Reader Quotes
The word “badass” is not common in Dublin, where I am from. There are local words that mean the same thing, but they might not export quite as well! However, by putting the word badass in the title, Bob is inviting you, as a coach of coaches, to think about how you can work as an agile coach more on the front foot. From my own experience, as someone with more naturally introverted tendencies, I started out my Scrum Master career with Servant Leadership as a default stance or way of being, and I don’t believe that always served me well. In addition, there is danger in sticking too rigidly to a Coaching stance: It’s just not always appropriate. Reflecting on a more badass approach to agile coaching described within these pages, I can consciously work on practicing alternative stances when appropriate, and reflect on how to be effective with them in an authentic and congruous way. I mean, come on, that is badass! Paddy Corry from the Foreword, Agile Coach, ESW
My friend and colleague Anthony Mersino was kind enough to consider the book and make it his #1 recommendation for agile coaching-focused books.
You can read his entire post here. And here’s a more detailed book review from Anthony.
The other books on this list are also an excellent addition to your coaching reference collection. I particularly like Karim’s and Michael Bungay Stanier’s books.
And, as a side note, my book Scrum Product Ownership made it to #3 on the list of his product-focused books. So a 2-fer!
Every time I encounter Bob Galen (either by reading his blogs and books, attending his conference sessions, or even in a casual conversation) I get an urge to try something new in my coaching. If continuous learning and self-mastery are central to your Agile coaching journey as well, this book will inspire you with experiments, new coaching canvases, and many practical, ready to use tools to amplify the impact of your Agile coaching. My favorite part about reading this book is the “fly on the wall” experience I get while reading the numerous coaching scenarios in this book, and observing the prep, the coaching arc, and the post-end game of the coaching masters. Dana Pylayeva, Agile Coach, Agile Play Consulting
What a timely book by Bob Galen! I hear the word ‘coaching’ coming up daily in corporate America about how our leaders need to be better coaches, but they have no idea what that really means. This book clearly defines what coaching is and what it is not, the different coaching frameworks and gives real world coaching scenarios. I found the coaching scenarios and models highly valuable! Lastly, I appreciated the authors touching on ethics and diversity in coaching which I feel is extremely important as a coach. If you are a leader or an agile coach who wants to learn more about coaching, I highly recommend this book! Mary Thorn, VP of IT Strategy and Transformation, S&P Global
Extremely Badass Agile Coaching is a book that can easily become the stepping stone of any aspiring or established Agile Coach interested in developing their competencies to guide their clients through the implementation of the Agile Principles. From the beginning, Bob takes a coaching approach by inviting the reader into the book with an open mind, but most importantly, with an open heart. The most amazing aspect of this book is that it will not provide you with a step-by-step solution to your challenges. Instead, it will equip the reader with tools and resources, colorfully presented by the author and the collaborating coaches, to design your own journey to become a badass Agile Coach. Mauricio Robles, Enterprise Agile Coach, Nike
Woven into this book is a deliberate invitation to upgrade the profession of Agile coaching with wholehearted and exceptional badassery. Moving seamlessly between the many nuanced stances of an Agile Coach, while steadily keeping the client’s agenda in soft focus, takes some seriously badass coaching. In this book, Bob and his co-authors offer their wisdom, stories, strategies, and tactics to do just that. Relevant, accessible, and valuable regardless of where you are in your Agile coaching journey, I expect it to become a routinely referenced book in any coach’s collection. Anjali Leon, Agile Coach, PPL
