Lean-Agile Mindset

Agility is principally about mindset, not practices.

―Jim Highsmith, Agile Project Management [1]

Definition: The Lean-Agile Mindset is the combination of beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, and actions of SAFe leaders and practitioners who embrace the concepts of Lean Thinking and the Agile Manifesto.

Summary

To grasp how a Lean-Agile mindset boosts productivity, organizations must first understand what a mindset is and how it functions. Our mindsets, shaped by our life experiences, education, and work culture, act like lenses through which we perceive the world, enabling our brains to process the vast amount of daily information. These subconscious beliefs and attitudes can either contribute to our success or hinder us, often without our explicit awareness of their influence on our actions and interactions.

What is a Lean-Agile Mindset?

To cultivate a "growth mindset," individuals must first understand what a mindset is and how it develops. Then, it's crucial to believe that personal thinking can be improved. If a company aims to become more Agile, its employees must grasp the core ideas of Lean Thinking and the Agile Manifesto rather than just following rules. When these concepts are fully understood and embraced by everyone, they foster a better work environment and make the organization open to change. Figure 1 illustrates a growth mindset.

Figure 1. Adopting a new mindset requires a belief that new abilities can be developed with effort
Figure 1. Adopting a new mindset requires believing that new abilities can be developed 

In this article

What is a Lean Agile Mindset?
What is Lean Thinking?
What are the core principles of Lean Thinking?
What are the original values of Agile?
What are the principles of Agile?
How are Lean and Agile applied in SAFe?

Key Takeaways

  • Achieving agility includes changing your mindset, not just mastering practices and methods. 
  • The Lean-Agile Mindset combines Lean Thinking and concepts from the Agile Manifesto. 
  • Organizations need to understand and embrace these concepts to create a better work environment and drive change. 
  • To use SAFe effectively, a growth mindset and openness to learning Lean Thinking and Agile principles are essential.

Last update: 14 October 2025