In today’s uncertain economy, people are just as eager to find solutions as they are to find something to blame when things aren’t working. Many employees are struggling to secure work, while employers are under pressure to save their organisations by working smarter, not harder. When these approaches fall short, blame often gets directed at the way we work, with debates flaring up around traditional versus agile methods. Too often, agile becomes the scapegoat. Teams may see benefits, but the wider business sometimes fails to realise the value. As an advisor and coach, I’m frequently asked whether agile is truly effective. The reality is that agile can work, but its success depends on how it is applied and perceived. Let’s explore where agile and agility sit within your organisation.

So, here’s a question:

When you pick up a hammer, do you see it as a tool that breaks things, or as one that, in collaboration with other tools, builds things?

This question illustrates how organisations often view agile. Some see it as a hammer to smash through deadlines, dismantle hierarchies, or drive compliance. The problem? This mindset confuses doing agile with being agile.

The hammer as a metaphor

A hammer is just a tool. It can be destructive or constructive, depending on how it’s used:

Destructive use: The hammer becomes a quick-fix weapon to break down walls, cut through red tape, or dismantle outdated processes. This represents “doing agile”, adopting ceremonies, checklists, or frameworks as blunt instruments to ease delivery pressure. While this may deliver short-term gains, it rarely lasts. The focus is on output, not value.

Constructive use: The hammer is seen as one of many tools used to build, shape, and strengthen. Just as nails and screws hold structures together, each tool has its purpose, and knowing when to use them creates stability and progress. This represents “being agile”, taking a long-term, systems-thinking approach that embraces change through collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement. The focus is on outcomes, not rituals.

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Doing agile vs. being agile

Too often, leaders think adopting agile means using the hammer harder or faster. But genuine agility isn’t about breaking things apart; it’s about creating value. Doing agile looks like holding daily scrums, writing user stories, or delivering in sprints simply because “the framework says so.” It can look busy and fast-paced, but without the right intent, it leads to fatigue and disillusionment.

Being agile, on the other hand, means cultivating an adaptive culture, empowering teams, and aligning around a shared purpose. It’s not about the hammer – it’s about the house you’re building together.

The agile mindset: build, don’t break

At its core, agility is a mindset shift:

• From command and control to trust and empowerment
• From projects as outputs to products and services as outcomes
• From compliance-driven activity to customer-centred value

Just as a skilled builder sees a hammer as part of a larger craft, an agile practitioner sees frameworks and tools as enablers of collaboration, learning, and growth.

Final thoughts

How does your organisation use its “hammer”? To break, or to build?

If agile feels like a hammer that’s breaking more than it’s building, it’s worth asking:

• Are we doing agile, or being agile?
• Are we focused on tearing things down or creating something sustainable?

Remember: the value isn’t in the hammer itself. The value lies in what you choose to build with it.

How PM-Partners can help

At PM-Partners Group, we’re here to help:

Advisory support: We work with organisations to uncover the real needs behind their tools and frameworks, ensuring agile enables outcomes rather than constrains them.

Capability uplift: We equip professionals with the tools, techniques, and mindsets needed to deliver value more effectively in today’s dynamic environment.

Training and coaching: From agile foundations to advanced practices and leadership skills, we offer structured learning experiences tailored to both organisational and personal needs.

Whether you need clarity on your agile transformation journey or hands-on training to embed new ways of working, PM-Partners is your trusted partner to turn tools into outcomes and activity into real value.