Spilling the Real DE&I Tea
in Agile's World

What did Beyonce say again? ...🎶 "look around everybody on mute." 🎶 Being upfront, my internal Google Translate is on vacation tah-day!

LinkedIn fam! Ready to dive into the world where Agile meets DE&I? If you've been sleeping on this connection, it's high time you woke up and smelled the coffee (or the Henny on the rocks, whichever floats your boat). Let's break it down.

1. Iterative Growth, Fam!

Now, we all know in Agile, every sprint is like an episode of your fave Netflix drama: you never know what you're gonna get, but you sure hope it gets better with time! DE&I? Think of it like binging that show - you gotta keep revisiting, reflecting, and refining. Can’t just watch one episode and say you know the whole story. Organizations need to continuously check themselves, making sure they ain't stuck in Season 1 (mad at Issa contemplating her relationship with Lawrence), while the world's out here focused on Season 5 (spoiler alert: Issa and Lawrence get engaged).

2. Feedback Loops are the Tea 

Man, if there's one thing Agile is BIG on, it's feedback. You know how you send that “you up” text, at 2:00 am, hoping for some immediate feedback? That’s agility for you. Quick checks to ensure everything's still cool. DE&I needs that same energy – except maybe during more reasonable hours. Let your team slide into the organization's DMs with their real feelings. Make sure they can keep it 100. It's all about knowing where you stand, before someone spills the actual tea.

3. Retrospectives & Real Talk

Ever sat down with your friends after a night out and had a 'What was THAT?' moment? I do with my girls all the time. That’s a retro! In agile, the retrospective is the post-party chat where we ask, “Why did we think cocktails at the casino was a good idea?” Similarly, for DE&I, we gotta sit down and ponder, "Why did we think THAT joke at the company party was cool?" Being real with ourselves means accepting the good vibes and the cringe moments, then making the next party (or sprint) even better. No cap. Just transparent conversations.

4. Embrace Change, Don't Duck It

My bestie changes outfits at least three times before heading out, only to go with the first one. That's because change is hard! But in agillity, we switch up faster than fashion trends during fashion week. DE&I, my peeps, is the same game. The world evolves, so don't get caught rocking last season's inclusivity. Keep updating that wardrobe, and stay fresh fam!

5. Cross-Functional Flavor

You ever mix unexpected flavors and got a culinary masterpiece? Like, who knew pineapples, brown sugar, and ground beef in baked beans would slap so hard? That’s what agile’s cross-functional teams do: mix and create magic. Now, with DE&I, imagine a potluck where everyone's dish, from my mom's seafood gumbo recipe (which she definitely puts her foot in), to that vegan gluten-free wonder, has a place. That's the spice of life right there! It. Hits. So. Different.

Wrap It Up, T!

Stay with me … if Agile and DE&I were at a karaoke bar, they'd be that unexpected duo belting out the hottest bops, leaving everyone shook. And while DE&I might start off with some soulful ballads, you best believe agile's jumping in with that hip hop chorus to turn the collab up a notch. So, if you're out here juggling agile post-its while advocating for DE&I, or if you're just an enthusiast sippin' your tea on the sidelines, just remember: these two are the rhythm and blues of the professional world. They’re creating that ultimate playlist that’s got everyone, from the intern to the CEO, bobbin’ their heads. 

And for those still doubting the magic, give it a few tracks. You'll soon be jamming along, thinking, "dang okay, T was right!"