We sprint toward nothing, but with great urgency.
Activity feels like progress, until it doesn’t. A reflection on motion without direction, and how urgency can obscure purpose.
In the fog of motion, everyone rows faster. No one asks where we’re going.
The Moment of Inspiration
I’ve seen this scene too many times:
Dozens of people, all working hard, each rowing their own boat, each confident in their direction. Backlogs full. Dashboards glowing. Calendars overbooked.
Every team focused on its sprint.
Every sprint moving somewhere.
And yet, no one certain whether those movements add up to progress.
A few weeks ago, I spoke with a team that perfectly captured this.
They were proud of their velocity. The charts were trending up.
But when I asked, “What’s the goal we’re moving toward?”
Silence. Followed by polite confusion.