Think of one distributed Agile organization in this country that has consistently delivered at every challenge thrown at them, it is probably only one, and that is the Indian armed forces. An organization that has 14 lakh people delivering business agility at any challenge. They deal with multiple issues like external aggression, internal security, floods in Chennai, landslides in Uttarkand and child going into a borewell . They are always ready and motivated. What principles we can apply in corporate world and what can we learn from the Indian armed forces. What lessons can be learnt to build the real agile organizations and Scaling Agile practices

1. Building an True Agile Organization
mindset
Anand Murthy Raj
Director, Agile Spirit Pvt Ltd
Partner, Blinklane consulting and Gladwell Academy NL

2. Inspiration
This presentation has been greatly influenced by the work
of Captain Raghu Raman in the form of his book and his
videos in youtube

3. Why Indian Armed Forces ?
1. Selfless Service to the Nation
2. Highly Disciplined and lives Agility every moment
3. Accomplishes any tasks with perfection again and again and
again and again
4. Diversity is their strength
5. No difference between war and business

4. Indian Armed forces vs Corporates
1. Every job the army is sent is full of chaos - UVCA world
2. Troops are transient
3. Mistakes are always costly
4. No incentives , no pay hikes, bonus and other jamborees
5. No plan will survive the first contact with the enemy - All the plans go
for a toss

5. Coaching Teams and Leaders
My 12 coaching commandments
1. Every soldier must know the commander's intent
2. Understand and realize the strategic intent of the program
3. Every Leader must be able to do one level up.
• Section commander (10)---> Platoon (40) --> A platoon commander of 40 -->
Company 180 --> Battalion--> Brigade
4. Every soldier is a leader
5. Focus on the core drills and battle procedures - Muscle memory
6. As Leaders make your troops “Sweat in peace so that they do not bleed in war”
7. Improvisation or Innovation on the fly - Survival
8. Leadership is a contact sport. This is called Gemba
9. Indian army has the highest ratio of deaths of officers to non officers – Move
from “Attack” to “Let us attack”.
10.Leaders must love Chaos
11.Enable your teams to deliver again and again and again consistently in this UVCA
world.
12. Change is constant  Change from “Battle of swords” to “Battle of minds”

6. Unlearning vs Learning

7. Unlearning vs Learning
Suppose a racket and a ball together
costs 110 INR. The racket costs 100
rupees more than the ball .. what is
the cost of the ball..
1. Stop Stereo type thinking
B+R = 100
B+B+100 = 110
2B +100 = 110
2B = 10
B = 5
R = 105

8. Focus on Facts
2. Stop jumping to worst case scenario
3. Maintain Neutral stance
4. Facts vs Fiction
Salim Durani a.k.a Abu Inzimam

9. Inspire and align with mission
Battle of Dograi Sep 21 1965 – 3 jat
In a brilliant and gruesome assault, what
he and his men achieved that September
50 years ago, had never been seen before
"Susre.. Aaj Raat ko teen Jhat kahan hogi".
The troops shouted Dograi ..
He wanted to make sure that the objective is
He asked them again "Susre.. Agar mujhe goli lage ..
Tu kya karoge"
Without a blink of an eye lid, the troops answered
"Saeeb ji.. agar goli lagee, to kande pe lekhe jayage,
per rukunge Dograi jaake.."
Lt. Col. Desmond Hydes
5. Mission is more important than Leader !!

10. Lead and Live like a Legend!!

11. Captain Vikram Batra!! You can never die !!
The soldiers do not care about the names on their chest (their
own names) but they care for the names on the shoulders
(Palton's name) – This leads to motivation, team work and
success!!
0.5140 Peak

12. Marching Against Impossible

13. Marching Against Impossible

14. Marching Against Impossible
“I am the Leader now.. I will die first as protecting my
team is my responsibility”
“Even If I die it does not matter.. I must see the tricolor
flag tomorrow morning on this peak”

15. Ground of Tactical Importance
The Ground of tactical importance is that ground, the
loss of which will render the defender of incapable of
fighting the battle.

16. Powerful Stories - Narration
Army teaches the non usage of Extra “T “
I can do it
I cant do it

17. Lessons the coach must impart to Leaders
1. Do not sweat for small stuff.
2. The team wins or team losses.. All for one .. One for All..
3. Many times you will fail in life.. It is designed to bring out the
real strength in you.
4. Occupation chooses you and you cannot choose occupations
5. Aaj Mukabla Hoga !! Always be prepared!!
6. Some misfires will happen!! Let it happen in training and not
in the jung or maidaan!!
7. Leaders must produce better leaders
8. There are no good teams or bad teams .. There are only good
or bad leaders

18. Customer Satisfaction

19. My golden postulate
DESIRE
DETERMINATION
DISCIPLIE
Without Discipline – Your Determination is
mission less; without a mission your goal is
goal-goal
Without Determination – your Desire will always
misfire and this time it is in the war ..

21. Anand Murthy Raj
+91 9845707457
anandmurthy.raj@gmail.com