KPIs Over Helping Teams: What Would You Choose?

Agile reminds us to value individuals and interactions over processes and tools—but what happens when KPIs overshadow that principle?

Imagine a team where the velocity chart looks impressive, predictability is high, and deadlines are met. On paper, they’re thriving. But in reality, the team is overworked, rushing tasks, and avoiding experimentation to hit those numbers.

Now ask yourself: Would you protect the team’s agility, or prioritize hitting the KPIs?

For me, the choice is simple: I would sacrifice predictability for a while to help the team focus on their processes and give them the space to grow—even if it means failing along the way. Because when you invest in the team’s process and empower them to try and fail, the numbers will improve automatically.

The KPI Trap: Numbers vs. Agility

Too often, KPIs are seen as the end goal instead of a tool for insight. When teams feel pressured to hit metrics like velocity or predictability, they tend to:

• Rush work. Quality and collaboration take a back seat to speed.

• Avoid risk. Teams play it safe, sticking to tasks that ensure stable metrics.

• Lose morale. When numbers matter more than people, engagement plummets.

This directly contradicts the first value of the Agile Manifesto: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. Agility isn’t about perfect KPIs; it’s about creating an environment where teams can thrive and deliver value sustainably.

Invest in Processes, Not Just Results

When we give teams the time and space to evaluate and improve their workflows, something remarkable happens:

• Processes improve naturally. Teams become more efficient and collaborative when they’re trusted to solve their own challenges.

• Innovation thrives. Experimentation and learning lead to creative problem-solving and better outcomes.

• KPIs stabilize. Metrics like cycle time, velocity, and predictability improve as a natural byproduct of a well-functioning team.

It might feel risky to pause and focus on processes instead of metrics, but this investment pays off in the long run. A team that’s empowered to experiment, fail, and improve will always outperform one that’s focused solely on maintaining numbers.

A Conversation with Stakeholders

Of course, stakeholders might worry when KPIs take a temporary dip. It’s up to us as Agile practitioners to reframe the discussion:

• Focus on the bigger picture. Explain how better team processes lead to long-term value and sustainable delivery.

• Highlight risks of metric obsession. Point out how prioritizing KPIs over agility creates hidden costs like burnout and technical debt.

• Showcase quick wins. Share small examples of how process improvements have already yielded better outcomes, even in the short term.

When stakeholders see the connection between team agility and business outcomes, they’ll be more willing to give teams the space they need to grow.

Returning to Agile Values

The Agile Manifesto is clear: Individuals and interactions come first. When we prioritize people and their processes, we unlock the potential for lasting improvements that no metric obsession could achieve.

So, the next time you’re caught between protecting team agility and meeting KPIs, remember this: Invest in the team first, and the numbers will follow. Agility starts with people, and when they thrive, everything else falls into place.