Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Leading Transformation: Leading an Agile Transformation—The Power of Patience and Small Winss | Lilia Pulova

Jun 25, 2025

Lilia Pulova shares her journey of leading an Agile transformation amidst skepticism and impatience. She reveals that patience was crucial in navigating the early challenges and achieving small wins. Effective communication and one-on-one conversations played key roles in fostering stakeholder confidence. Highlighting the importance of celebrating these small victories, Lilia emphasizes how they boost team morale and collective motivation. Through her experience, she showcases the transformative power of community support and maintaining a long-term focus.

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ANECDOTE

Initial Agile Transformation Struggles

Lilia Pulova described launching an Agile transformation in a large company with initial skepticism and resistance.
Stakeholders demanded immediate results while teams struggled, but eventually small releases after two months showed benefits like faster changes.

ADVICE

Practice Patience During Change

Patience and communication are key to weather early Agile transformation frustration.
Leaders should consistently remind stakeholders and teams to give time for the process to show value.

ADVICE

Support Teams Through One-on-Ones

Scrum Masters should have one-on-one conversations to support teams during change and motivate them.
Encouraging teams to not take criticism personally helps maintain morale and focus.

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Lilia Pulova: Leading an Agile Transformation—The Power of Patience and Small Wins

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Lilia shares her experience leading a genuine Agile transformation in an organization just beginning their journey. Faced with widespread skepticism and resistance, she encountered impatient stakeholders demanding immediate results during the challenging first 2-3 months. The breakthrough came after two months when stakeholders finally witnessed tangible improvements in the application and faster release cycles. Patience emerged as the critical skill that carried the transformation through its most difficult phase. Lilia emphasizes the importance of conducting numerous one-on-one conversations and consistently praising teams while celebrating small wins to maintain motivation throughout the change process.

Self-reflection Question: How do you maintain team morale and stakeholder confidence during the uncertain early phases of organizational change?

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About Lilia Pulova

Lilia Pulova, a former Business Intelligence Analyst, discovered her passion as a Scrum Master by chance. A natural communicator with a love for languages, she now bridges the gap between business and tech, translating complex needs into streamlined processes that boost productivity and keep teams aligned and focused.

You can link with Lilia Pulova on LinkedIn.