The Berezina is a battle lost by Napoleon. It symbolizes retreat and human ordeal. It remains in memory as a symbol of the end of a glorious era, and the beginning of dislocation.

I believe this is where we currently stand when talking about agility in France (and I presume in Europe, and I’m not looking further). As I wrote very recently, I am appalled by the catastrophic level of agility and agilists that I now observe around me, on social networks, at conferences, etc. The substance is not dead, but the idea certainly is, until perhaps it resurfaces one day.

End of impostor syndrome and playing with words

But then am I talking about agility or organization? It’s the same thing, my good sir.

So why? And first of all, is it true?

Yes it’s true.

Even though I’m an old(?) bastard(!), I confirm that we are in complete chaos.

Do I have legitimacy to decree this: yes. I own it and I’m tired of impostor syndrome.

To those who say agility blah blah blah: I’m sorry for you that, contrary to what you believe, you’ve never encountered it.

So where does this come from? Here’s what comes to mind this morning:

The virus of ease

First, I imagine it’s a bit like a disease that spreads, like zombies in a horror film. On one side you have a person who takes time to think, who possesses rigor, who is persistent, etc., it takes time. On the other side you have people who get certifications, or who call themselves agile coaches without any perspective on the profession. (Whether professional coaches like it or not, agile coaching is a very distinct profession that requires genuine apprenticeship). So unsurprisingly, the person who works with quality gets completely overwhelmed by those who are there for something else.

I was the first to tell people: you want to be an agile coach? Easy, make a blog with that title, and you’re set. But making a blog on the subject is already something different from passing a two-day certification. As if I put a guitar method in your hands for two days and the next day you had to give a concert for an entire organization. That’s kind of what’s happening.

I don’t blame people, well not too much. They must first live, survive. And a certification brings nothing except unfortunately for agile, fortunately for these people, a higher daily rate.

Nature favors laziness, simplicity, a two-day cert, a semblance of support, everything fails, but nobody complains, so let’s go all in, it tells itself!

Organizational denial

The majority of organizations are getting hit in the face: the end of resources, the pandemic, the madness of capitalism (to excess, or capitalism period), the end of ideals. They’re lost. In any case, the people who govern them are. Seized with panic, their watchword is above all to change nothing. We’re approaching the wall, we don’t know how to react, we only know how to brake (but we’re going to hit the wall anyway). There’s an air of “what’s the point.”

And doing nothing means favoring inaction, empty processes, slides, sketchy certifications, in a word, simulacra.

That’s how we end up with organizations that do everything to avoid genuinely questioning themselves and transforming, and we find a whole bunch of people whose incompetence, naivety, or lack of work discipline and spirit, feed the void.

The good news

Even if words become heavy to bear, people who deliver quality will always stand out. You’re free to be part of them. No stress, I observed a request for support and hundreds of people responded: no stress, it’s the usual mass effect. Don’t fear it. Only 4 or 5 are real serious candidates. And if they’re not considered, the request is a simulacrum, so no regrets.

One last word, quality is not judged by experience, but by intention and attitude. It’s therefore entirely within the capabilities of a beginner. Of course, a beginner will have a beginner’s strengths (a certain enthusiasm), and someone experienced, well, will have experience.