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Nov 22, 2021

Leading by Example: Does every leader need Leading SAFe (SA) training and certification?

The Leading SAFe training was developed for executives, leaders, managers and Agile change agents responsible for leading Lean/Agile change initiatives in large enterprises. As Dean Leffingwell, one of the founders of SAFe and author of ‘Scaling Software Agility’ has said, “In scaling Agile, the problems are with the system – and only management can change the system in such a way that it facilitates Agile.”

Leading from the bottom up

According to Gladwell Trainer Renate Cremer, certified Scaled Agile Program Consultant (SPC) who teaches and examines a variety of Scaled Agile courses including the 2-day Leading SAFe 4 Agilist (SA) training: “This is one of the SAFe training courses focused on Lean-Agile leadership, for the higher management and executives who lead or are involved with the SAFe organization. It enables them to understand the organization around SAFe and the way development teams work together,” she says, “so they can support this way of working – for the teams and for all the different roles.”

Train your executives: the ongoing relevance of Leading SAFe

So – is Leading SAFe training really necessary for an experienced executive? More than necessary, it is now considered foundational, says Renate. “According to the implementation roadmap developed by Dean Leffingwell, this is one of the first things you do after the ‘Go SAFe’ decision: train your executives.”

The ‘Go SAFe’ decision is a significant moment for organizations, and Leading SAFe enables leaders to take that step into the new situation as well, to speed up the transformation and for better alignment.

In practice, she says, Leading SAFe4Agilist (SA) is becoming “a kind of continuous training for organizations to onboard new executives, and get them up to speed as quickly as possible; as well as a way for those in management who haven’t been onboarded with Agile/SAFe yet to get on the same page.” She adds: “The ‘Go SAFe’ decision is a significant moment for organizations, and Leading SAFe enables leaders to take that step into the new situation as well, to speed up the transformation and for better alignment.”

Expanded mindset: the SAFe Agilist

The advantages for the organization are clear. There are great benefits for those in management who follow the intensive 2-day Leading SAFe4 SAFe Agilist (SA) course and achieve their SAFe Agilist certification, too: there is immediate connection to the new and expanded mindset needed in a SAFe environment. You learn to deal with the from-the-bottom-up, team-centric, trust-based approach needed to lead through the uncertainties and instabilities of an Agile environment. “As more and more organizations, from SME to large multinationals, move towards Lean and Agile, the need for executives who are also SAFe Agilists will only accelerate,” says Renate.

Upcoming Leading SAFe (SA) Courses

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Dec 16

Leading SAFe (SA) - Virtual

€1,495
Guaranteed to run! Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
SAFe
English
Virtual Course EU
Guaranteed to run! Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
€1,495
  • Virtual Course EU
  • English
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Feb 20

Leading SAFe (SA) - Virtual

€1,495
Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
SAFe
English
Virtual Course EU
Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
€1,495
  • Virtual Course EU
  • English
Show more
Mar 6

Leading SAFe (SA) - Virtual

€1,495
Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
SAFe
English
Virtual Course EU
Virtual Training - each day from 08:30 - 17:30 CET
€1,495
  • Virtual Course EU
  • English
Show more
Written by Renate Cremer, Agile | SAFe | Associate Certified Coach (ICF -ACC)