Renting The Change vs Owning It — Why LeSS Transformations Get Reversed | Aimé Flemm episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 15 MIN

Renting The Change vs Owning It — Why LeSS Transformations Get Reversed | Aimé Flemm

from Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches · host Vasco Duarte

Aimé Flemm: Renting The Change vs Owning It — Why LeSS Transformations Get Reversed Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.   "They rented the change instead of owning it." - Aimé Flemm   A year ago Aimé helped his Dutch employer adopt LeSS. The teams are happy. They're performing well. And now, he's watching it all get pulled apart. The company was acquired by a German parent that's "actually really German" — traditional, command-and-control. The parent wants to "align" all its companies and is pushing to revert the LeSS structure back to component teams. Why? Because higher management never went to the trainings. They never went through the change themselves. They signed off on it, but they didn't internalize it. And now the loud-but-few voices of the status quo are reaching upward, and management is panicking. That's what Aimé means by "renting the change" — you got the lease, you never bought the building, and the moment pressure rises, you walk away. His experiment for the next sprint, sharpened in this conversation: stop trying to defend the structure. Start a conversation with management to co-create success metrics for the merger itself. Decouple the structure from the definition of success. As long as the merger succeeds, the structure can stay fluid. Speak their language. And remember: coaching is the cherry on top — about 5% of the real gains. The big improvements live in the structural changes.   Self-reflection Question: When you sold your last change to upper management, did they buy it — or are they renting? And what's your plan for the moment when they want to give back the keys?   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn't just about innovation—it's about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she's caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn't just about the product—it's about the people.   🚨 Will Angela's coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.   Buy Now on Amazon   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]   About Aimé Flemm   Aimé Flemm joins us from the Netherlands. Our guest is an organizational design coach who starts where most agile transformations stop. He works at the structural level: redesigning the incentives, reporting lines, and systems that either enable or quietly kill agility. His belief: you can't coach your way out of a broken org design.   You can link with Aimé Flemm on LinkedIn.

NOW PLAYING

Renting The Change vs Owning It — Why LeSS Transformations Get Reversed | Aimé Flemm

0:00 15:10

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches?

This episode is 15 minutes long.

When was this Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches episode published?

This episode was published on June 17, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Aimé Flemm: Renting The Change vs Owning It — Why LeSS Transformations Get Reversed Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: ...

Can I download this Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!