# 3 Properties of Agile Teams Ref: [Troubleshooting Agile Podcast](https://agileconversations.com/troubleshooting-agile-podcast/) tetralogy on the [Missing Conversions](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/missing-conversations-part-i-the-checklist/id1327456890?i=1000629310849) (and following 3 episodes) As a team's coach/manager, it is your top responsibility to ensure the following three aspects manifest in your team: Alignment, Engagement, and Productive Conflict. 1. Alignment - Everyone understands the Why of their (team) goals. **Everyone** is able to describe the team's goals in their own words. - Key communication techniques: [[Backbriefing]] and [OKRs](How%20John%20Doerr%20explained%20OKRs.md). - Value: [[Result-Driven]] - Hallmarks: [[Meaning]] and [Structure & Clarity](Structure%20and%20Clarity.md). 1. Engagement - Everyone on the team is engaged in the work; They are enabled and willing to contribute. There is fluent and frequent multi-way conversations and **everyone** participates in **all** meetings. - Key communication techniques: [[2024-06-22 Rules of Engagement]], [Coaching](Coaching%20Elements.md), [[Asking Better Questions]] and [[Making Better Comments]] - Values: [[Accountability]], [[Commitment]] - Hallmarks: [[Impact]] and [[Dependability]] 1. Productive Conflict - **Everyone** has a felt permission for candor and feels safe to take on risk. - Key communication techniques: [[8 Behaviors for Smarter Teams]]. Don't shut conflict down unless it is unproductive. Don't shoot the bearer of bad news - rather, praise them. Treat your team as equals. But have a good [BEEF](BEEF%20up%20your%20feedback.md) if needed and [stop serving shitty sandwitches](https://policepromotion.blog/2022/09/13/beef-up-your-feedback/) to your reports. - Values: [[Trust]], [[Open To Conflict]] - Hallmark: [Psychological Safety](Management/Teams/5%20Hallmarks%20of%20Effective%20Teams/Psychological%20Safety.md) It can't be emphasized enough that these properties must manifest in every single member of the team to count as achieved. [[Coaching Kata]] is an excellent framework to manifest these properties in your team. Lencioni describes how to implement the **values** in [[Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team]] The **hallmarks** can be reached by [[Improving Team Effectiveness]] Source: [Agile Conversations](https://agileconversations.com/agile-conversation-book/)