There's a saying: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” The possibility of a reasonable explanation for someone’s bad behavior doesn’t mean you have to accept that behavior, but it does suggest that it’s sometimes better to consider the possibility that something else is going on.

This idea of a team in charge of itself is difficult for many people to accept. Traditional practices condition us to wait for someone to tell us what to do, and managers are accustomed to controlling everyone’s work and knowing everyone’s status. But agile teams can manage themselves—in fact, it's essential to agile.

You often hear managers referred to as leaders, but the two terms are not synonymous. Managers can be leaders, but not always, and there are people who don’t have formal management positions who are leaders. Understanding the difference can help people in both roles—and their team members—be more effective.