The Agile Translator

How to reframe Agile terms so people actually listen

They don't get it.

You're talking about sprints and MVPs, and they're hearing about rushed work and cut corners.

But what if...

What if we could change the conversation?
What if we could make them lean in instead of push back?

Here’s a secret:
It’s not about changing what we do.
It’s about changing how we talk about it.

10 Translations That Might Change Everything

🌊 "Agile" → "Adaptive"

• Negative interpretation: “Isn’t that just JIRA boards and chasing velocity?”

• Positive reframe: “Flexibly responding to market demands and opportunities for competitive advantage!”

🚀 "Minimum Viable Product" (MVP) → "Earliest Deliverable Product"

• Negative interpretation: “We’re paying for less?”

• Positive reframe: “We get what we need sooner!”

💎 "Test Driven Development" → "Quality Driven Development"

• Negative interpretation: “Of course you need tests, but we already test. So, why bother with TDD?”

• Positive reframe: “Of course we need to keep quality in mind, it is worth it.”

🎯 "Limit Work in Progress (WIP)" → "Maximize Focus on Priority Items"

• Negative interpretation: “You’re doing less work?”

• Positive reframe: “We’re ensuring efficient delivery of key objectives!”

🔄 "Sprint" → "Delivery Cycle"

• Negative interpretation: “Why are you rushing?”

• Positive reframe: “Regular, predictable value delivery!”

👥 "User Story" → "Customer Needs"

• Negative interpretation: “Are we just guessing what customers want?”

• Positive reframe: “We’re addressing real, specific customer requirements!”

🏗️ "Technical Debt" → "We Got Issues That Impact Our Brand"

• Negative interpretation: “Why are we talking about finances in tech? Did we borrow money for these features?”

• Positive reframe: “We’re identifying code and design issues that, if left unchecked, will affect our product’s reliability and brand reputation.”

🔍 "Product Discovery" → "Due Diligence"

• Negative interpretation: “Why are we still discovering? Shouldn’t we know the product by now?”

• Positive reframe: “We’re conducting thorough market and product research to mitigate risks!”

🧪 "Validate Assumptions" → "De-risk Requirements"

• Negative interpretation: “You’re just guessing and checking?”

• Positive reframe: “We’re proactively identifying and addressing potential project risks!”

⚡ "Fail Fast” → “Learn Fast"

• Negative interpretation: “We are not paying you to fail.”

• Positive reframe: “Yes, the faster we learn, the faster we can deliver value!”

The words we choose create the world we see. Choose wisely.

Tired of Agile being misunderstood? Start by changing the words you use. Which one will you reframe today?