When Optimism Becomes Delusion: Why Feedback Matters in Agile

Dileepa Ranawake

Hey, I'm Dileepa 👋🏽 🙋🏽‍♂️ About Me I'm a UK-based full-stack engineer 🇬🇧 I co-founded a startup that uses AI to make email accessible for Dyslexia & ADHD 🚀 Previously ran a health tech company, am a TEDx speaker and spoke at Warwick University on AI and Accessibility 🎤 Nasa Hackathon Nominee 👾 I'm a neurodiversity advocate and love building products that make the world a better place ❤️ I’m interested in how AI is changing the user-interface — particularly how it can make tools more accessible, enhance learning, and support mental health 👨🏽‍🏫 On this blog, I write about: Industry thoughts My (unvarnished) journey learning full-stack development. AI, tech for good. I believe in thoughtful engineering, inclusive design, and building products that benefit humanity. 🚀 If you're into accessible products, ethical AI, tech for good, or learning out loud — let’s connect. Drop me a follow here, connect with me on Linkedin check out my GitHub or send me an email on dileeparanawake@icloud.com PS. To see my latest posts don't forget to subscribe to my Hashnode newsletter too 🙂

Insights and lessons from a full-stack engineer building in public, shaped by interests in AI, accessibility, education and tech for good.

Optimism becomes delusion when we STOP absorbing feedback.

If we become deluded, we get blind spots and we can miss the things that will sink us.

For me personally this is why one of the most important principles of the Agile manifesto is “At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behaviour accordingly.”

Second to that it is: “the Art of maximising work NOT done" read more.

Feedback, retrospectives, iterating the scope is key. This applies in my technical solo projects, my team projects and in life.

You’re not delusional when you’re wrong.

You’re delusional when you don’t test if you’re wrong.

Build a small, meaningful part — get feedback — adjust.

Agile has become such a buzzword and a certified set of mindless rigid processes I feel the intent of agile is often lost in the processes.

I think we need to get back to the intent, and less of the performance.

What’s your favourite Agile principle? Why?

When Optimism Becomes Delusion

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