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Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Every week day, Certified Scrum Master, Agile Coach and Business Consultant Vasco Duarte interviews Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches from all over the world to get you actionable advice, new tips and tricks, improve your craft as a Scrum Master with daily doses of inspiring conversations with Scrum Masters from the all over the world. Stay tuned for BONUS episodes when we interview Agile gurus and other thought leaders in the business space to bring you the Agile Business perspective you need to succeed as a Scrum Master. Some of the topics we discuss include: Agile Business, Agile Strategy, Retrospectives, Team motivation, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Backlog Refinement, Scaling Scrum, Lean Startup, Test Driven Development (TDD), Behavior Driven Development (BDD), Paper Prototyping, QA in Scrum, the role of agile managers, servant leadership, agile coaching, and more!
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Now displaying: March, 2024
Mar 29, 2024

Lynn Runnels-Moss: Story Mapping to Success And The Role of the Product Owner in Team Dynamics

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

The Great Product Owner: Story Mapping to Success And The Role of the Product Owner in Team Dynamics

This episode showcases how deep engagement with problems, stakeholders, and the development team can lead to remarkable outcomes. Learn about the power of story mapping, immediate feedback, and creating a shared vision for the project. This example serves as an inspiration for Product Owners aiming to elevate their impact and foster a collaborative, productive team environment.

The Bad Product Owner: The Disengaged Product Owner

Lynn recounts her challenging experience with an inexperienced and disengaged Product Owner at a travel company, highlighting the detrimental impact on team morale and productivity. This episode offers insights into how Product Owners can avoid common team collaboration pitfalls and the importance of that engagement and collaboration with the team. Learn strategies for Product Owners to foster a positive, productive relationship with their team, ensuring the success of their projects.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.

 

About Lynn Runnels-Moss

Lynn is a certified Agile coach and Business Coach, skilled in developing high-performance teams using Agile and Lean practices. She founded the London Comms Dojo, co-organises the London Code Dojo, and is a speaker in the Agile Leadership Community worldwide.

You can link with Lynn Runnels-Moss on LinkedIn.

Mar 28, 2024

Lynn Runnels-Moss: Value Delivery and Team Happiness, A Possible Scrum Master Success Definition

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, we talk about the Scrum Master’s ability to deliver value to the customer and ensure a happy, cohesive team. This episode highlights the importance of psychological safety, continuous stakeholder collaboration, and the Scrum Master's role in fostering team connections. Discover strategies for aligning team efforts with user needs and stakeholder expectations, emphasizing the use of collaborative techniques to unite everyone towards a common goal.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: A Thinking Environment Retrospective

Inspired by Nancy Kline's work and Nancy’s book “Time to Think”, Lynn introduces a retrospective format focused on deep, uninterrupted thinking. Discover how creating a space where team members can speak without interruption can lead to profound insights and meaningful change. This episode offers practical tips for fostering an environment that values listening and encourages the evolution of ideas.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox! 

 

About Lynn Runnels-Moss

Lynn is a certified Agile coach and Business Coach, skilled in developing high-performance teams using Agile and Lean practices. She founded the London Comms Dojo, co-organises the London Code Dojo, and is a speaker in the Agile Leadership Community worldwide.

You can link with Lynn Runnels-Moss on LinkedIn.

Mar 27, 2024

Lynn Runnels-Moss: Navigating Toxic Environments, A Guide for Scrum Masters

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, we hear a story when Lynn was working within a large, multi-company project, highlighting the destructive impact of traditional management styles in agile environments. This episode explores the importance of respecting your boundaries and the power of walking away from toxic situations. Learn from Lynn's approach to using shared adversity as a motivator and the significance of choosing the right organizational culture that aligns with your values and boundaries.

 

[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

 

About Lynn Runnels-Moss

Lynn is a certified Agile coach and Business Coach, skilled in developing high-performance teams using Agile and Lean practices. She founded the London Comms Dojo, co-organises the London Code Dojo, and is a speaker in the Agile Leadership Community worldwide.

You can link with Lynn Runnels-Moss on LinkedIn.

Mar 26, 2024

Lynn Runnels-Moss: Challenging Success, Pushing High Performing Agile Teams Beyond Complacency

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, Lynn shares the nuanced challenge of leading a high-performing team into continuous improvement when complacency sets in. She shares insights on recognizing the signs of stagnation and the critical role of challenging the team with new, uncomfortable tasks to foster growth. This episode unpacks the dangers of the "don't break it" mentality and offers strategies for injecting innovation and learning into successful teams to prevent key members from seeking challenges elsewhere.

Featured Book of the Week: Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Explore the transformative power of Marshall B. Rosenberg's "Nonviolent Communication" as Lynn shares how it reshaped her approach to confrontational communication, impacting every relationship in her life. Discover how the principles of NVC can enhance your feedback process, making requests without demands, and fostering deeper understanding and cooperation in your team. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and build stronger, more empathetic connections.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!  

 

About Lynn Runnels-Moss

Lynn is a certified Agile coach and Business Coach, skilled in developing high-performance teams using Agile and Lean practices. She founded the London Comms Dojo, co-organises the London Code Dojo, and is a speaker in the Agile Leadership Community worldwide.

You can link with Lynn Runnels-Moss on LinkedIn.

Mar 25, 2024

Lynn Runnels-Moss: The Art of Psychological Safety in Agile Teams

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, we talk about one of Lynn's pivotal experiences early in her career. A team was moving to Kanban from Scrum, and this transition taught her a crucial lesson about psychological safety within teams. One of the team members was fascinated by Agile methodologies. In that excitement, the team fell into some misunderstandings which revealed the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment for open communication. Learn how simple practices like check-ins and demonstrating allyship can transform team dynamics, fostering a space where every member feels valued, heard, and supported. Dive into this episode for insights on the subtle art of leadership and team management.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.

 

About Lynn Runnels-Moss

Lynn is a certified Agile coach and Business Coach, skilled in developing high-performance teams using Agile and Lean practices. She founded the London Comms Dojo, co-organises the London Code Dojo, and is a speaker in the Agile Leadership Community worldwide.

You can link with Lynn Runnels-Moss on LinkedIn.

Mar 23, 2024

BONUS: The Agile-Product Continuum: Phillip Starke's Blueprint for Coaching Excellence

This episode was triggered by Phillip Starke’s blog post titled “Why agile coaches should strive to be product coaches”. You can read that blog post here, and listen in this episode to Phillip’s perspective and why he reached those conclusions. 

Agile to Product Coaching Transformation

"Agile Coaches are already product coaches in essence, they just need to realize and embrace it fully."

Phillip reflects on why agile coaches should also consider themselves product coaches. He argues for a unified approach to coaching that encompasses both agile and product development principles.

A Pivot Towards Product-Centric Coaching

"I had a turning point when I realized, despite our success, how much more impactful we could have been with a stronger focus on user interaction and discovery."

Phillip shares his experience transitioning from an agile-focused to a product-centric coaching approach, highlighting a project where greater emphasis on user discovery would have led to even more significant outcomes.

Enhancing Product Development Through User Engagement

"Talking to users directly is eye-opening. Watching real users interact with your product not only breaks down assumptions but also greatly motivates the team."

Phillip delves into the core of his coaching philosophy, which centers on the importance of direct user engagement for insightful product development, emphasizing how real user interactions can dramatically inform and motivate the development process.

The Hurdles to Product Coaching Evolution

"The leap to product coaching is often hindered by a lack of experience and a narrow focus on feature delivery within organizations."

In this segment, Phillip discusses the barriers that prevent agile coaches from evolving into product coaches, including a lack of holistic product development experience and organizational tendencies to prioritize feature delivery over comprehensive product strategies.

Missing Links: Skills and Practices for Agile Coaches

"Getting close to your users is key. Regular interactions and adopting a mindset of continuous discovery can significantly shift how we approach product development."

Phillip outlines the skills and practices that agile coaches often lack, emphasizing the importance of user interaction and a continuous discovery mindset for effective product coaching. In this segment, we refer to the book Continuous Discovery by Teresa Torres.

 

Marty Cagan's Principles for Success: A Closer Look

"Successful teams address risks early, build collaboratively, and focus on solving problems, not just adding features."

Phillip highlights the principles for successful teams as outlined by Marty Cagan, stressing the alignment between these principles and the goals of both agile and product coaching.

Deeper Insights and Common Oversights

"A common pitfall is designing first without involving engineering early on. To truly focus on problems, we need to run experiments and learn from them as early as possible."

In this segment, we discuss some common oversights in agile coaching, particularly the separation of design and engineering, and Phillip advocates for early experimentation to address problems efficiently.

Actionable Steps Towards Becoming a Product Coach

"Start small but think big. Engage with users regularly, increase deployment frequency, and aim for outcomes over outputs to begin transforming into a true product coach."

Phillip offers practical, actionable steps for agile coaches to start their transition towards becoming product coaches, focusing on user engagement and outcome-oriented development.

 

Future of Agile Coaching: Evolution and Challenges

"Agile coaches must broaden their focus from delivery to a holistic product development approach, embracing continuous learning and adaptation."

What is the future of Agile coaching? Phillip discusses the future evolution of agile coaching, emphasizing the need for coaches to adopt a broader perspective that includes all aspects of product development.

Imagining the Ultimate Product Development Process

"Imagine a world where product development is driven by continuous experimentation, where collaboration is seamless, and decisions are quickly validated through user feedback."

Phillip envisions an ideal product development process characterized by continuous experimentation, seamless collaboration, and rapid validation, encouraging listeners to adopt these practices to enhance their development efforts.

In this segment, we refer to the BONUS episodes on experimentation

 

About Phillip Starke

Phillip is a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, and Product Owner who blends technology and team dynamics to deliver valuable products. He writes about product development on his newsletter, The Backlog. With a background in mechanical engineering and experience in the automotive, software, and data analytics industries, he now freelances to enhance team success in product development.

You can link with Phillip Starke on LinkedIn.

 

Mar 22, 2024

Inga Bergmann: Empathy in Action, How Great Product Owners Help Their Agile Teams Succeed

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

The Great Product Owner: Empathy in Action, How Great PO’s Help Their Agile Teams Succeed

This episode shines a spotlight on a Product Owner whose empathy and people-centric approach set a gold standard for the role. Inga emphasizes how caring, empathy, and effective communication can elevate team creativity and bonding. Through this inspiring story, listeners will discover the transformative power of a Product Owner in harmonizing team dynamics and fostering an environment where people and projects thrive together.

The Bad Product Owner: The Trust Divide, When Product Owners Destroy Trust in Their Interactions With Agile Teams

This Product Owner constantly undermined team estimates. We take that example of a PO anti-pattern as the story that allows us to understand the nuances of trust, pressure, and negotiation. We also discuss how to engage constructively with such Product Owners. Inga’s approach to understanding and addressing the underlying pressures faced by Product Owners provides a compelling case study on fostering healthier team dynamics.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.

 

About Inga Bergmann

Inga is an empathic provocateur dedicated to unlocking the potential of teams on their way to high-performance. As Agile and Organizational Coach, she fosters psychological safe and thought-provoking environments where human-centred approaches and agile principles apply. She emphasizes trust and meaningful connections as enablers of successful collaboration and growth.

You can link with Inga Bergmann on LinkedIn.

Mar 21, 2024

Inga Bergmann: The Art of Being Present: Scrum Mastery in Remote Teams

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Inga explores the essence of a Scrum Master's success through personal anecdotes and practical tips. Success, as she depicts, is deeply rooted in trust, respect, and the ability to foster open communication. From remote work challenges to the subtleties of body language in meetings, this episode sheds light on the indicators of effective Scrum Mastering and the impact of genuine connections within teams.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: SWOT Analysis

Inga shares how to use the SWOT Analysis concept in an Agile retrospective, and it can help teams struggling with identity and direction. We discuss how the SWOT format can unearth underlying team dynamics, foster self-awareness, and guide teams towards a cohesive identity and purpose. Inga’s narrative provides valuable insights into facilitating meaningful retrospectives that resonate with and rejuvenate teams.

[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox! 

 

About Inga Bergmann

Inga is an empathic provocateur dedicated to unlocking the potential of teams on their way to high-performance. As Agile and Organizational Coach, she fosters psychological safe and thought-provoking environments where human-centred approaches and agile principles apply. She emphasizes trust and meaningful connections as enablers of successful collaboration and growth.

You can link with Inga Bergmann on LinkedIn.

Mar 20, 2024

Inga Bergmann: The Power of Conversation in Leading Change, A Story Of Transformation For An Engineering Organization

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, Inga shares the challenges of leading systemic changes within a growing company. From organizing leadership workshops to defining a shared product vision, Inga shares the tools, tips, and techniques that facilitated a smoother transition for the engineering department. This episode shares several insights on creating a shared direction, embracing ambiguity, and fostering open conversations, proving that conversation itself is a catalyst for change.

 

[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

 

About Inga Bergmann

Inga is an empathic provocateur dedicated to unlocking the potential of teams on their way to high-performance. As Agile and Organizational Coach, she fosters psychological safe and thought-provoking environments where human-centred approaches and agile principles apply. She emphasizes trust and meaningful connections as enablers of successful collaboration and growth.

You can link with Inga Bergmann on LinkedIn.

Mar 19, 2024

Inga Bergmann: Building Stronger Teams Through Conversation, And Addressing Conflicts and Tensions

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, we explore how teams create problems when they do not address the unspoken conflict. Inga emphasizes the critical importance of voicing concerns and the dangers of silence within team dynamics. We talk about through the nuances of team communication, the consequences of unspoken tensions, and offer strategies to encourage openness and growth. Inga’s insights offer a roadmap to fostering a culture of transparency and mutual understanding in teams.

If you like this episode, you will also like this episode on Tension Meetings with Sara Clark

Featured Book of the Week: Agile Retrospectives by Derby and Larsen

Discover how the book "Agile Retrospectives" became a cornerstone for Inga’s journey as a Scrum Master. This episode delves into the profound impact of the book in shaping Inga’s approach to fostering team reflection and growth. A testament to the power of retrospectives, this conversation not only highlights the book's influence on her career but also serves as an inspiration for anyone looking to understand and implement Agile principles effectively.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!  

 

About Inga Bergmann

Inga is an empathic provocateur dedicated to unlocking the potential of teams on their way to high-performance. As Agile and Organizational Coach, she fosters psychological safe and thought-provoking environments where human-centred approaches and agile principles apply. She emphasizes trust and meaningful connections as enablers of successful collaboration and growth.

You can link with Inga Bergmann on LinkedIn.

Mar 18, 2024

Inga Bergmann: Behind Closed Screens, Creating Team Spirit In Remote Teams, The Do’s and Don’ts

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, Inga shares a poignant story of intervention with a team fraught with tension and disconnection, despite her efforts to forge emotional bonds and navigate through recent changes. In a remote setup, her attempts to engage team members fell short, leading to a reflective journey on the essence of listening, understanding, and genuinely addressing a team's needs. Inga’s candid admission of her approach, coupled with invaluable tips on starting with listening and aiming to help achieve desired outcomes, makes for a compelling narrative on the complexities of teamwork and the path to improvement.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.

 

About Inga Bergmann

Inga is an empathic provocateur dedicated to unlocking the potential of teams on their way to high-performance. As Agile and Organizational Coach, she fosters psychological safe and thought-provoking environments where human-centred approaches and agile principles apply. She emphasizes trust and meaningful connections as enablers of successful collaboration and growth.

You can link with Inga Bergmann on LinkedIn.

Mar 15, 2024

Dave Smith: The Culture Clash, Ownership vs. Approval, a Key Difference That Affects PO’s

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

The Great Product Owner: Openness and Decision-Making, Critical PO skills

A great Product Owner embodies availability, openness to change, and a genuine interest in the product's success. How does a great PO foster innovation and take decisive action for the betterment of the product? Listen to this episode, to learn from this exemplary PO.

The Bad Product Owner: The Culture Clash, Ownership vs. Approval, a Key Difference That Affects PO’s

In this episode, we talk about a Product owner that lacked ownership. We explore how we can prepare those PO’s and use coaching as a method to help them succeed despite the initial lack of ownership. We also discuss a culture that undermines ownership can stifle innovation and growth. What are the underlying causes of Product Owner anti-patterns, and how can they be addressed? Listen to find out.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.

 

About Dave Smith

Dave, has over 20 years in training and consulting, having taught Scrum he continues to be active in the agile community, mentoring and helping others who are joining the agile community.

You can link with Dave Smith on LinkedIn.

Mar 14, 2024

Dave Smith: The Nanny McPhee Approach in Fostering Scrum Team Independence

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, we discuss the Nanny McPhee approach to Scrum Mastery, where the ultimate goal is for teams to become independent and capable. Dave challenges the notion of necessity versus want in the context of a Scrum Master's presence. And we explore how to foster independence in Scrum teams.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: 6 Thinking Hats

 

Dave shares his preference for the 6 Thinking Hats format to structure discussions during retrospectives, emphasizing the shift from problems to solutions. In this discussion we explore bringing in different perspectives to enhance the process improvement journey.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox! 

 

About Dave Smith

Dave, has over 20 years in training and consulting, having taught Scrum he continues to be active in the agile community, mentoring and helping others who are joining the agile community.

You can link with Dave Smith on LinkedIn.

Mar 13, 2024

Dave Smith: Democratizing Leadership, Cultivating a Culture of Openness and Improvement in Open Source Agile Teams

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

"Leadership is not about titles, it's about action." Dave's story on change leadership dismantles the myth of hierarchical leadership, advocating for a culture where anyone can step up. By introducing version control in a volunteer group riddled with anti-patterns, Dave demonstrates how leading by example and involving stakeholders in change processes can foster a positive approach to code quality and project management. Learn how creating psychological safety and inviting feedback can turn the most ardent resisters into advocates for change.

 

[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

 

About Dave Smith

Dave, has over 20 years in training and consulting, having taught Scrum he continues to be active in the agile community, mentoring and helping others who are joining the agile community.

You can link with Dave Smith on LinkedIn.

Mar 12, 2024

Dave Smith: Agile Adoption, How To Break Through Scrum Skepticism

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, Dave talks about the importance of team-designed processes and shares a story from a local government group in the UK. Facing skepticism and pessimism within the team, Dave illustrates the transformative power of looking for the positive impacts of change, and Agile methodologies. Dave shares how embracing Scrum from all levels can lead to significant organizational change and why questioning what holds you back could be the key to your team's success.

Featured Book of the Week: Essential Scrum by Kenneth S. Rubin

Dave recommends "Essential Scrum" by Kenneth S. Rubin, a treasure trove of learning and anecdotes that will enrich your understanding of Scrum. Dave shares some of the book's insights on the importance of team-designed processes

 

[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!  

 

About Dave Smith

Dave, has over 20 years in training and consulting, having taught Scrum he continues to be active in the agile community, mentoring and helping others who are joining the agile community.

You can link with Dave Smith on LinkedIn.

Mar 11, 2024

Dave Smith: The Power of Ownership, Transforming Mistakes into Growth Opportunities As An Agile Leader

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In this episode, Dave shares a compelling story that shines a light on the transformative power of ownership and learning from mistakes. He talks about a moment of oversight that led to a customer refund, highlighting the critical role of leadership in fostering a learning environment over assigning blame. This experience catalyzed a pivotal shift in his understanding of leadership and process improvement, underscoring the importance of scrum masters in creating a safe space for owning up to mistakes. Dive into Dave's journey to discover how embracing failure can be a stepping stone to success and innovation.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.

 

About Dave Smith

Dave, has over 20 years in training and consulting, having taught Scrum he continues to be active in the agile community, mentoring and helping others who are joining the agile community.

You can link with Dave Smith on LinkedIn.

Mar 9, 2024

BONUS: Guy Kawasaki shares how to lead a remarkable life, based on lessons from 200+ interviews!

In this BONUS episode we explore the latest book by Guy Kawasaki: 'Think Remarkable.' In this conversation, we explore Guy's personal journey, share lessons from his interactions with over 200 extraordinary individuals he interviewed for his Remarkable People Podcast, and unpack the key messages from his latest work that challenges us all to elevate our lives and the world around us.

The Genesis of a Remarkable Path

"Looking back, it's clear how the dots connected to set me on this path, but it all started with a desire to redefine how companies should operate - the Macintosh way."

Guy Kawasaki's career is as diverse as it is inspiring. From his early days at Apple to his influential role in various startups, Guy shares with us the pivotal moments and decisions that have shaped his remarkable journey. He delves into the motivations behind his first book, revealing how 'The Macintosh Way' was a manifesto on the right way to run companies, a theme that has pervaded his work and philosophy.

The Power of Evangelism

"Evangelism is about bringing good news that makes people more productive, creative, and ultimately delighted."

Guy has long been recognized for his unique ability to transform the world of work through evangelism. He shares invaluable insights on how true believers can make a significant difference by showing others a better way to live and work. From his time as an evangelist for Canva to his foundational days at Apple, Guy illustrates the importance of working backward from the customer's needs to deliver truly delightful experiences.

Lessons from Remarkable People

"Each interview taught me something new, but distilling these lessons into actionable insights was a journey in itself."

Throughout the creation of 'Think Remarkable,' Guy engaged with a host of remarkable individuals, each contributing unique perspectives on life, work, and success. From Don Norman to Jane Goodall, the diversity of thought and experience Guy encountered has been distilled into practical lessons for personal and professional growth. He emphasizes the value of these interviews in shaping the book's content, offering listeners a glimpse into the minds of some of the most influential figures of our time.

Unconventional Leadership

"My leadership views were significantly shaped by working under Steve Jobs and leading various software companies."

Reflecting on his experiences with unorthodox leaders at Apple and his ventures into the startup world, Guy shares how these experiences have molded his views on effective leadership. Through both internal and external challenges, he has developed a nuanced understanding of what it takes to inspire and guide others towards shared goals.

Embracing a Growth Mindset

"To excel in something, you must first be willing to suck at it."

The concept of a growth mindset is central to 'Think Remarkable,' and Guy's personal journey embodies this principle. He discusses the importance of being open to learning and growing, regardless of the field or endeavor, and shares why embracing challenges and the potential for failure is crucial for anyone looking to make a significant impact.

Crafting The Book 'Think Remarkable'

"Writing this book required months of outlining and planning, but the key was creating little anchors for readers to follow."

Guy takes us behind the scenes of the meticulous process involved in bringing 'Think Remarkable' to life. From outlining to structuring the narrative, he emphasizes the importance of providing readers with clear, actionable insights and the role of careful planning in achieving this goal.

Making a Difference with Tech Giants

"Working at Apple and noticing the little things with Canva taught me the importance of being open to new opportunities."

Guy's unique experiences with tech giants like Apple, Google, and startups such as Canva have profoundly influenced his views on making a positive impact. He shares how these roles have taught him the value of noticing the small details and remaining open to new opportunities, a lesson he believes is crucial for anyone looking to make their mark on the world.

Balancing Success and Impact

"Personal success and making a difference aren't mutually exclusive; they complement each other in the journey to remarkableness."

In discussing how to find balance between personal success and making a meaningful difference, Guy highlights the interconnectedness of these goals. He believes that striving for personal growth and seeking to contribute positively to the world are not only compatible but also mutually reinforcing in the quest for remarkableness.

The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership

"Embracing vulnerability has been a breakthrough in understanding my role as a leader and in making genuine connections."

Guy shares personal stories where embracing vulnerability not only led to personal breakthroughs but also deepened his understanding of leadership. He argues that vulnerability is a strength that allows leaders to connect more authentically with their teams and drive meaningful change.

Defining and Achieving Remarkableness

"Remarkableness comes from making the world a better place through growth, grit, and grace."

Guy reflects on the essence of being remarkable, emphasizing that it's about making a positive difference in the world. He shares insights into how anyone can embark on this path by focusing on personal growth, resilience, and kindness.

Closing Thoughts: The Future of Impact

"LLMs are a bigger deal than computers and social media. My call to action for everyone is to embrace AI and learn how it can be used to amplify our impact."

Looking forward, Guy shares his excitement about the potential of large language models (LLMs) and AI to revolutionize how we work and make a difference. He encourages everyone to engage with these technologies, underscoring their potential to significantly enhance our ability to create positive change in the world.

About Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and host of the Remarkable People podcast. He was the chief evangelist of Apple, trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation, Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador, and special assistant to the Motorola Division of Google. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College. He lives in Watsonville, California.

Learn more about the book, and Guy Kawaski.

Mar 8, 2024

Stephanie Cully: How To Lead with Empathy, The Story of an Open-Minded Scrum Product Owner

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

The Great Product Owner: Leading with Empathy, The Story of an Open-Minded PO

In this episode, Stephanie discusses her experience with an exceptional Product Owner (PO) who, despite having no prior experience in Agile and Scrum, demonstrated a remarkable willingness to learn and adapt. The PO's approach was characterized by asking questions, seeking help, and engaging in training sessions to better understand Agile practices. This openness extended to discussions about customer pain points and the user journey, contributing significantly to the team's ability to deliver effectively. The PO's caring attitude towards the team and flexibility in adapting to the developers' needs further exemplified the qualities of a great PO.

The Bad Product Owner: Addressing the Root Causes of an Absent PO

In this segment, Stephanie shares an experience with a Product Owner (PO) who was essentially absent, leaving a Business Analyst (BA) to handle product prioritization. The BA inadvertently compounded the issue by taking on the PO's responsibilities instead of addressing the root cause together with the team and the PO. Stephanie intervened to emphasize the importance of understanding why the PO was unavailable, revealing that the PO was overwhelmed with multiple roles. Through facilitating direct conversations among the BA, developers, and stakeholders, Stephanie highlighted the need for clear roles and effective time management in agile teams.
If you are facing a similar situation, where the PO is mostly absent, you may want to review our Sprint Checklist, which helps you have a coaching conversation with the PO, and define clear expectations about participation in the work with the team.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.

 

About Stephanie Cully

Stephanie Cully is a Scrum Master, and CEO of Scrum Life Consulting. Stephanie founded Scrum Life with a mission to help Scrum Masters overcome self-doubt and land the role.

You can link with Stephanie Cully on LinkedIn.

Mar 7, 2024

Stephanie Cully: Ted Lasso Lessons That Help Define Success For Scrum Masters

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Stephanie defines success for Scrum Masters as their ability to foster growth within their teams and ensure the delivery of value. She emphasizes that a great Scrum Master not only demonstrates how to deliver value but also engages the team in discussions about the meaning and importance of value, thereby helping the team understand and focus on value creation. Through continuous learning and development, a Scrum Master supports the team's growth, drawing inspiration from the ethos of Ted Lasso, which underscores the significance of positive influence and guidance. In this episode, we refer to the following quote by Ted Lasso: “For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field. And it ain’t always easy … but neither is growing up without someone believing in you.” 

Featured Retrospective Format For The Week: Warm-Up Questions That Uncovered A Team’s Fears

Stephanie shares a retrospective format that incorporates "warm-up" questions designed to gauge the team's sentiments about the previous sprint. Through this method of warm-up questions, Stephanie uncovered that the team felt they were not delivering value, indicating a risk of demotivation. She emphasizes the importance of retrospectives as safe spaces for addressing difficult topics, suggesting that such open dialogues are crucial for maintaining motivation and continuous improvement within agile teams.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox! 

 

About Stephanie Cully

Stephanie Cully is a Scrum Master, and CEO of Scrum Life Consulting. Stephanie founded Scrum Life with a mission to help Scrum Masters overcome self-doubt and land the role.

You can link with Stephanie Cully on LinkedIn.

Mar 6, 2024

Stephanie Cully: Leading Teams Through Agile Adoption, and Mindset Transformation

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Stephanie shares a story about helping a team to move from a waterfall to an agile framework. Despite initial resistance to abandoning familiar practices, she guided the team through the change by clarifying the goals of agile processes and introducing tools like the velocity chart in JIRA to help teams understand how some of the older concepts (tracking progress) could be achieved with the Agile approach. 

Her approach focused on understanding the purpose behind practices, encouraging continuous conversation, and providing direct feedback. By repeatedly explaining the benefits and purposes of Scrum practices, Stephanie helped the team grasp the value of agile methods, leading to a more effective and adaptive development process.

 

[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

 

About Stephanie Cully

Stephanie Cully is a Scrum Master, and CEO of Scrum Life Consulting. Stephanie founded Scrum Life with a mission to help Scrum Masters overcome self-doubt and land the role.

You can link with Stephanie Cully on LinkedIn.

Mar 5, 2024

Stephanie Cully: How A Misunderstanding Created The Opportunity For Collaboration Between A Scrum Team And Their Product Owner

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Stephanie recounts the challenges faced by a team transitioning to a new application project, marked by tension between developers and the product owner (PO), who micromanaged interface details without clearly conveying customer goals. Initially, separating the team from the PO led to communication issues and misunderstandings. A turning point occurred when a design misunderstanding prompted a shift in strategy: apologies were made, and collaborative design sessions were initiated. This improved communication and understanding, eventually leading the PO to facilitate direct developer-customer interactions, fostering a more integrated and effective team dynamic.

Featured Book of the Week: How To Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty

Stephanie was deeply inspired by Jay Shetty's "How to Think Like a Monk" in her career as a Scrum Master. The book emphasizes the importance of consistent practice, showing up authentically, and contributing equally within a team. Its teachings resonate with the Scrum Master role, highlighting the significance of not solving problems for others but facilitating their ability to solve problems themselves. This approach fosters self-reliance and growth within the team, aligning with the core principles of effective scrum mastery.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!  

 

About Stephanie Cully

Stephanie Cully is a Scrum Master, and CEO of Scrum Life Consulting. Stephanie founded Scrum Life with a mission to help Scrum Masters overcome self-doubt and land the role.

You can link with Stephanie Cully on LinkedIn.

 

Mar 4, 2024

Stephanie Cully: From Conflict to Collaboration, How To Collaboration With Skeptic Scrum Product Owners

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

In a new team, the Product Owner (PO) was initially against Stephanie’s role as a Scrum Master, fearing loss of control. Despite the challenges, she focused on understanding the PO's objectives, maintaining a positive mindset, and persisting in her efforts to foster collaboration. By actively listening and seeking support from colleagues, Stephanie gradually built a strong, supportive relationship with the PO and the team, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the company's and PO's goals.

 

[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.

 

About Stephanie Cully

Stephanie Cully is a Scrum Master, and CEO of Scrum Life Consulting. Stephanie founded Scrum Life with a mission to help Scrum Masters overcome self-doubt and land the role.

You can link with Stephanie Cully on LinkedIn.

Mar 2, 2024

BONUS: The AI Paradigm Shift, Interview With João Moura, creator of CrewAI

In this episode, we explore the impact that AI may have in our work, and discuss with João Moura, a key actor in the AI space about the future trends and what they mean for product development.

The Journey into AI and the Genesis of CrewAI

João Moura's interest in AI began during his childhood coding endeavors, a journey marked by curiosity and challenge. Despite finding AI more complex than traditional programming, his persistent engagement led to the creation of CrewAI. 

CrewAI, João’s library to take advantage of the multi-agent paradigm, is an example of what can happen when we bring different disciplines together in the form of a software development team. João refers to the transformation that happened in the field of AI when finally the software developers were working together with the AI researchers.

Transformative Changes in Technology through AI Integration

The AI landscape saw a pivotal shift with the collaboration of model AI engineers and software engineers, breaking down silos that previously existed. This convergence has catalyzed significant technological advancements, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in unleashing the full potential of AI. 

This is further evidence of the need for product teams to be cross-disciplinary, and bring different perspectives together in product development

Rethinking Work in the AI Era

João’s advice to those that are considering dipping into the AI space, is to embrace it and learn as quickly as possible. João shares his views on how AI will affect work, from automation to other types of transformation.

AI as a Catalyst for Leadership and Organizational Evolution

Drawing parallels between the internet's impact and AI's potential, João underscores AI's role as a transformative force within organizations. 

As a leader, João has learned that leveraging AI is crucial for decision-making, team development, and embedding innovation into products. This approach positions AI as an essential tool for organizational growth and competitiveness.

Future Directions and Applications of AI in Development

João anticipates a future where AI transcends conventional use cases, fostering automation and novel interaction models. 

The emergence of specialized AI agents and their integration into workflows indicatest a new era of efficiency and creativity in problem-solving. 

João’s work: CrewAI, exemplifies this trend, showcasing the potential of tailored AI solutions in enhancing productivity and fostering innovation.

Recommended Resources For Those Interested

About João Moura

João Moura is an accomplished Engineering Leader with almost 20 years in the software industry, and also the author of CrewAI, an agent orchestrator for AI agents. He specializes in leading diverse, remote teams worldwide, fostering innovation and collaboration. Passionate about Diversity & Inclusion, João also shines as a writer and speaker at major tech conferences.

You can link with João Moura on LinkedIn and connect with João Moura on Twitter.

Mar 1, 2024

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, we explore the story of a team that started to question the way they did estimates. The PO would use the estimations provided by the team to make a certain number of assumptions and reports that just did not correspond to reality. In the quest to solve that problem, the team started to experiment with different approaches, and naturally evolved to a #NoEstimates approach. Carsten explains the steps the team went through as well as the insights at each step. A self-organized change story on adopting #NoEstimates!
In this episode, we refer to the #NoEstimates book. 
About Carsten Lützen
Carsten is an Agile Coach at the LEGO Group. Before that a Scrum Master for different teams. He has a deep love of graphical facilitation and professional coaching. Besides his full-time job, he shares weekly tips on YouTube and LinkedIn on Agile, Facilitation, and Coaching.
You can link with Carsten Lützen on LinkedIn and connect with Carsten Lützen on Twitter.

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