Anti-patterns for leader sponsorship

Diluted leadership focus: When the single-threaded leader accountable for DevOps attention has other priorities and does not dedicate their full attention, the initiative might suffer. A leader handling multiple initiatives can lead to overlooked opportunities, less time for critical decision making, and overall reduced engagement. Designate a decision-making leader whose primary responsibility is the adoption of DevOps to help provide dedicated leadership to this transition.

Forcing DevOps adoption: Single-threaded leadership should act as a supportive sponsor, rather than strict enforcers of DevOps adoption. Taking a hierarchical approach to DevOps adoption might cause teams to view it as imposed change and external demands. This can lead to resistance, de-motivation, and frustration among team members. Instead, start by engaging with enthusiastic early adopters and support them in adopting DevOps. These adopters can be an advocate for DevOps adoption within their team and show progress that inspires other teams. It's also important to gather feedback from teams and provide value and improvements to the areas that frustrate them most. This promotes a bottom-up, collaborative approach to DevOps adoption that fosters nearly continuous improvement and inclusivity.

Short-term priority shifting: Changing business priorities too frequently can undermine the long-term commitment required for DevOps adoption. DevOps transformation, as illustrated by the DevOps Sagas, is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands consistent focus, alignment, and support from not only single-threaded leadership, but also the whole organization. When this focus is interrupted due to short-term objectives or immediate business pressures, it might disrupt DevOps adoption. Disruptions can then lead to unjustified reduced confidence in DevOps ways of working, low team morale, and fragmented workflows. The executive team and single-threaded leadership must have a strategy that recognizes the long-term value of DevOps. They must be able to inspire other leaders in the organization to share an unwavering commitment to DevOps adoption.