AI Today Podcast Anu Smalley on Blending Agile Mindsets with AI Tools
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Sep 24, 2025 Anu Smalley, an experienced enterprise agile coach and founder of Kapala Consulting, dives into integrating AI tools within Agile teams. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and psychological safety as AI becomes part of workflows. Anu shares insights on avoiding the pitfalls of automating without proper stakeholder consultation and advocates for small, iterative experiments to ease AI adoption anxieties. Real-life stories illustrate the human-centric approach needed in navigating AI-driven change, highlighting that AI should enhance, not replace, the human element in teams.
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Do An AI Discovery First
- Do run an AI discovery to clarify why the team needs AI and what problem it will solve right now.
- Do create team working agreements that state when, how, and why AI is allowed so everyone aligns and stays intentional.
Put AI Into Working Agreements
- Do add AI usage rules into your working agreements so different team views don't derail collaboration.
- Do always frame AI suggestions as inputs and keep humans accountable for final decisions.
Address Fear With Communication And Small Experiments
- Do communicate the impact of AI on people's roles and the value they gain to reduce fear and rumors.
- Do run small, low-stakes experiments and learning loops rather than a Big Bang rollout.