The end of a Sprint is a checkpoint for review and adaptation, not a deadline. Focus on flow, learning, and continuous improvement over strict task completion.
Stop treating the end of the Sprint like a finish line. It’s not. It’s a checkpoint for planning, inspection, and adaptation. The Increment gives us a view of what’s Done. The Sprint Goal gives us focus. That’s it.
If your team needs two Sprints to complete a large item—fine. That’s reality. Show the Increment, adapt the Product Backlog, and move on.
Scrum is a social technology. It thrives in complexity, not control.
The idea that every task must be completed within the Sprint is a hangover from project thinking. Let it go. Flow is the future. Professional Scrum Teams already know this. The rest need to catch up.
Still clinging to the idea that flow breaks Scrum? Re-read the guide. You might discover you’ve been holding your team back.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
Qualco
Microsoft
Ericson
Workday
Emerson Process Management
Bistech
Alignment Healthcare
DFDS
ALS Life Sciences
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)
Freadom
Boxit Document Solutions
Brandes Investment Partners L.P.
NIT A/S
Deliotte
Boeing
Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG)
Healthgrades
Royal Air Force
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Department of Work and Pensions (UK)
Ghana Police Service
Washington Department of Transport
Emerson Process Management
DFDS
Graham & Brown
Schlumberger
SuperControl
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)
