In this Pit Stop episode of Agile Driven Impact, hosts Diane and Erich break down why heroic efforts are a symptom of a planning problem, not a sign of team strength — and share three practical ways teams can minimize them, from sustainable capacity planning and limiting work in progress, to eliminating reliance on a single team member.

A heroic effort happens when a team has to do extraordinary, unsustainable work to hit a deadline — the all-nighter, the weekend sprint, the one person who always saves the day. In the moment it feels like dedication. Over time, it's a fast track to burnout.

If your team regularly scrambles to the finish line, this episode is for you.

Evolving your work, accelerating your impact

In this episode of Agile Driven Impact, we explore the vital connection between team well-being and performance. Joining us is Bethany M. Planton, Founder and CEO of bmpconsulting, a certified Grant Professional, and a Registered Scrum Master and Product Owner.

Bethany shares her unique perspective on why team happiness is a leading indicator of success rather than a "soft metric." We dive into the relationship between team happiness and stress, discussing how leaders can move beyond traditional surveys to use well-being data as a serious performance management strategy. Bethany also offers practical, lightweight approaches to measure team health, foster psychological safety, and turn data into meaningful action to prevent burnout and improve team dynamics in mission-driven environments.

GPA Publications:

Burnout in the Grants Profession: An Initial Analysis

BIGGER than Burnout: Strategies for Winning the Silent Battle

Healthy Grant Professionals in the Real World

BMP Consulting

Evolving your work, accelerating your impact

In this Season 2 premiere of Agile Driven Impact, hosts Diane and Erich open up The Garage to tune up the engine of any great initiative: the team itself. They dive into how uncovering and celebrating the unique, individual skills of your team members transforms a group of people into a high-performance unit. Learn how to capture these distinct strengths directly inside a Team Working Agreement to build a system greater than the sum of its parts. This episode is proudly sponsored by Agile in Nonprofits. Visit www.agileinnonprofits.com to grab their free toolkits, download team templates, and subscribe to their free weekly email packed with actionable agile tips.

Evolving your work, accelerating your impact