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.

When things go your way and you achieve some level of success, it’s natural to want to take credit for it. But in addition to your working hard and overcoming obstacles, it's likely that at least some of your success is also due to pure, dumb luck. Acknowledging that can help you recognize good luck when it appears.