Personal Thoughts
Robert Galen
We've Moved
We've Moved
Walking Their Talk, Sustainability, Inspiration
Robert Galen
Sustainability

I saw this wonderfully courageous and informative post by Sabine Canditt the other day where she wrote about Sustainable Scrum. 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sustainable-scrum-responsible-choice-sabine-canditt-x0gef

After just completing a The Week program facilitated by the amazing Ann-Marie Kong, it touched my heart.

That said, I wanted to highlight one comment reaction/interaction between Sabine and Erich Bühler 

Erich said—

Thank you for bringing this approach into the world! Scrum does provide an iterative approach for teams to create value, but its scope is limited to the product level and struggles with dynamics across the whole organization for several reasons.
Without updating the underlying business and financial model at a strategic level, Scrum alone cannot transform organization-wide sustainability.

Sustainability
Short-takes, Inspiration
Robert Galen
Sandy’s Take
Sandy’s Take
Short-takes, Personal Thoughts
Robert Galen
The Human Aspects of Agile Coaching
The Human Aspects of Agile Coaching
Coaching, ACGW, Personal Thoughts
Robert Galen
Keys to Building your Coaching Relationships

I talk a lot about the first step in coaching any client (individual, system, team, etc.) is to build a relationship, gain empathy and understanding, and then gain an idea of where/how to help initially. So, do NOT start to coach until you’ve done some relationship-building. 

But what does a coaching relationship, or a professional relationship in general, look like? What are aspects of that? Here are a few things that come to my mind—

  • Making + taking the time.

  • Explaining what you do—what is Agile Coaching.

  • Building some empathy; walking in their shoes; understanding where they are coming from.

  • Meeting them where they are.

  • Listening; reflective listening; building metaphors together.

  • Connecting with their language, not yours.

Keys to Building your Coaching Relationships

Scrum Guide

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Empty Frame Metaphor

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I’m writing this after the new 2020 Scrum Guide was announced along with a celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Scrum. 

There was quite a lot of hoopla associated with the event and the guide.

And the after-party, folks offering their interpretation of the changes within the guide, was even wilder. I swear that nearly every coach came out with a blog, whitepaper, webinar, or Q&A session to expand upon the (only 13 pages) of the Guide.

For the life of me, I’ve never seen anything like it. And I’m not implying that in a “good way”. Hey everyone, it’s a Scrum Guide. Not a new US Constitution or edition of the Bible or Harry Potter book.

Tobias to the rescue…

But leave it to Tobias Mayer to provide some perspective on all of the hoopla. I saw this post on LinkedIn about a week after the festivities—

A frame holds the artwork, but isn't itself the artwork. Hanging an empty frame on your wall won't magically create an instant masterpiece. Even making the frame yourself by following instructions in the Frame Guide won't make such magic occur. It is surprising how few people get that, and how many empty, and often poorly made frames are lying around in the corporate landscape.

WHAT a metaphor! And so meaningful and helpful to me right now.

Thank you, Tobias, for providing clarity and cutting through the hoopla!

Stay agile my friends,

Bob.