Wielding Power

Not all would-be Agile coaches need to come from outside an organisation. No, you can be the person from within the organisation who starts the ball rolling. There are two possible reasons for doing this:

1. Interest, along with your team mates, in improving things
2. Self-interest in both changing the world and being seen as the instigator of change

Depending on the route you take, the results will vary. The first route is likely to be pleasant, flexible and positive, the second is likely to involve wielding power to get your way.

Improving a team collaboratively
You: Hey guys, I've just found this new idea.
The Guys: Tell us more, show us links... yeah, that idea looks cool, how do we start?
You: I don't know. Let's find out together.
The Guys: Mmm... what we know so far looks interesting. Let's try this aspect of it.
You: Careful now, some of these practices only work when in conjunction with other, balancing, practices.
The Guys: Good point, but we can't change the world in one go. We'll have to refactor it.
You: Yes, you're right, guys. How would I ever get along without you?
The Guys: And how would we ever get along without you?
[Exeunt into the sunset, holding hands]

Wielding Power
This is a far more complicated route, but ultimately more interesting. You have two possible outcomes:

1. You will be feared, hated, reviled, but able to crack the whip, while simultaneously believing and telling people that they're working in collaboration with you
2. You will lose your job

Maybe it's worth the risk, maybe it's not.

Here's the script:

You: Hey boss. I've discovered some techniques. We've been doing everything wrong and these techniques will put it right.
Boss: I don't understand.
You: You want a more effective engineering effort?
Boss: Yes.
You: You want us to work smarter, not harder?
Boss: Yes.
You: You want us to work harder too?
Boss: Yes.
You: Then these techniques are the way forward. We abandon our traditional methods and replace them with agile methods and do things in a more agile manner.
Boss: I don't understand.
You: You want our company to be able to do things quickly?
Boss: Yes.
You: And respond to change quickly?
Boss: Yes.
You: Then Agile is the ONLY way to go.
Boss: [zombie voice] Agile is the only way to go.
You: See. Now you understand.
Boss: I don't understand.
You: Well, I do. So, perhaps you should communicate your sensible business needs to me, and I'll translate them to the team.
Boss: [zombie voice] I talk to you and you tell the team.
You: And you must not talk to the team directly.
Boss: [zombie voice] I won't talk to the team directly.
You: [To team] I'm not in charge, but I will be acting as the glue which holds this organisation together.

So... the position of power is attained. The boss doesn't know what's going on. You've denounced the authority that you'll actually wield. If you were a genius, you'd be an evil genius and would get your own Bond-Villian style undersea base.

Now, you have to slowly and surely start to mistreat people until they hate you. While they're busy hating you, they won't have time to fight back properly.

Power is yours. MWah ha ha ha ha.

Oh, and force people to read lots of books which vaguely agree with the beliefs that you spout.

And try to confuse people with your explanations of things. If they don't understand, they can't argue back.