· Blog · 2 min read
Michael Gerharz on Breaking Out of Agile Theater and Communicating Real Value
A conversation about escaping Agile theater by communicating in business language and linking transformation work to real outcomes.
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Ever get the feeling you’re the “agile person” in the room—brought in to run ceremonies, fix Jira boards, or play Scrum cop, but never actually invited to shape real strategy? If that hits close to home, you’ll want to listen in on my latest conversation with Michael Gerharz.
Michael’s a computer scientist by training, but these days he’s known for helping leaders and teams find the right words so their ideas actually land—rather than getting tossed in the trash. We dug into why so many agilists get stuck in what I call Process Theater: going through the motions, checking the boxes, but never really influencing the game. Michael sees the same pattern—agile as theater, not progress—and he’s got some hard-won insights about why it’s so damn hard to speak uncomfortable truths in organizations that just want to “do agile” rather than be agile.
We riffed on three big themes:
– Why it’s so tough to communicate the real value of agile work (and why so many leaders default to checklists and ceremonies instead of outcomes)
– The human tendency to avoid nuance, especially when LinkedIn and the broader business culture reward black-and-white takes
– How to actually show up as a strategic partner, not just a tactical commodity
Michael introduced his PATH framework (Plain, Actionable, Transformative, Heartfelt) as a practical way for agile leaders to bridge the gap—ditch the jargon, speak the language of the business, and connect with what actually matters to stakeholders. If you’ve ever felt like your agile expertise is being wasted on the wrong conversations, this episode will give you new ways to break the cycle.
Want to go deeper?
Check out Michael’s book, The PATH to Strategic Impact, or grab his free PATH in a Nutshell guide for a quick hit of the core ideas.
Want more? Subscribe to the Scaling w/ Agility Podcast on your favorite Podcast player:
If this conversation reflects what you are seeing in your organization, continue with Fixing Your Agility or Work With Me.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I avoid sounding like an Agile process enforcer?
Lead with business constraints, outcomes, and tradeoffs. Use process language only as the mechanism, not the headline.
What does strategic communication look like in transformation work?
It means making problem statements concrete, proposing specific interventions, and reporting results in business terms leaders use for decisions.
Where do I start if we are deep in process theater already?
Start with one visible constraint and one measurable hypothesis. Prove movement quickly, then scale the behavior.
About Yuval Yeret
Yuval is a rare practitioner who has shaped the agility path of dozens of organizations and influenced the frameworks used across the industry. He helps product and technology leaders move from agile theater to evidence-informed, outcome-oriented delivery that creates better value sooner, safer, and happier.
