The value of agile metrics stands and falls with how we talk about them.
1️⃣ “The team isn’t delivering enough.”
Better:
“We’re seeing fluctuations in throughput. That tells us our workflow is currently not very predictable. Let’s look together at where the blockages are occurring.”
2️⃣ “Velocity needs to be higher.”
Better:
“Velocity shows us trends, but it’s not a performance metric.
What matters more is that we can plan reliably as a team. How can we create more stable conditions?”
3️⃣ “Why is this taking so long?”
Better:
“Our cycle times show us where work gets stuck. If we reduce those blockers, delivery speed will improve.”
4️⃣ “Team A is faster than Team B.”
Better:
“Teams operate under different conditions. Each team should focus on improving its own trends.”
Conclusion
When we change our language, we change our culture.
And a healthy culture delivers more sustainable value than any metric ever could.
