Agile coaches. You’ve probably seen them in action, with post-its and dry eraser in their hands, talking to everybody in the organization no matter their role, running retrospectives, facilitating big quarterly planning sessions, etc.  Maybe you are one yourself! Hi there my fellow peer. Or maybe you are curious about what agile coaches do, whether because you consider hiring one or… maybe becoming one?  Whatever the origin for your curiosity, while the nomenclature and role Agile Coach seems widely used, let’s pause for a moment and ponder the more important question behind it all ..read more

In today’s blog, let’s dive into the limitations of agile frameworks and when they are useful. I’m going to be considering some of the more famous agile frameworks like Scrum, because let’s be honest, most agile frameworks are based on Scrum. To start things off, let’s make sure we are on the same page of what frameworks are: Frameworks frame the work, give steps, provide a structure for something (activities, tasks) to be executed.  Agile Frameworks are not useless or wrong, they have a place. The issue is that they’re just not enough. That being said, some frameworks are better than o ..read more

While agile saw its humble beginnings in the dawn of technology as we know it today, it has evolved to take over the world of business by storm and is present even in health care, government, and aerospace industries. Anywhere where there is need for graceful adaptation, speed of delivery, and customer satisfaction, there is the need for agility.  In today’s dynamic landscape, the demand for agility has transcended being merely a desirable trait; it has evolved into a non-negotiable set of skills essential for numerous roles across organizations. It’s a skill for the organization and fo ..read more

Today’s workplaces face many challenges attracting and retaining talent.   Younger professionals seek environments where they can be constantly learning and growing1. Established older professionals seek to achieve and excel in senior positions as proof of their abilities to withstand the pressure for fast change while maintaining balance on execution of operations.  Attracting, retaining, and giving the best environment for your talent to flourish has never been more competitive. In the current landscape, employees are navigating unprecedented career shifts, transit ..read more

In today’s blog, I’m taking a hard stance on something that is more common than it should be, which is carry over from one iteration to the next.  Sprint carry over occurs when work is not finished in the iteration where it was planned. Some may not see carry over as a reason for concern, thinking that it will get done at some point so the when doesn’t really matter. But in reality, carry over can have some real negative consequences and be a sign of some hidden problems. So, let’s look into why sprint carry over is a problem, what it is signaling for us, and also how to fix it so it do ..read more

Looking for a job as an agile coach or a scrum master this year?   I know it might feel like it became harder than ever to get this kind of job. And you’d be right, it did become harder!  But, you’ve come to the right place, friend. Not only am I a professional agile coach, but I also run a private coaching practice, and half of my 1:1 beautiful, successful clients happen to be leaders in the agile space. And I have a ton of insights to share with you to help you learn how to get a get a job as a scrum master or agile coach. Including a mini-guide on getting the most out of yo ..read more

If you are looking for a career move in the agile job market in 2024, maybe as an agile coach or a scrum master, it might feel like it has become harder than ever. And you’d be right, it has become harder! Especially if you don’t have much experience.   There is NOT a place for everybody out there, not in the same sense as before 2023. Competition is fierce now, and I’ll explain why. So, keep In mind that people with more competence will always get the best spots and use this as fuel, not as a disappointment.  In this blog I will be sharing with you a couple of important thing ..read more

The market is shifting in the agile space, especially for agile leaders and coaches.   If you are looking to become an agile coach or apply for any position in the agile leadership space this year, there are 5 must have skills that you can’t overlook.  While leadership was never a beginner space, you are now expected to be a multi-dimensional leader. A multi-dimensional leader is a leader-doer, one that can coach and inspire, and at the same time roll up their sleeves and show how it’s done when necessary. And that brings us to the very first skill:  1. Advanced Agile Pr ..read more

If you are looking for better yet simple ways of prioritizing tasks, with the added bonus of making better decisions, the 2×2 matrix is the answer. You can use it in planning, roadmap sessions, retrospectives, you name it.  In this blog, I’ll explain the 2×2 matrix, what it is, and how to use it to converse with your stakeholders and make better decisions in your teams. We’ll also discuss how to create one for yourself, as well as the pros and pitfalls.  If you’d rather watch a video than read, you can check out my Youtube video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzazh5 ..read more

While there are similarities in skills and tools, there are many differences when coaching teams vs individuals. When dealing with a team, you don’t necessarily use the same techniques or approaches as with an individual. So, in today’s blog, we’ll break down 7 of these differences as well as 3 similarities. If you’d rather watch a video than read, you can check out my Youtube video on this topic: Differences in coaching teams vs individuals #1: Collaboration focus When coaching teams, you emphasize teamwork, communication, and interdependencies within the team. You are trying to help the ..read more