I received this question from my friend Christopher Lee—
I have an existential and abstract question for you. How do we stop line managers from adopting micromanaging behaviors as it relates to artificial deadlines? Can deadlines co-exist with Agile? If so, how can line managers trust their people to make good decisions and execute those decisions autonomously? Is there an organization that exists with this ideal culture that I describe? Thanks.
Can deadlines coexist with “agile”?
I certainly think so. I think deadlines, milestones, delivery dates, etc. are a fundamental part of the real world. I think the key focus points for agile contexts include—