Scrum, the most popular Agile framework, is often misunderstood. Some treat it like it’s just another set of rules to memorize or a list of steps to follow perfectly. But that misses what makes Scrum powerful.
Scrum actually has very few rules. It’s a simple framework with just enough—but not too much—structure to help teams work together. It’s flexible. It’s lightweight. And it gives teams the space to learn, adapt, and improve continuously.
All too often, I hear about consultants who add layers of complexity—extra and unnecessary rules, rigid processes, and over the top documentation - as if Agile were an exclusive club, and only those following it exactly a certain way are doing it “right.” As if Agile were something only really smart people “get.”
But that’s not exactly an Agile mindset. That’s gatekeeping. Or worse - posturing.
If we treat the Scrum Guide like a rulebook and make Agile feel like a bunch of hurdles to jump, I think we’re missing the point. Agile is messy. Agile teams try things. They learn. They improve. They're engaged in a never-ending pursuit of continuous improvement. If a team focuses more on following a process than improving their processes, they're not focused on value delivery. They are checking boxes.
We don’t need perfect teams. We need honest ones. Brave ones. Teams that admit what’s not working and are willing to put in the energy to get better at value delivery.
Agile is for everyone. And continuous improvement is the name of the game. It’s not about the perfect process—it’s about the process that works best for the team right now. The team’s process adapts to help the team deliver value.
For consulting or training designed to help your team focus on value delivery over process, contact Rebel Scrum.