Have you ever wondered why some teams using agile seem to do so well, while others struggle despite the same Agile playbook? It’s because of their agile maturity.

Agile isn’t a one-size-fits-all method. It’s a mindset, a culture shift, and yes—a journey. One that keeps changing day by day, and week after week. And just like people grow and evolve, so do agile teams. Which is exactly where agile maturity levels come in.

In this blog, we’ll take a long hard look at the 5 levels of agile maturity. We’ll explain what they look like in real life, and explore how to measure agile maturity in ways that will actually help. We’ll cut through the jargon and help you understand how to measure and grow your agile mindset.

Ready to begin? Read on.

What is Agile Maturity?

Agile maturity is all about just how well your team or organisation lives and breathes the values of agile. Standups and sprints are all very well, but they are at the end of the day just ceremonies. You should understand why you’re doing them, and how they’re impacting your outcomes.

Let’s think of it like fitness. Two people might go to the gym, but one might be just getting started, while the other is training for a marathon. Same environment, totally different maturity levels!

The 5 Levels Of Agile Maturity (and what they feel like)

At level one, agile is still a bit of an experiment. Maybe one or two people are pushing for it, but things are ad hoc and inconsistent. You might try a sprint, maybe run a retro, but there’s little clarity or rhythm. At this stage, agile is more a buzzword than a way of working.

Level two brings a bit more structure. The team is learning. Agile ceremonies are happening, but maybe without much reflection. You could be hearing stuff like “we’re doing daily standups, but they don’t seem to help.” Progress is happening, but it’s not consistent.

By level three, agile practices are becoming embedded. There’s consistency. Teams know what a retrospective is for and use it to improve. The backlog is real—and prioritised. Agile isn't just something the scrum master talks about! It's how decisions are made.

Level four is where agility spreads beyond individual teams. Product, marketing, even operations may be aligning with sprint cycles. Agile thinking starts shaping how departments interact, not just how they manage tasks. Silos begin to break down. Leadership listens and adapts.

Finally, level five represents a kind of quiet mastery. Agile isn’t just something you just “do”—it’s become who you are. Your team adapts quickly to change, experiments without fear, and continuously learns. Feedback loops are short, and improvements don’t feel forced. You’re agile in the truest sense of the word. And this is what agile is truly all about.

Easier said than done? Understanding these agile maturity levels helps teams reflect honestly. There’s no shame in being at level one. What matters is the direction you're heading.

How to measure Agile Maturity

Now let’s talk about how to assess where you are. If you’re wondering how to measure agile maturity, the first step is to move beyond the surface. It’s easy to count ceremonies and artefacts. But real agile maturity shows up in behaviours, culture, and mindset.

Surveys and self-assessments can help. Ask your team how often retrospectives lead to change, whether they feel safe raising blockers, and if product priorities are shaped by feedback rather than top-down directives. These reflections will often tell you more than any framework scorecard.

You can also look at how decisions are made. Do people feel empowered? Are priorities clear? Is learning from failure part of your rhythm, or something to be swept under the rug?

And yes, delivery metrics can offer insight too—but with context. If lead times are improving and customer satisfaction is rising, it’s a sign your agile practice is moving in the right direction. But be wary of metrics without meaning. Fast delivery isn’t always better if the team is burnt out or customers are confused.

In the end, to measure agile maturity, you need a mix of observation, conversation, and reflection. What are your rituals producing? Is the culture shifting? Are you improving over time?

A quick rise, and then a plateau: what holds teams back?

It’s common for teams to climb a couple of levels and then stall. You start strong, build momentum, and then hit a wall. Sometimes it’s leadership that doesn’t fully buy in. Other times, it’s fatigue—“we’ve always done retros, but they don’t lead to anything.” Sounds familiar?

Many teams find themselves blocked when they start treating agile like a toolset instead of a mindset. Teams that try to stock up on in-demand certifications or lock into rigid frameworks without adapting them to suit their needs will all-too-easily lose sight of what agility is really about. And what it is actually about, is delivering value, learning fast, and empowering people.

Is your team stuck? You aren’t alone. It’s worth revisiting why you started the agile journey in the first place. The goal never was to “do agile perfectly.” It was to work better together, deliver more value, and adapt quickly in a chaotic world.

So—where do you go from here?

Wherever your team sits on the spectrum, know this: agile maturity isn’t about achieving a perfect score. It’s about progress. Honest conversations, small experiments, and a willingness to grow will take you further than any maturity model.

Understanding the 5 levels of agile maturity isn’t just an exercise—it’s a compass. It helps you see what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.

So if you’re wondering how to measure agile maturity, the best place to start is simple! Ask your team. Talk, really talk about what’s working. Ask them what feels off. Be prepared to listen with care. And then, build from there.

Final thoughts

Agile isn’t static—and neither is agile maturity. Some weeks you’ll feel like a level five team; others, like you’re right back at level one. That’s okay. The goal is not to climb the ladder as fast as possible—it’s to build a culture that reflects the values of agility over time.

So stop worrying about ticking every box, and start asking better questions. What do our customers need? What’s blocking us? What did we learn this sprint?

Those are the questions that measure agile maturity better than any score ever could.

Looking to dial up your agile maturity quotient? Explore Nevolearn’s in-demand Agile courses and get ahead of the curve!