SAFe-Agilist Leading the Change Practice Question
During a SAFe transformation, a leader notices that teams are hesitant to experiment with new practices because they fear failure will be punished. Which action best demonstrates the 'Leading the Change' mindset to address this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is equating strong leadership with strict enforcement rather than with creating psychological safety.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Model the desired behavior by openly sharing their own learning experiences and encouraging experimentation.
The Leading the Change mindset involves leaders modeling the behaviors they want to see, such as openness to learning and experimentation. By sharing their own experiences, leaders create psychological safety, which is critical for teams to try new things and improve. This approach builds trust and accelerates the transformation by fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Mandate that all teams use the same tools and processes to ensure consistency.
Why it's wrong here
Mandating uniformity can hinder teams' ability to adapt practices to their context and may discourage experimentation. SAFe encourages teams to own their processes and continuously improve. While some standardization can be helpful, it should not come at the expense of psychological safety and innovation. Leaders should focus on principles over rigid uniformity.
- ✗
Implement a strict policy that penalizes any deviation from standard SAFe practices.
Why it's wrong here
Penalizing deviations creates a culture of fear and stifles innovation. The Leading the Change mindset encourages experimentation and learning from failure. SAFe emphasizes that leaders must create a safe environment where teams can try new approaches without fear of retribution. A punitive policy would undermine psychological safety and inhibit the transformation.
- ✓
Model the desired behavior by openly sharing their own learning experiences and encouraging experimentation.
Why this is correct
Leaders who model vulnerability and a growth mindset foster psychological safety. By sharing their own failures and learnings, they signal that experimentation is valued and that mistakes are opportunities for improvement. This aligns with the Leading the Change mindset, which emphasizes leading by example and creating an environment where teams feel safe to innovate and learn.
- ✗
Increase the number of audits to ensure teams are following SAFe practices correctly.
Why it's wrong here
Audits are compliance-oriented and can increase fear rather than reduce it. The Leading the Change mindset focuses on empowerment and continuous improvement, not on policing. While some governance is necessary, an overemphasis on audits can stifle the very experimentation and learning that SAFe promotes. Leaders should instead coach and support teams.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scaled Agile exam blueprint
This SAFe-Agilist practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scaled Agile certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAFe-Agilist exam.