Let’s be honest: Agile can sometimes feel like the mean girl who’s there simply to ruin your life.
For some, Agile comes naturally. For others, it’s a struggle.
Those who find it challenging might feel as if their company adopted it just to make their lives miserable. But companies choose Agile for a good reason—it helps them stay flexible, adapt to change, and continuously improve.
The reality is Agile isn’t going anywhere. Even if the name or methods evolve over time, the ability to adapt and embrace change will always win out.
If you’re finding it difficult to “be Agile,” there’s a good chance your personality traits are at odds with what thrives in an Agile environment.
Below, we’ll break down the key personality traits needed for success in Agile, the reasons why some may struggle, and how to build these qualities over time.
Unlock real solutions for your Agile challenges at the “When Agile Fails” event on December 13. Empower your team to overcome obstacles and thrive.
1. Adaptability
An Agile mindset thrives on adaptability—responding to shifting environments, evolving information, and new challenges. Psychologically, this aligns with cognitive flexibility, the ability to adjust your thinking and approach when circumstances change.
Challenges:
For those who prefer stability, change can feel like a disruption. People with a strong desire for routine may experience anxiety in the face of constant change, leading to resistance or a clinging to familiar processes. This can make it difficult to try new methods or adapt plans.
How to Adapt:
Start small. Introduce manageable adjustments to your daily routine to strengthen your adaptability. For example, experiment with new tools or methods in your workflow. Use mindfulness techniques to become aware of how you react to change, and try reframing discomfort as an opportunity to grow. Over time, the ability to stay flexible will become more natural.
2. Growth mindset and resilience
At its core, an Agile mindset requires both a growth mindset and resilience. A growth mindset, as conceived by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning. It’s about seeing setbacks as opportunities to grow. Meanwhile, resilience is the ability to bounce back from those setbacks and keep going despite challenges. Together, they help individuals thrive in Agile environments by focusing on improvement, recovery, and persistence.
Challenges:
Some people operate with a fixed mindset, believing their abilities are static, which makes failures feel personal and overwhelming. This mindset can create a fear of failure, causing hesitation to take risks or embrace new ideas. Similarly, individuals who struggle with resilience may find it hard to recover after setbacks, leading to burnout or avoidance of difficult tasks.
How to Adapt:
To develop both a growth mindset and resilience, start by viewing challenges and failures as learning opportunities. When faced with setbacks, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Surround yourself with constructive feedback and reflect on how you’ve improved, even in small ways. Practicing self-compassion and celebrating small victories can help build resilience over time. The more you focus on progress and learning, rather than perfection, the more naturally these traits will develop.
3. Openness to experience
Agile is about embracing innovation, creativity, and new experiences. Openness to experience—a personality trait associated with curiosity and a willingness to try new things—aligns perfectly with the Agile approach.
Challenges:
People who score low on openness tend to prefer tradition and familiar routines. This resistance to change can make it difficult to adopt new ideas or experiment with unconventional solutions in an Agile environment.
How to Adapt:
Start by exploring new approaches within your current projects. Look for opportunities to challenge the status quo—whether it’s experimenting with a new tool, adjusting workflows, or suggesting alternative solutions during team discussions. Encourage open dialogue by asking “what if” questions and actively engaging with colleagues who bring different perspectives. Take on small, low-risk initiatives where you can test new ideas without feeling overwhelmed. Gradually, these steps will help expand your comfort zone and foster a mindset more open to innovation.
4. Tolerating ambiguity
Agile environments are filled with uncertainty—shifting goals, incomplete information, and evolving conditions. To succeed in Agile, you must develop comfort with ambiguity and the ability to make progress even when the path is unclear.
Challenges:
For those who prefer clear direction and structure, ambiguity can be a source of stress. Uncertainty may lead to indecision or frustration, especially when it feels like the ground is always shifting.
How to Adapt:
Start by grounding yourself in the present, focusing on what can be controlled. Break tasks into actionable steps, even when the bigger picture feels uncertain. Develop coping strategies like scenario planning or discussing possible outcomes with your team to feel more comfortable navigating unknowns.
5. Emotional agility
Emotional agility, a concept coined by psychologist Susan David (see her book), is the ability to manage your emotions in a way that helps you grow. In Agile, this skill is essential—especially in handling feedback, managing frustration, and staying focused under pressure.
Challenges:
People who struggle with emotional regulation may react impulsively, especially when changes or feedback feel personal. This can lead to defensiveness, burnout, or avoiding difficult conversations altogether.
How to Adapt:
Start by increasing your emotional awareness. Notice your feelings as they arise without rushing to react. Practice mindfulness or journaling to create space between emotion and action. When emotions are strong, pause to reframe your perspective and use emotions as a guide, rather than a barrier, to problem-solving.
6. Collaboration and social connection
Agile thrives on teamwork and collaboration. Psychological concepts like collective efficacy—the belief in a group’s ability to succeed—and social connectedness are central to building high-functioning Agile teams.
Challenges:
Introverts or more individualistic people may find constant collaboration draining or frustrating. Team dynamics can feel overwhelming, and collaboration may seem like a barrier to getting things done.
How to Adapt:
Contribute to team efforts in a way that leverages your strengths but also respects your need to recharge. Set boundaries when necessary, and take breaks between collaborative sessions. Building trust within your team through active listening and empathy can make collaboration feel less draining and more rewarding over time.
7. Reflective practice
Reflection is at the heart of Agile improvement. It mirrors the psychological practice of metacognition—thinking about how you think. Regular reflection allows teams and individuals to identify strengths and weaknesses, which leads to continuous improvement.
Challenges:
Some resist reflection because it requires confronting uncomfortable truths. Mistakes or weaknesses may feel demoralizing, and reflection can be seen as an unnecessary slowdown.
How to Adapt:
Start with brief, structured reflections. After a project or sprint, if your team has not gone through a formal retrospective, ask yourself, “What’s one thing that went well, and what could I do differently?” Focus on strengths and how to build on them, rather than only dwelling on mistakes. Over time, you’ll see reflection as a valuable tool for improvement, rather than a hindrance to progress.
8. Intrinsic motivation
Agile taps into intrinsic motivation—doing something because it aligns with personal values or is inherently satisfying. Self-determination theory highlights the importance of this kind of motivation for long-term success and engagement.
Challenges:
People driven mainly by external rewards—such as recognition or bonuses—may find it difficult to stay motivated by the incremental progress that Agile emphasizes. Without clear, tangible outcomes, it can be hard to stay engaged.
How to Adapt:
Find ways to connect your work to personal values or interests. Set small, meaningful goals, and celebrate small achievements along the way. By focusing on internal satisfaction and taking ownership of your contributions, you’ll find more fulfillment in day-to-day progress, shifting your motivation from external rewards to personal growth.
Agile isn’t the mean girl
No, Agile isn’t the mean girl sent to ruin your life. However, just like that mean girl in high school, it may force you out of your comfort zone.
You may not have asked for it, but Agile can teach you to adapt, grow, and improve. It can strengthen you and make you more resilient. It can teach you to think on your feet, embrace uncertainty, and find creative solutions when the path isn’t clear. It can teach you to collaborate more effectively, to communicate more openly. And it can teach you to view failure as a stepping stone rather than a setback.
So, no, Agile isn’t the mean girl. It’s there to make things better: for the company, yes, but maybe even for you personally … if you let it.
Agile is a mindset, not a rigid set of rules. Download a printable copy of the Agile Manifesto and 12 Principles here.
