During my final-round interview with Southwest Airlines, I was asked to share an example of how I have used Agile principles and mindset outside of work, in my personal life.
I left that interview reflecting on the wonderful opportunity we have to learn principles and practices that benefit us not only professionally but also in our life approach. Since then, I've been curious about where else I might have observed Agile practice patterns without realizing it. This curiosity led me to consider whether an Agile mindset applies to spiritual matters.
At the core of the Agile mindset is the understanding that outcomes are difficult to predict at the outset. For this reason, delivering a product is characterized by continuous improvement and learning cycles. Consequently, a profound commitment to the product development process is crucial, allowing for prompt iteration and adjustment as more 'light and knowledge' are acquired. Similarly, it's fascinating to draw a parallel, noting that God also leads His people and His Church following these same principles.
In 2018, President Nelson, in his first address as president of the Church, stated, "Good inspiration is based upon good information." This suggests that in our pursuit of truth and knowledge, we might make choices that are partially correct, and we might be inspired to make decisions that are partially right within the scope of what is good. In other words, God may direct us to act one way today, and then, after we gain further insights, inspire us to take a different path than initially thought.
A public example of this occurred two years ago. On June 7th of 2021, the First Presidency announced that the Saturday evening session of general conference would be discontinued. Interestingly, on July 27th of that same year (a little over a month later), the First Presidency announced: “after additional study and prayer, we have felt impressed to continue to hold the Saturday evening session of general conference, albeit in a different format than in the past.”
To some, this sequence of events may seem to confirm a level of fallibility in the church and its leaders. However, could this not also be seen as evidence that prophets and apostles are mortal men who continually adapt after receiving new guidance from the Lord regarding the church's affairs? Is this not a demonstration on that the heavens are open and that God, as the Product Owner, wishes to communicate with us and ensure our life's backlog is filled with the correct tasks and priorities?
Therefore, I think the next me I'm in an interview and asked to provide an example of how I've applied Agile principles in my personal life, I'll likely recount some of my experiences serving in the church, receiving feedback from the Spirit, or simply recognizing life as a grand iterative journey.