Agile Principle 5: Support and Trust

Let's take a look at the fifth underlying principle of the agile manifesto:

"Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done."

What does that really mean? What are the implications for our daily business? Let's analyze this principle and see where this gets us.

• "Build projects around motivated individuals" - search and hire Drive-Driven Personalities who love their job and are passionate about what they're doing. Get rid of unskilled or even destructive people as they will have a major negative impact on the project's success.
  Values: Commitment, Courage
  Principles: Opportunity, Amplify Learning, Humanity, Accepted Responsibility
  Practices: Motivation, Energized Work (Continuous Pace)
• "Give them" - as the Holy Bible already mentions "give, and it will be given to you". Do not demand results from the team but give them what they demand for their private and professional life.
  Values: Respect
  Principles: Empower the Team, Humanity, Supportive Culture
  Practices: Servant Leadership
• "the environment" - the team needs a proper workspace and the best equipment available to do its work in a professional manner. This is also about the team's processes from a larger organizational point of view. Surround the team with lean structures, try to avoid beaurocratic structures impeding the team's performance and pace.
  Values: Simplicity, Openness
  Principles: Empower the Team, Supportive Culture
  Practices: Whole Team, Team Room
• "and support they need" - help the team instantly as they get stuck. Clear their path and remove any obstacles. Show them alternative ways to go.
  Values: Courage, Focus
  Principles: Improvement, Adaption, Supportive Culture
  Practices: Servant Leadership
• "trust them to get the job done" - if you have motivated individuals on the team, you also have to trust them. They are the people knowing exactly how to do their job. Do not let anyone else decide and plan how the team should work and who is going to do what and when.
  Values: Respect, Courage
  Principles: Self-organizing Team, Empower the Team, Humanity, Diversity, Supportive Culture
  Practices: Whole Team, Team Room, Team Continuity, Personal Safety, Energized Work (Continuous Pace)

To say it in three words, the fifth principle is about Support and Trust.

Also read in this blog post series:

• Agile Principle 1: Satisfy the Customer
• Agile Principle 2: Embrace Change
• Agile Principle 3: Frequent Delivery
• Agile Principle 4: Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Agile Principle 5: Support and Trust
• Agile Principle 6: Face-to-Face Conversation
• Agile Principle 7: Working Software
• Agile Principle 8: Sustainable Pace
• Agile Principle 9: Technical Excellence
• Agile Principle 10: Keep it Simple
• Agile Principle 11: Self-Organization
• Agile Principle 12: Inspect and Adapt