Agile Is Broken. Here's How We Fix It: Martin Schellert

What happens when Agile scales?According to Agile transformation consultant Martin Schellert, the answer shouldn't be to simply add more process, more frameworks and more bureaucracy.In this episode of the Everyday Agile Podcast, Martin joins us to talk about what happens when Agile transformations go wrong ,and why organisations often lose the things that made Agile teams effective in the first place.We get into some big Agile and product management questions:• Why does scaling Agile often mean scaling process?• Why is comparing team velocity between teams such a bad idea?• Do teams actually need story points or estimation?• What is an MVP really supposed to achieve?• How should leaders create genuine ownership in product teams?• What is "decision distance" and why does Martin call it a silent killer of agility?• Can you build Agile teams inside a traditional organisation?• How can you use AI without losing your own voice?• Why is so much LinkedIn content starting to sound exactly the same?• What is the most overlooked principle in the Agile Manifesto?• Why should Agile practitioners be pragmatic rather than dogmatic?Martin also shares how he got into Agile, how he prepares conference talks, how he uses AI as part of his workflow, and what he has learned from speaking at Agile conferences.One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is simple. Agile isn't about following a framework perfectly.It's about finding the practices that work for your team, organisation, customers, culture and context.As Martin puts it: be pragmatic, never dogmatic.If you're interested in Agile transformation, product management, software delivery, Agile leadership, team performance, project management or better ways of working, there's plenty here to disagree with, steal and take back to your organisation.▶︎ Connect with Martinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/schellert/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtf8TKCQfB3siec1cDB1Log▶︎Tickets for Not Another Agile Conference (22 April 2027, Chester Zoo) are on sale.https://www.tickettailor.com/events/notanotheragileconference/2178867▶︎Our Newsletter:https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups⏱️ Chapters00:00 Intro01:14 How Martin Got Into Agile Conferences02:22 Scaling Agile Without Scaling Process03:20 Creating Conference Talks Using AI05:12 How to Practice for a Conference Talk06:19 Does Speaking Generate Business?08:18 Martin's Journey Into Agile10:27 Why Agile Still Matters11:22 Do We Rely Too Much on the Agile Manifesto?13:18 Why Agile Should Evolve14:31 Finding the Root Cause of Agile Problems15:39 What Agile Problems Do Organisations Really Have?17:48 Why Comparing Team Velocity Is a Bad Idea18:40 Should Teams Stop Using Story Points?19:23 A Better Alternative to Story Points20:04 What an MVP Actually Means20:40 What Makes a Good MVP?21:37 Leadership and Agile Teams22:36 Building Agile Islands23:20 Creating Team Ownership24:24 When Empowerment Becomes a Poison Chalice25:12 Decision Distance: The Silent Killer of Agility26:12 What Agile Advice Doesn't Work?26:18 Is AI Killing Authenticity on LinkedIn?28:17 Using AI Without Losing Your Voice29:30 Stop Turning Everything Into a LinkedIn Business Lesson32:14 You Don't Have to Post 3 Times a Week33:08 ADHD, Business & Burnout34:48 Practical Productivity Strategies36:20 The Quickfire Agile Round37:28 What Should Every Team Stop Doing?37:41 Get Closer to Your Customers37:52 The Most Overlooked Agile Principle38:35 What Gives Martin Hope for Agile?39:05 Why Agile Certification Isn't Enough40:16 Why Organisations Still Need Agile40:48 Be Pragmatic, Never DogmaticSubscribe to Everyday Agile for conversations about Agile, product management, project management, software delivery, leadership, organisational change and the reality of making Agile work in the real world.