New: The Psychology of Agile Work
— A book & eLearning by Dr. Stefanie Puckett
The Psychology of Agile Work
Essential Insights for Agile Coaches, Leaders, and Scrum Masters
Why agile initiatives often fail – and how psychology can make the difference
Working in an agile way means working with people – and that’s where the real challenge lies. In The Psychology of Agile Work, psychologist and certified Agile Coach Dr. Stefanie Puckett explores how agile work impacts the human mind, team dynamics, and organizational culture.
Grounded in psychological research and 20 years of hands-on experience, this book offers practical, evidence-based insights for anyone aiming not just to implement agile methods – but to create the right conditions for intrinsic motivation, accountability, and sustainable performance.
What you’ll learn from this book
Why autonomy and meaningful work aren’t “soft” factors – they are core drivers of engagement
How smart work design influences motivation more than any incentive program
When transparency builds trust – and when it undermines it
What feedback really does – and why it often fails
How leaders become architects of psychologically sound work environments
Who this book is for
This book is designed for anyone who wants to truly understand and embed agility – not just apply frameworks:
Agile Coaches & Scrum Masters seeking to support teams more effectively
Leaders & Managers introducing agile ways of working in their organizations
HR Professionals & Organizational Developers building agile, people-centered cultures
Practitioners in agile teams who want to understand what truly drives human motivation
What makes this book different
Unlike many books on agility, The Psychology of Agile Work connects scientific knowledge with real-world practice.
Dr. Stefanie Puckett is a psychologist with a PhD and a certified Agile Coach, drawing from over 20 years of international experience in leadership, coaching, and organizational development. She combines academic depth with practical relevance.
Core topics covered
Psychological foundations of motivation and engagement
Agile values and principles through the lens of research
Team dynamics, psychological safety, and resilience
Misconceptions about agility – what the science really says
Practical tools for coaches, leaders, and HR professionals
What readers are saying
“There are so many Agile and Lean books published each year, but few can truly claim to offer new insights. This book provides a very different perspective on Agile and Scrum practice (…also relevant for Lean…) – and it deserves attention. This work validates the effectiveness of Agile/Lean practice, and points out many useful ideas, based on many years of empirical research and practice in the psychological field.”
– Steve Bell, Founder, LeanAgileNGO.org
“One of the most important books on Agility in recent years. It empowers you not only to drive the Agile car – but also to look under the hood, diagnose issues, and improve them.”
– Neil Baghurst, Global Engineering and Project Management Professional, Ireland
“For me, this book was a real eye-opener. It finally sheds light on the psychological underpinnings of agile work – practical, well-founded, and relevant. Highly recommended!”
– André Claaßen, Lean OKR Expert & Trainer, Germany
“Essential reading for Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters. This book brings long-neglected psychological aspects into the spotlight.”
– Jared Duggan, Head of Agile Transformation & OD Coach, Canada & Germany