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

Inspiration

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Leadership Transformation - Changing our Stories from the Inside-Out

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Leadership Transformation - Changing our Stories from the Inside-Out

It’s hard for me to admit sometimes, but you can teach an old dog (yours truly) new tricks. But I’ve discovered that I am “teachable” at least some of the time.

I’ve been on a journey of new learning over the last few years related to—

  • Developing my Certified Agile Leadership (CAL-I) class;

  • Developing myself as a Leadership Circle Profile coach;

  • Receiving training in ORSC – Organization Relationship and Systems Coaching.

Not only have I been learning, but I’ve been reflecting A LOT. Much of the learning has been changing me from an inside-out perspective. And some of that reflection has led to this article.

Specifically, it’s been inspired by my LCP instructor and coach, Shahmeen Sadiq. In a very short period of time, she had a profound effect on my thinking.

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The Absence of Information might be the most Important Information

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The Absence of Information might be the most Important Information

I’ve been encouraging and emphasizing the importance of mastering their listening and observing skills to leaders for decades. I often speak of the “lost art” of the powerful, open-ended question. Once asked, then we need to do something magical. Shut up and listen.

But listen differently—

  • To what’s said;

  • To tone/intonation;

  • To body language; and

  • To the emotional field.

Becoming skilled at active listening. The Center for Creative Leadership defines active listening as having the follow 6-components—

  1. Paying attention;

  2. Withholding judgment;

  3. Reflecting;

  4. Clarifying;

  5. Summarizing; and

  6. Sharing.

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Superpowers

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Superpowers

I can’t remember when I first heard someone talk about their superpowers. Perhaps within the last 5 years, so it’s a relatively recent notion for me.

But when I heard them say it, it made immediate sense to me. The sense that each of us has some sort of extraordinary strengths that we’re often not aware of. Something that makes us special. And surprisingly, something that we often unaware of and/or don’t leverage in our lives.

Dede Henley defined superpowers this way in Forbes—

A person’s super power is their particular genius: the specific, unique and specialized skill that they bring to the workplace. It is their secret sauce.

A super power isn’t a skill but a perspective, a mindset, a way of working that enhances everything you touch. It’s unique, like a thumbprint, part of your brand. It is that quality that causes others to say, “You know who would be great for this…?” or “We should go to so and so. They would know exactly what to do here.”

Super Power Discovery

I think the hardest part though is discovering what your superpowers are. And not what you think they are. Often, because we often lack self-awareness, we presume the wrong things.

Again, from Dede’s article, I’ve modified these slightly, but here are three questions she suggested you use to help identify your superpowers—

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My Imposter

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My Imposter

I was coaching another agile coach the other day and the topic of her insecurity in taking on new things came up. For example, a client had asked her to develop an agile leadership class to deliver as part of improving the overall performance of their leadership team.

What was interesting is that she was “frozen”. She didn’t feel that she could do it. Her mind was in a continuous state of analysis paralysis around how much information there was that needed to be shared and how she really didn’t have the experience and skill to design and deliver it.

I went on to share that it sounded to me as if she had Imposter Syndrome. And, as a way of potentially breaking thru the freeze, I began to share my own experiences with it.

My Imposter Journey

First, let me say this. I feel like an imposter every day. Yes, really. Even now!

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Coaching during Coronavirus—Take it Easy…

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Coaching during Coronavirus—Take it Easy…

“Lighten up while you still can
Don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand

And take it easy”

From the Eagles – Take it Easy

I was talking to my Agile coaching colleague and friend, Leon Sabarsky, the other day and he shared a shift in his coaching that has been influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic and all of its impacts on our lives.

He said that he was simplifying, slowing down and “softening” his coaching. He used “encouraging stretch” in sprints as an example. In his before pandemic coaching, he might try to push his teams more to stretch in their sprint delivery efforts. But now, he’s backing off on all of that as folks are working remotely while tired, stressed, worried, sleep-deprived, fearful, and simply overwhelmed. Not to mention having new coworkers (kids, pets, spouses) who are not always contributing to focused work and productivity.

This REALLY resonated with me. First, it’s because it’s not something folks seem to be talking about. Most people in the online Agile community now are pivoting towards:

  • Providing virtual training (masses of online training)

  • Sharing how to work effectively remotely

  • And scrambling to keep their jobs/revenue streams flowing

But not many are talking about the psychological impacts and what leaders, coaches, and Scrum Masters can do to help.

Here are some ideas that Leon and I came up with to pivot from getting more shit done or recovering revenue, to simplifying things and being kinder to one other. Please consider them in these really challenging times.

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Support Systems

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Support Systems

Johanna Rothman shared this article and it made me think a bit. Her writing often does that to me ;-) It made me think about two things:

  1. Identifying who my support system is and,

  2. The notion of asking for and giving help.

Upon personal reflection, I realized a couple of uncomfortable truths about myself.

Traits of an Agile Nation

If you know me at all, you know that I’m rarely caught without words. Well, I have no words to add to this. I’m simply pointing out an article and a TED talk that is all inspiring to me.  

I’m incredibly moved by Rashina Hoda and her words and I felt compelled to share it with you.

The Traits of an Agile Nation

https://www.infoq.com/news/2019/10/traits-agile-nation/

Stay agile my friends,

Bob.