Your definition of done affects your bottom line. I’ve seen this time and again in organisations that treat “done” as a mere checklist item, a technical standard, or a box to tick at the end of a sprint. But let’s be clear: done is strategic. It’s not just about getting through the work; it’s about making the work matter.
A strong definition of done is the difference between teams that are simply busy and teams that are truly delivering value. When your definition of done is robust—when it means that every increment is live, usable, gathering telemetry, and validating outcomes—you’re not just moving faster. You’re making smarter bets. You’re adapting quicker. You’re building resilience into your organisation.
Here’s what I’ve learned from years of working with teams across industries:
- Faster Time to Value: When “done” means genuinely usable, you get features in front of customers sooner. You learn what works and what doesn’t, and you can pivot before you’ve sunk months into the wrong thing.
- Lower Risk: A clear, shared definition of done reduces ambiguity. It means fewer nasty surprises at the end of a release, and less technical debt lurking in the shadows.
- Real Agility: Agility isn’t about faster sprints or more story points. It’s about the ability to adapt, to respond to feedback, and to deliver outcomes that matter. A strong definition of done is the foundation for this kind of agility.
Too often, I see teams deliver increments that are “done” in name only—code that’s merged but not deployed, features that are technically complete but not validated with real users, work that’s finished but not delivering any measurable impact. This isn’t agility. It’s just activity.
When we help organisations connect their definition of done directly to business impact, everything changes. Suddenly, “done” isn’t just a process—it’s a weapon for growth. It’s how you ensure that every piece of work moves the needle, that every sprint brings you closer to your goals.
If you want to make your definition of done a competitive advantage, not just a process artefact, here’s what I recommend:
- Make Done Visible: Don’t let your definition of done live in a dusty Confluence page. Bring it into your daily conversations. Make it a living, breathing part of your workflow.
- Connect Done to Outcomes: Ask, “How will we know this is delivering value?” If you can’t answer that, your definition of done isn’t strong enough.
- Gather Telemetry: Don’t just ship—measure. Use data to validate that your increments are achieving the outcomes you expect.
- Adapt Relentlessly: Treat your definition of done as a hypothesis. Inspect and adapt it as you learn more about what drives value in your context.
Done isn’t about getting through the work. It’s about making the work matter. If you’re ready to turn your definition of done into a lever for growth, not just a process to follow, let’s talk. This is where real agility begins.
