Michael Gerharz on Escaping Agile Theater

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.

https://youtu.be/7V\_Zy1JIAAU

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.

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If this conversation reflects what you are seeing in your organization, continue with Fixing Your Agility or Work With Me.