Too often, we emphasize the name of a thing over the potential outcome of the thing. We assume that when we exercise our understanding of the agile terrain via terminology that others have the same, rich mental models we do. I’m also sure many of us feel that using agile terminology lends us a bit […]
The Map Is Not The Territory Read More »
In my previous blog post, I talked about sprints in the ethereal discussing their similarities to deadlines and reminding us to be inquisitive of the world around us. However, I offered no practical advice. Today, I’d like to remedy that. Below, I tackle many common questions about sprints. Let’s get started. So What’s the Right
What’s the Right Sprint Length? Read More »
Let’s talk about sprints. What’s the right length? When should they begin and end? On a Monday and Friday, respectively, or is another schedule more appropriate? Should we ever change the length of our sprints? These are all good questions, and we’ll get to them, but let’s start with something more fundamental. Why even have
Sprints, Deadlines, And Scrum As Scripture Read More »
This is a common question. People often ask on LinkedIn about how many teams a Scrum Master can reasonably handle, and a breath later, they mention how large their teams are. Similarly, I’ve had conversations with members of my own organization where I hear, “It’s a small team. I can’t imagine the team will take
As a Scrum Master, Can I Work With Multiple Teams? Read More »
Several weeks ago, I wrote about what to look for in a good Scrum Master, and today, I’d like to have a similar discussion about the team. More specifically, let’s talk about what makes for a high-performing team. It’s a common term, and it conjures up different images for different people. If someone were to
Is Mine a High-Performing Team? Read More »
I often compare Scrum to the frame of a house. We can look at the frame to know the size and shape of our rooms and how the house joins together. However, it’s up to us to figure out what color to paint the walls and where to place the couch. The saying goes, “Scrum
Scrum Is Easy. People Are Hard. Read More »
When a Scrum Master joins a team, there’s so much to do. It’s daunting and sometimes a bit overwhelming. We have so many questions! Where’s the team need our help? Are they entrenched in how they operate or open to change? How do they interact with each other? How receptive are they to me, their
Scrum Master for a New Team? Here’s What to Do. Read More »
In my previous blog post, I talked about how I believe a Scrum Master should be trying to put him or herself out of a job. Put another way, we should master the art of actively doing nothing. Some agreed; some didn’t. Some thought the language was too strong. Others thought it was just right. However,
Mastering the Art of Actively Doing Nothing Read More »
Much of the role of the Scrum Master is intangible. We don’t write elegant code, we don’t craft beautiful designs, and we better not be creating Gantt charts. Instead, we’re masters at soft skills, but how can such a thing be quantified? And if not quantified, how can I know if I’m a good Scrum
Am I a Good Scrum Master? Read More »
I was happy to hear that many of you enjoyed the Product Owner tips I offered in my previous blog post so I thought I’d jot down a couple more today. If you’d like to read my previous Product Owner tips, you can find it here. So let’s get to it. Ruthlessly Prioritize I
When Prioritization and Customer Empathy Aren’t Enough Read More »
