An Agile Approach (by Faaria)

An Agile Approach

By: Faaria Khan

For nearly 22 years, I led my life in a very structured, linear fashion. There was a set educational plan from which I did not deviate. I graduated from high school, attended a four year university, and then began working. There were no changes to the plan and no moving forward to the next step until one section of the plan was complete. However, by the time I had started working, my world had changed and no longer allowed such a rigid outlook.

Approaching my mid-twenties, I had a new set of requirements. I yearned to spend time with my family, my parents, and my husband. I wanted to be able to support my loved ones and better their quality of life, but the job I was working could not fulfill any of these needs. Life’s requirements were changing, so I decided to adapt. Little did I know, I had welcomed a very Agile approach into my way of life.

Agile is a very practical methodology that can be applied in both the workforce and life. In the fast changing market of 2019 where instant gratification has become a new norm, Agile is an incredibly powerful tool that can be used to collaborate with customers, respond to change, and deliver results. These same Agile principles can be applied to one’s personal experiences. Life has numerous requirements that we juggle all at once, and many times a new “user story” can be thrown our way in the form of illness, financial strife, or personal loss that requires us to quickly inspect and adapt. Therefore, learning how to be your own Scrum Master allows for constant and incremental improvement in all aspects of your personal and professional endeavors.