The Agile Leader: Lessons to learn from the Alpha Chimps
Tags: agile, management, productivity, career
Published: 2021-07-03 17:47:56

For every theoretical concept, there is always a natural phenomenon to relate to. Chimpanzees are one of the most agile of animals as they exhibit traits such as flexibility, adaptability, evolutionary development, and collaboration. 

Right from the beating of the chest to the mating tricks, there are one or two things we can learn from our closest neighbors in being as agile as possible as a product owner, scrum master, agile team member, service request manager, etc. Especially the Alphas💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪. 

Some of these inferences were made from Franz de Waals [podcast](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/751492970) who is a super expert in studying the Chimps. 

* Everything is a sprint in the Chimp kingdom:  Chimps have their requirements which must be met in the quickest of fashion.  Be it reproduction, food, running from predators, and other survival activities. And these sprints are iterative i.e. must be done over and over again to survive.

* Alpha Chimps are not scared of challenges: In facing these sprints, the Alpha stands out. It is ready to face the risk even in fear or when they are not the happiest. Even if it has to beat its chest about 30 times. The male Alpha Chimp would face these risks for what he values which is many times, sex, while the female alpha chimp would face the risk for what she values most, which is most times food.  And just like agile, the sprints largely rely on the value that would be gotten.

* Hierarchy in the Chimp world is a social concept: Chimp like other primates has a rank order that is ever-changing and Alphas stay at the top of the order via their social techniques. Therefore, Alpha Chimps show much more premium social skills than other Chimps such as cooperation, collaboration, and teamwork which builds on communication and empathy.  Well, these are sure necessary skills to excel in an agile team.

## Sprint Restrospection: Chimps after a Fight

Fighting is one constant sprint Chimps engage in. But after this sprint, there is always room for retrospection. But just like the agile software methodology, the retrospective activity is aimed at measuring the value of the sprint for consideration in the next iteration. For the Chimps, the male Chimp especially, if the chimp feels the relationship is valuable enough, there is a one-on-one reconciliatory effort that happens to ensure the relationship is sustained which could be followed by an embrace, kiss, grooming, or consolation. While for the female Chimps after a fight, reconciliatory efforts are either made possible by an older female or an alpha male even though it is harder to achieve. This is true for agile software methodology that beyond looking at the value of each sprint for change or next iteration consideration, there is also a need for restropective measure of collaboration and synergy among team members even if it would require the interference of a higher authority such as a manager.

##An Unfamiliar Sprint

For unfamiliar sprints, Chimps sometimes rely on the knowledge of migrant Chimps who are aware of the terrain and know some of the survival tricks. This knowledge is then passed down and learned over time even while facing the sprints. This also asserts the agile methodology fact that connotes that although it is more focused on time rather than verbose documentation; documentation, and transfer of knowledge are equally important but not important enough if it is a factor that could hinder time.

####Anyways, Chimps are agile! Chimps are scrum!

####Should we now behave like Chimpanzees? Yeah! At least in the agile environment.