Building self-organizing teams for agile projects
Facilitating leadership and the power of play
Decision science and human mind heuristics

Negotiation styles and techniques
Managing bias through mindfulness and emotional intelligence (eq)
Lean decision making tools for agile project managers

Overview of agile and the key roles: scrum master, product owner, and agile team member.
Building self-organizing teams for agile projects
Facilitating leadership and the power of play
Decision science and human mind heuristics
Negotiation styles and techniques
Managing bias through mindfulness and emotional intelligence (eq)
Lean decision making tools for agile project managers

Syllabus

Week 1: The first week of this course jumps right into our traditional notions of leadership, defining the concept, the characteristics of a leader, the science of leadership, and the styles that exist today across master and servant models (Primal Leadership, Team Leadership, Situational Leadership, and Transformational Leadership).

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines principles and practices of contemporary agile leadership and management

Explores emotional intelligence, bias, and mindfulness as key leadership qualities

Teaches facilitation techniques for effective team building and decision making

Taught by John Johnson, an experienced agile expert and educator

Suitable for individuals looking to enhance their leadership skills in agile environments

May require prior knowledge of agile methodologies

Reviews summary

Agile leadership: principles and practice

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive experience, offering a solid foundation in Agile leadership principles. Students particularly value the practical tools and strategies for managing teams, facilitating decisions, and resolving conflicts. Many found the content on servant leadership, negotiation techniques, and managing decision-making biases to be highly applicable and beneficial in their professional roles. While the course is praised for its clear structure and well-explained concepts, some more experienced practitioners felt certain sections were too basic, suggesting it's best suited for those newer to or transitioning into Agile leadership roles.

Assessments were generally straightforward.

"The quizzes and assignments were reasonable and tested understanding well."

"Assignments reinforced the concepts learned in the lectures."

"Found the assignments straightforward, perhaps too easy for some."

"Assessments felt aligned with the course material."

Specific modules were highly valued by students.

"The section on negotiation styles and conflict management was incredibly helpful and practical."

"Understanding decision science and human biases was a major takeaway for me."

"Found the content on empowering teams and the 'power of play' particularly insightful."

"The coverage of different leadership styles in the first week set a great context."

Good overview of core Agile leadership ideas.

"The course laid out the fundamental principles of Agile leadership very clearly."

"Excellent introduction to the shift from traditional to servant leadership."

"It was a great overview of the key concepts, easy to follow even for someone new to the topic."

"Provided a solid foundational understanding of the scrum master and product owner roles from a leadership perspective."

Provides actionable strategies for immediate use.

"I immediately started applying concepts like servant leadership and negotiation techniques at work."

"Gave me practical tools for facilitating team decisions effectively."

"This course provided actionable insights that I could apply right away in my daily tasks as a scrum master."

"Learned strategies for managing bias and improving team decision-making that I can really use."

May feel basic for seasoned practitioners.

"For someone already experienced in Agile, parts of this course felt quite basic and repetitive."

"I was hoping for more advanced strategies, but it's primarily a beginner-to-intermediate course."

"Good as a refresher, but didn't offer much new insight for an experienced Agile coach."

"Some modules covered concepts I was already very familiar with from prior work experience."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Agile Leadership Principles and Practices with these activities:

Brush up on Servant Leadership Theory

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Review key concepts of servant leadership to ensure a foundation for the course.

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Review the foundational principles of servant leadership to understand the core characteristics of this distinct management approach.
Re-engage with case studies and examples of successful leaders embracing servant leadership principles in various industries.

Read 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman

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Gain insights into the psychological principles that govern decision-making to enhance your awareness and ability to manage potential cognitive biases.

View Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment on Amazon

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Review key concepts of System 1 and System 2 thinking to understand how our minds process information and make judgments.
Explore various cognitive biases and their implications for Agile decision-making.
Reflect on practical strategies to mitigate biases and improve decision-making efficacy.

Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation Exercises

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Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation techniques to enhance your ability to stay centered, manage stress, and make informed decisions in Agile environments.

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Engage in guided meditation and mindfulness exercises to cultivate self-awareness and reduce stress levels.
Practice techniques for recognizing and managing emotions, enhancing your ability to respond effectively in challenging situations.

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Negotiation Simulation Exercises

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Strengthen your negotiation skills through role-playing exercises, enhancing your ability to effectively manage conflicts and resolve issues in Agile environments.

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Participate in simulated negotiation scenarios designed to replicate real-world Agile challenges.
Analyze and reflect on the outcomes of negotiations, identifying areas for improvement and refining strategies.
Practice using various negotiation techniques and approaches to expand your skillset and enhance your versatility.

Explore Gamification Techniques for High-Performing Agile Teams

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Enhance your understanding of how to leverage gamification effectively in Agile teams to foster engagement and productivity.

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Identify and evaluate best practices for incorporating gaming mechanics into the Agile development process.
Explore case studies and examples of successful gamification strategies adopted by Agile organizations.

Agile Team Simulation Project

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Participate in a simulated Agile project from ideation to completion, applying the principles and practices learned in the course.

Browse courses on Agile Project Management

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Form cross-functional teams and define project goals, embracing Agile values and principles.
Plan and execute sprints, utilizing Agile tools and techniques to manage iterations and deliver value incrementally.
Conduct regular retrospectives to reflect on team performance, identify areas for improvement, and adapt strategies as needed.
Showcase project outcomes, demonstrating the practical application of Agile principles and highlighting team成果.

Develop an Agile Leadership Playbook

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Create a comprehensive guide that captures key Agile leadership principles, best practices, and communication strategies you've learned in the course.

Browse courses on Facilitation Skills

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Identify and outline core Agile leadership concepts, emphasizing the shift from traditional command-and-control to servant leadership.
Incorporate effective facilitation techniques to guide team discussions, foster collaboration, and promote innovation.
Develop communication strategies tailored to different stakeholders, considering their perspectives and communication preferences.
Include practical tools and templates that can be immediately applied in Agile environments.

Attend an Agile Leadership Workshop

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Enhance your practical understanding of Agile leadership through hands-on workshops led by industry experts.

Browse courses on Agile Leadership

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Participate in interactive simulations and exercises to apply Agile principles and techniques in real-time scenarios.
Engage with experienced Agile leaders to gain insights into best practices, challenges, and success stories.
Network with other Agile professionals to expand your knowledge and build connections.

Career center

Learners who complete Agile Leadership Principles and Practices will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Agile Project Manager

An Agile Project Manager is a project management professional who specifically uses agile methodologies to lead teams, including scrum and kanban. These managers are responsible for the overall success of projects, as well as team collaboration, productivity, and outcomes. This course can be instrumental in refining the skills of an Agile Project Manager, especially those looking to obtain their certification as a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP).

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Project Manager

Agile Coach

An Agile Coach supports teams and organizations as they adopt and improve their agile practices. They guide teams to optimize processes, enhance collaboration, and implement agile values and principles. This course can equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to become effective Agile Coaches, helping organizations achieve greater agility and business outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Scrum Master

A Scrum Master is responsible for guiding and facilitating agile teams, particularly those using the scrum framework. Their focus is on removing impediments, managing processes, and ensuring team productivity. This course can provide a solid foundation in Scrum Master practices, empowering individuals to excel in this role and support high-performing scrum teams.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager has the overarching responsibility for the lifecycle of a product or service, from its inception to its launch and beyond. They work closely with stakeholders, customers, and teams to define product strategy, roadmap, and vision. This course can be valuable for Product Managers as it can help them gain insights into agile leadership principles and practices. These are essential for effectively managing product development teams, prioritizing features, and driving product success in a fast-paced and ever-changing market landscape.

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Product Owner

A Product Owner, a key role in scrum teams, is responsible for managing the overall vision and backlog of a product or service. They work with stakeholders, customers, and teams to create and refine the product roadmap. This course can be a valuable resource for Product Owners as it can help build a foundation in agile leadership, facilitation, and communication skills. These are all essential for successful product management and delivery.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for ensuring the quality and accuracy of software, systems, and processes. They work to identify and resolve defects, ensuring that products meet customer requirements and expectations. This course can help Quality Assurance Analysts gain a deeper understanding of agile principles and how to apply them to quality assurance processes, leading to improved product quality and customer satisfaction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst serves as a bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, bridging the gap between business requirements and technical solutions. They analyze business processes, gather requirements, and develop solutions to improve efficiency and achieve business goals. This course can provide a solid foundation for Business Analysts in understanding agile principles and practices, enabling them to work effectively within agile environments, enhance their ability to gather and analyze business requirements, and contribute to the success of agile projects.

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Change Manager

A Change Manager supports organizations in managing organizational change effectively. They assess change impacts, develop strategies, and facilitate change initiatives to achieve desired outcomes. This course can be useful for Change Managers as it can help them understand how to apply agile principles to organizational change management, enabling them to improve change adoption, reduce resistance, and increase the overall success of change initiatives within organizations.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and controlling the day-to-day operations of an organization. They oversee various aspects of operations, including production, inventory management, and customer service. This course can be useful for Operations Managers who want to gain insights into agile principles and practices. It can provide them with a framework for optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and driving continuous improvement within their organizations.

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IT Manager

An IT Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the information technology (IT) function within an organization. They manage IT resources, including hardware, software, and networks, and ensure the alignment of IT systems with business objectives. This course can be beneficial for IT Managers who want to enhance their understanding of agile principles and practices. It can equip them with the knowledge and skills to lead IT teams in adopting agile methodologies, improving IT service delivery, and driving innovation within the organization.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant provides advisory services to organizations, helping them improve their performance and achieve their strategic objectives. They work with clients to identify challenges, develop solutions, and implement changes. This course can be beneficial for Management Consultants who want to enhance their understanding of agile principles and practices. It can provide them with a framework for working with clients in an agile manner, enabling them to deliver value quickly and effectively.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. They work on various projects, contributing to the creation of software solutions for different industries and domains. This course may be useful for Software Engineers who want to enhance their understanding of agile methodologies, particularly in the context of software development. It can equip them with the principles and practices necessary to work effectively in agile teams and contribute to the success of agile projects.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager drives numerous aspects of a project, working to keep teams on track, aligned, and delivered. They may work on various projects with a wide range of clients across diverse industries, including tech and finance. Those interested in this career role can use this course to gain insight into agile leadership principles and practices to apply in their work. This course may be of particular application to those seeking to obtain or maintain their certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

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Project Coordinator

A Project Coordinator supports project managers in the planning, execution, and closure of projects. They assist in managing schedules, budgets, and resources, ensuring the smooth operation of projects. This course can be helpful for Project Coordinators, especially those working in agile environments. It can provide them with an understanding of agile principles and practices, enabling them to better support project managers in implementing agile methodologies and achieving project success.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, processes, and analyzes data to extract meaningful insights and inform decision-making. They work with various data sources and tools to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies. This course may be useful for Data Analysts who want to enhance their understanding of agile principles and practices. It can equip them with the skills to work effectively in agile environments, contribute to data-driven decision-making, and support agile teams in achieving their goals.

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