As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can improve as Agile practitioners. This isn’t about sweeping overhauls or lofty ambitions—it’s about making small, focused improvements that bring big results over time.
Below, you’ll find a list of Agile New Year’s resolutions to inspire your team. Here’s how to use them:
Pick One Resolution: At your next retrospective, review these ideas together and identify one resolution that resonates most with your team.
Brainstorm Improvements: Use the 15% Solutions activity from Liberating Structures to identify small, actionable steps. Ask yourselves, “What’s one thing we can do to take a step towards this resolution? How can we improve ourselves by just 15% in this area?” This keeps the conversation focused on practical, achievable changes.
Revisit Periodically: Throughout the year, discuss your progress towards this resolution at the Sprint Retrospective. Repeat the 15% Solutions activity to build on your progress and refine your approach.
This process keeps your goals manageable while driving continuous improvement. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about getting better, one step at a time.
10 Ideas for your team's New Year's Resolution
Here are 10 ideas for possible New Year's resolutions for your Agile team.
1. Focus on Value, Not Vanity Metrics
This year, we resolve to measure what matters. Instead of obsessing over story points, burndown charts, or “velocity races,” we’ll ask, “Are we delivering meaningful outcomes?” If a metric doesn’t help us improve or serve our customers, it’s time to let it go. We will identify and measure metrics that measure customer outcomes.
2. Stop Adding Rules That Aren’t Scrum
Scrum is lightweight, but that doesn’t mean it needs padding. No more unnecessary roles, extra approvals, or “Scrum but” excuses. This year, we’ll trust the framework, inspect, adapt, and let Scrum’s simplicity guide us through complexity. (For more on this topic, check out Illustrated Scrum Myths by Mary Iqbal)
3. Embrace Change, Even When It’s Inconvenient
We resolve to treat change as a friend, not a foe. Yes, it’s messy, and yes, it means reworking our plans sometimes. But change is where the magic happens. It’s how we learn, improve, and stay relevant in a fast-moving world.
4. Respect the Team’s Autonomy
Micromanagement isn’t Agile, and neither is dictating estimates or tasks. This year, we’ll protect the Scrum Team’s ability to self-manage and focus on delivering value, not just staying busy. Trust is the fuel that drives collaboration, and we resolve to keep that trust alive.
5. Make the Sprint Goal Sacred
This year, no more treating the Sprint Goal like a checkbox or an afterthought. It’s our shared purpose for the Sprint—a reason for everyone to pull together. If our work doesn’t align with the goal, we’ll challenge it.
6. Stop Misusing Velocity
Velocity is not a speedometer, nor is it a tool for comparison. We resolve to use it the right way: as a planning tool for our team only. We’ll stop using it as a yardstick for productivity or as a weapon to shame teams.
7. Say Goodbye to the Comfort Zone
Agile isn’t about sticking to what’s easy—it’s about solving hard problems and experimenting fearlessly. This year, we resolve to step out of our comfort zones, try new things, and learn from failure without fear.
8. Strengthen Relationships with Stakeholders
Agile thrives on collaboration, and that includes stakeholders. This year, we resolve to involve them early, often, and meaningfully. Their insights make us stronger, and we won’t settle for shallow check-ins or last-minute reviews.
9. Stop Blaming Scrum for Bad Outcomes
Scrum doesn’t fail; people do. If something isn’t working, we resolve to look at how we’re applying the framework. Is the team aligned? Are we inspecting and adapting? Is our Product Owner empowered? This year, no more blaming Scrum—it’s time to take accountability.
10. Never Forget: Agile Is About People
Agile is about individuals and interactions over processes and tools. This year, we’ll remember that no process, tool, or framework can replace the human element. We resolve to listen, collaborate, and build trust at every step.
Conclusion
Remember, each of these New Year's Resolutions is nothing but words if it is not backed up with action. Use the Sprint Retrospective to ensure you are making the right progress towards fulfilling your team's New Year's Resolution.
Here’s to a more Agile year! 🎉
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