Agile frameworks are often misunderstood. Some see them as rigid rulebooks that stifle creativity, while others believe that true agility means abandoning structure altogether. But what if the real power of Agile comes not from choosing between structure and freedom, but from balancing both?
The Misconception: Structure vs. Freedom
One of the biggest mistakes agile teams make is thinking they must choose between strict processes or complete autonomy. This false choice leads to two extremes:
- Over-Reliance on Frameworks (Too Much Structure)
- Teams blindly follow Scrum, SAFe, or Kanban without questioning their effectiveness.
- Leadership is reduced to enforcing rituals (e.g., running a Daily Standup just because “Scrum says so”).
- Teams lose the ability to think for themselves, becoming dependent on process rather than problem-solving.
- Rejecting Frameworks Entirely (Too Much Freedom)
- Teams drop all structure in the name of agility.
- No clear roles, no accountability, and no alignment.
- Chaos replaces agility, and the team struggles to deliver consistently.
Neither extreme lead to true agility.
Agile isn’t about rigid rules or complete anarchy, it is about finding the right balance between structure and freedom.
Personal Experience: My Journey as a First-Time RTE
I once led a project as a first-time Release Train Engineer (RTE) where the team was required to use SAFe to develop a product. However, most of the team members (including myself) were new to their roles. While we started off well, by performing the ceremonies, PI planning sessions, and cadences, we somehow within few months lost our way in between, when one day after poor PI results we realized:
- SAFe was being treated as a checklist rather than a framework for agility.
- Processes were being followed without questioning their purpose.
- Delays piled up, misunderstandings increased, and teams weren’t truly collaborating.
- Critical Agile ceremonies like demos were skipped because of work pressure.
As an inexperienced RTE, I initially believed in letting the teams decide how they wanted to work which felt aligned with Agile principles. If teams said they were too busy for demos, I didn’t push back. If they struggled with PI objectives, I assumed they would figure it out in the next increment.
But in reality, some aspects of the framework should not have been left to team preference. By being too flexible, I unknowingly weakened the structure that should have supported the teams.
Eventually, a more experienced Agile practitioner took over my role as RTE. And that’s when I saw the difference leadership made.
What Changed When Leadership Stepped In?
- Emphasizing the Right Structure
- The new RTE reintroduced discipline into the framework.
- Demos were no longer optional, they were essential.
- Teams had to unlearn bad habits and re-learn why certain practices existed.
- The initial transition slowed things down, but it was necessary for long-term success.
- Balancing Adaptability with Non-Negotiables
- While SAFe is flexible, some events and practices serve critical purposes.
- The earlier approach of letting teams decide everything led to misalignment.
- The new RTE set clear boundaries while still allowing teams room for flexibility.
- Mindset Shift: From Rituals to Real Agility
- The framework was no longer just a set of ceremonies, it became a way of thinking.
- Teams started to own their work, rather than just executing processes.
- Leadership created a culture of accountability and learning, rather than just enforcing rules.
What I learned from this experience is that structure and leadership must go hand in hand. Without structure, teams struggle. But without leadership, structure becomes meaningless bureaucracy.
Why Frameworks Exist: Creating Space for Leadership
Agile frameworks weren’t designed to replace leadership, they were designed to enable it.
- Structure provides clarity. Without it, teams get lost in ambiguity, wasting time and energy.
- Leadership thrives within structure. When the basics are clear (who owns what, how we work), leaders can focus on guiding teams toward outcomes.
- Frameworks create safety. A well-structured Agile system prevents chaos while allowing innovation to happen within safe boundaries.
Think of it like sports: The game has rules, but great players aren’t great because they follow the rules, they’re great because they use the rules to their advantage while making split-second decisions on the field.
How Great Leaders Use Agile Frameworks Wisely
Effective Agile leaders don’t throw out frameworks, nor do they let frameworks dictate every move. Instead, they use structure as a foundation for leadership.
- They Use Structure to Align, Not Control
- Bad leadership: “We must follow SAFe as close as possible to how it is written.”
- Great leadership: “SAFe helps us align, but we must also coach teams to understand its purpose.”
- Example: In my experience, teams skipping demos felt like an Agile adaptation, but in reality, it hurt alignment and transparency.
- They Encourage Ownership Within the Framework
- Bad leadership: “Teams can do whatever they feel comfortable with.”
- Great leadership: “Flexibility is important, but some elements must remain consistent for success.”
- Example: The new RTE emphasized unlearning bad habits before allowing adaptations.
- They Prioritize Outcomes Over Processes
- Bad leadership: “We must run the ceremonies as scheduled, no matter what.”
- Great leadership: “Ceremonies are tools to help us succeed. If they aren’t effective, let’s improve them.”
- Example: Initially, SAFe events were being conducted without impact. The shift in leadership brought back focus on why they mattered.
Final Thought: It’s Not Structure vs. Freedom, It’s Structure for Freedom
Agile frameworks aren’t meant to restrict teams, they exist to create the right environment for leadership to emerge. The best Agile leaders know that too much structure kills agility, and too little creates chaos. The real skill is knowing when to follow the framework and when to adapt it to serve the team’s goals.
True agility isn’t about choosing between structure and freedom, it’s about using structure to unlock freedom.
"Agile frameworks set the stage, but it’s leadership that makes the music."
