My sponsors aren't attending our Agile rituals

My sponsors aren't attending our Agile rituals.  They don't show-up to our stand-ups.  They don't attend our showcases.  They don't participate in our planning.  They don't show up for retrospectives.  Isn't it obvious that we don't have leadership support?  Isn't it obvious that we're destined to fail?

It's obvious that if you fail, it's not so much about what they're doing, which you can't control, but more so about what you're doing, which you can control.

If they don't attend your stand-ups, then move it to where they can overhear it, show up at their offices regularly and share what's happening, insert yourself on the agenda of regular meetings that are already occurring.

If they don't attend your showcases, then show up with a laptop and demonstrate at their desk.

If they don't participate in planning, then do your best based on your interpretation of their goals and make the plan visual and obvious.  If they don't like it, they'll intervene.

If they don't participate in retrospectives, then share your feedback and ask for their feedback directly in a one-on-one.

But isn't it One Team?  Why do the sponsors get special treatment?

Is it One Team?  If it was actually One Team, you wouldn't have this problem.  Right now, the reality is not One Team.  And if the influence and authority of the sponsors are necessary, they can't be ignored.  The question then is "What is the path to get to One Team?"

But really, shouldn't "they" take responsibility for their behaviour.  Why do I have to do everything?  

Because you're reading this and they're not.  Because waiting for "them" to magically "get it" is a low probability path to success.

Stand-ups, showcases, planning sessions, retrospectives and any other Agile ritual provide a particular structure to help you learn how to best engage with each other.  You're not learning how to do a stand-up, you're learning how to engage with people.  You're not learning how to do a demo, you're learning how to engage with people.

Engaging even as a special exception has the possibility of leading to more collaborative engagement.  Not engaging has no possibility of leading to more collaborative engagement.