In this BONUS episode, we dive deep into the world of OKRs with Jeff Gothelf, co-author of the newly released book, Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs. Jeff is a product management expert, author, and keynote speaker, renowned for his contributions to building better products and fostering innovation within organizations. In this episode, Jeff discusses the evolution of OKRs, their impact on teams and organizations, and how to adopt this framework effectively.
"We needed to change how companies approach goal-setting to focus on outcomes rather than outputs."
Jeff shares the journey that led him and his co-author Josh Seiden to write this book. They began with Lean UX, a practical guide for designers that expanded into other company areas (see this podcast episode with Josh Seiden about that book). However, as they worked more with clients, they noticed a disconnect between the goals set by leadership and the methods used by teams to achieve those goals. This realization inspired them to tackle the challenges companies face with goal-setting, particularly with OKRs, which they observe, are widely used but often misapplied.
"In a post-OKR world, success is measured by what customers do differently when we solve the problem the right way."
Jeff explains the fundamental difference between traditional goal-setting methods and OKRs. Traditional methods focus on output—what gets produced. In contrast, OKRs emphasize outcomes, or how customer behavior changes as a result of solving a problem correctly. Jeff highlights the importance of this shift in mindset, especially in software-driven organizations where success isn't just about delivering a product but about making a meaningful impact on users.
"Start by asking your boss, 'What do you expect our users to do differently?'"
One of the challenges in implementing OKRs is moving teams away from a mentality focused on simply completing tasks. Jeff suggests starting conversations with leadership by discussing the impact and benefits of feature requests, shifting the focus from just doing the thing to achieving a specific outcome. He also advises starting with a pilot team to ease into this new way of working, emphasizing the need for customer-centric, outcome-based OKRs.
"We saved the organization money by invalidating assumptions—this is a success, not a failure."
Jeff addresses the common fear teams have about experimenting and potentially failing. He shares examples from his work with teams who, after finding their hypotheses invalid, were initially afraid to communicate this to leadership. However, by reframing these experiments as cost-saving successes, Jeff shows how organizations can shift their perspective and embrace experimentation as a critical part of innovation.
"We reverse-engineer the problem and identify the human who cares about having that problem solved."
Jeff delves into the importance of structuring OKRs around customer needs. He recommends starting by defining the problem teams are trying to solve and understanding the people who are affected by that problem. Encouraging teams to dig deeper into the actual human experiences they aim to improve ensures that the OKRs are not only business-focused but also enhance customer experiences and relationships.
"OKR-based roadmaps replace feature lists with behavior change hypotheses."
For OKRs to work effectively, Jeff explains that organizations must also rethink their roadmaps. Traditional roadmaps often list features to be built, but with OKRs, the focus shifts to committing to specific outcomes and behavior changes rather than delivering features. This change requires a new approach to planning and prioritization, one that aligns with the goals set by OKRs.
"Adopt a cycle of OKRs, experiments, and goal-based roadmaps to ease the transition."
Jeff provides practical advice for organizations looking to start using OKRs. He outlines a cycle that includes setting OKRs, conducting experiments, and adjusting roadmaps based on the learnings from those experiments. He also emphasizes the importance of clear communication from teams, including sharing what they've learned and how they've adjusted their course based on that knowledge. Jeff's approach is tested and proven, with much of the content first shared on his blog.
To dive deeper into customer-centric OKRs, you can order Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs on Amazon. For additional resources and insights, visit OKR-BOOK.com and JeffGothelf.com.
About Jeff Gothelf
Jeff Gothelf is a product management expert, author, and keynote speaker known for his impactful work in building better products and fostering innovation cultures. He is the co-author of Lean UX and Sense & Respond, and advises executives and organizations on business agility, digital transformation, and human-centered design. Jeff's latest project is co-authoring Who Does What By How Much? A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs.
You can link with Jeff Gothelf on LinkedIn and connect with Jeff Gothelf on Twitter.
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.
Pooja shares an inspiring story of a Product Owner who turned a struggling team around by focusing on the product vision and applying models like SCARF and the Five Dysfunctions model. This Product Owner’s approach not only clarified the team’s goals but also empowered the team to take ownership of the product’s short and long-term success.
Pooja discusses a common anti-pattern where Product Owners become "JIRA secretaries," focusing on backlog management rather than being involved in business decisions. She explains how this lack of business knowledge can turn Product Owners into bottlenecks, hindering team progress. Pooja emphasizes the need for Product Owners to have a deep understanding of the business and to bring a clear vision for the product. What are the dangers of having a Product Owner who isn’t aligned with the business, and how can you avoid this anti-pattern? Listen in 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 Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
You can link with Pooja Gupta on LinkedIn.
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.
Pooja defines success for Scrum Masters through the lens of business outcomes. She stresses the importance of having clarity on business goals and helping teams align their work with these goals. Drawing from her experiences, Pooja discusses how the absence of a clear direction often leads to confusion and lack of focus. She also shares practical tips, including the importance of continuous discovery and refinement processes, and points to valuable resources like the Shape-Up methodology (also available in print from Basecamp) and Teresa Torres' work on continuous discovery.
In this episode, Pooja shares her experiment of letting the team take over the facilitation of their retrospectives, leading to deeper engagement and ownership of the process. She reflects on the benefits of rotating the facilitator role and how this approach can foster a more invested and self-sufficient team. Pooja also shares resources like Chris Stone's work and the book "Retrospective Anti-patterns" - by Aino Corry, a previous guest on the podcast - to help teams enhance their retrospective practices. How can empowering your team in retrospectives lead to better outcomes? Listen in to find out!
[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 Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
You can link with Pooja Gupta on LinkedIn.
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, Pooja talks about the often-overlooked aspect of leading change: communication. She discusses how the real challenge in change management isn’t the change itself but how it’s communicated. By sharing a story of how two companies handled layoffs differently, Pooja illustrates the importance of empathy in communication. She provides actionable tips, including the need to normalize change, allow people to express their fears, and use models like SCARF to guide the change process. How can we better support our teams through change by focusing on empathetic communication?
[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 Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
You can link with Pooja Gupta on LinkedIn.
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.
Pooja shares the story of a team filled with competent individuals but plagued by conflict because they were not in roles that helped them express their strengths. She discusses the importance of aligning team members’ skills with the right stages of the project and introduces the Shape-Up methodology (also available in print from Basecamp) as a framework for navigating these challenges. Pooja highlights how understanding the team’s goals and using conflict management frameworks like the Grow model can lead to a more harmonious and productive team environment. What strategies can you use to align your team’s strengths with their roles and avoid destructive conflicts? Listen to find out!
In this episode, Pooja discusses the profound impact the book "Reinventing Your Life" had on her personal and professional growth. She explains how understanding different personality types has helped her stop trying to change others and focus on her own behaviors instead. Pooja emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and non-judgmental perspectives in working with diverse teams.
[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 Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
You can link with Pooja Gupta on LinkedIn.
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.
Pooja shares her journey from product development to becoming an Agile Coach, where her natural empathy became both a strength and a challenge. Reflecting on how the work environment shifted during the COVID pandemic, she reveals the struggles she faced when she found herself in a mediator role without access to the necessary resources. Pooja discusses how she fell into the trap of focusing solely on facilitating meetings and how that limited her effectiveness. Recognizing that her team was working in silos and avoiding responsibility, she took the initiative to redefine her role, learned coaching from scratch, and empowered her team to take ownership of their work. What does it take to transform a team’s mindset from dependency to accountability? Listen to find out!
[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 Pooja Gupta
Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for "limitless learning" and "selfless teaching," she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
You can link with Pooja Gupta on LinkedIn.
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.
Keir discusses a positive example of a Product Owner who exemplified clarity and focus, working closely with the team to refine and prioritize the backlog. This PO understood the importance of a well-curated backlog and actively worked to remove noise, ensuring the team could work effectively towards a clear product vision. How do you foster a strong relationship between the team and the Product Owner? Keir offers insights into the traits that make a Product Owner truly great and how they can set a team up for success.
Keir shares a story of working with a Product Owner who constantly shifted focus to the "next idea," causing the team to lose sight of validated goals. This anti-pattern of chasing too many ideas led to a lack of direction and split focus. How can you help your Product Owner stay aligned with the product vision? Keir discusses the use of cost-of-delay visualizations and the importance of maintaining clear communication about the product goal.
[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 Keir Lumsden
Keir Lumsden joins us from the UK. A former developer, Keir has been fully immersed in Agile practices for the past 10 years. With a mind that constantly seeks lessons beyond the realm of software development, he enjoys writing and speaking about these insights.
You can link with Keir Lumsden on LinkedIn.
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.
Keir explores the success question, offering insights on the importance of measuring progress, understanding the need for change, and ensuring that both the team and the Scrum Master are clear on their goals. Keir provides practical advice on selecting relevant measures and maintaining focus on achieving your objectives.
Keir introduces the "Circles of Influence" retrospective format, designed to help teams focus on what they can control rather than dwelling on what they can't. He emphasizes the importance of choosing a retrospective format that suits the team's current needs rather than sticking to a favorite. How do you select the right retrospective format for your team? Keir shares practical tips on bringing the focus back to actionable items and helping teams navigate challenges with clarity.
[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 Keir Lumsden
Keir Lumsden joins us from the UK. A former developer, Keir has been fully immersed in Agile practices for the past 10 years. With a mind that constantly seeks lessons beyond the realm of software development, he enjoys writing and speaking about these insights.
You can link with Keir Lumsden on LinkedIn.
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.
Keir details his experience with a high-performing team that was ready to launch a new product, only to have the funding pulled at the last minute. Despite the setback, the team's dedication and focus on the product goal became a model for others in the organization. How do you lead a team through change when external factors disrupt your plans? Keir shares tips on acting as if change is needed and ensuring your team remains aligned and focused, even in the face of uncertainty.
[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 Keir Lumsden
Keir Lumsden joins us from the UK. A former developer, Keir has been fully immersed in Agile practices for the past 10 years. With a mind that constantly seeks lessons beyond the realm of software development, he enjoys writing and speaking about these insights.
You can link with Keir Lumsden on LinkedIn.
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.
Keir shares a story about a team struggling with a lack of empiricism, where feedback loops were missing, and progress was unclear. Despite having a bonus on the line, the team couldn’t grasp their situation. Keir used visual tools like a burn-up chart to create the necessary transparency, ultimately sparking the critical conversations that led to change. Are your sprint reviews providing the feedback your team needs? Keir shares tips on fostering transparency and ensuring teams can showcase tangible progress.
Keir discusses "Adapt" by Tim Harford, a book that explores why success often starts with failure. Harford argues that solving complex problems requires practical experimentation rather than theoretical plans. How do you approach problem-solving in your team? Keir highlights key insights from the book, emphasizing the value of hands-on solutions and the lessons that come from iterative learning.
[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 Keir Lumsden
Keir Lumsden joins us from the UK. A former developer, Keir has been fully immersed in Agile practices for the past 10 years. With a mind that constantly seeks lessons beyond the realm of software development, he enjoys writing and speaking about these insights.
You can link with Keir Lumsden on LinkedIn.
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.
As a Scrum Master, your investment in your team can sometimes cloud your vision. Keir shares a story where his team, working with a new technology, struggled to make progress toward a deadline. Despite their best efforts, they realized they were focused on the wrong areas. Keir reflects on the importance of transparency and the dangers of not seeing the big picture. How do you ensure your focus is set correctly? Keir offers tips on recognizing weak signals, asking the right questions, and using a pre-mortem to explore risks before they derail your project.
[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 Keir Lumsden
Keir Lumsden joins us from the UK. A former developer, Keir has been fully immersed in Agile practices for the past 10 years. With a mind that constantly seeks lessons beyond the realm of software development, he enjoys writing and speaking about these insights.
You can link with Keir Lumsden on LinkedIn.
In this BONUS episode, Martin Gonzales, co-author of The Bonfire Moment, shares his insights on how leadership affects startup success. Drawing from his extensive experience with Google's Effective Founders Project, Martin reveals the key lessons that can help startup founders—and teams in any industry—navigate the complexities of organizational culture, leadership, and personal growth.
"The bonfire moment is an intense opportunity for reflection—an essential pause for founders under constant pressure."
Martin explains the concept behind "The Bonfire Moment," a workshop originally created within Google's accelerator program. Since its inception in 2015, this workshop has expanded globally, helping startup founders build strong teams by addressing the personal challenges and insecurities they bring into their ventures. The bonfire moment represents a critical time to step back, reflect, and prepare to dive back into the high-pressure world of startups.
"Ask yourself and your team: What insecurities and doubts are we bringing into our work, and how can we address them together?"
"Speed and inner circles are two of the most dangerous traps for startups."
Martin dives into the pitfalls that often derail startups, including the relentless drive for speed and the complications of inner circles formed by close personal relationships. He shares how these factors contribute to conflicts among founders, which is the number one reason for startup failure. Drawing from the book The Founder’s Dilemma, Martin emphasizes the importance of having difficult but necessary conversations early on to prevent these issues from festering.
"Don’t shy away from difficult discussions—addressing people issues early can save your startup from bigger problems down the line."
"People issues are subtle at first, but when they grow, they often become too big to solve."
Martin highlights how lessons from the startup world can be applied to teams in any context. He stresses the importance of not taking interpersonal dynamics for granted and discusses how hidden issues, like team members losing motivation or internal conflicts, can lead to significant problems if left unaddressed. He also introduces the idea of Class 1 and Class 2 disagreements, encouraging teams to focus on constructive, idea-based conflicts rather than personal ones.
"Increase the quality of disagreements in your team—focus on ideas, not personalities."
"Your confidence is often highest at the beginning of a learning journey, but effectiveness grows with experience."
Through data collected from 360-degree feedback on co-founders, Martin discovered a surprising trend: the most confident founders were often the least effective. This insight challenges the common assumption that confidence naturally increases with effectiveness. Martin references the Dunning-Kruger effect, which suggests that initial confidence can be misleading and that true growth often involves a dip in self-assurance as one gains deeper understanding.
"Recognize that a drop in confidence can be a sign of growth—it's a natural part of mastering new skills."
"It's crucial to have 'no-bullshit' relationships—connections where you can be your true, vulnerable self."
Martin shares his personal struggles with impostor syndrome during the writing of The Bonfire Moment and offers practical advice for others facing similar doubts. He emphasizes the importance of having authentic relationships where vulnerability is accepted, as well as the value of helping others as a way to reaffirm your own abilities and achievements.
"Cultivate relationships where you can be honest about your insecurities—it’s vital for personal and professional growth."
"Vulnerability can be easier to embrace in hierarchical cultures, where expectations are clear."
Martin discusses how The Bonfire Moment has been adapted to resonate with diverse cultural contexts around the world. He challenges the assumption that vulnerability is harder to introduce in hierarchy-oriented societies, sharing that these conversations often unfold more naturally in such environments. He also touches on the difficulties faced in more indirect communication cultures and the importance of addressing the "masks" people wear in professional settings.
"Normalize the idea that everyone has insecurities—it’s a universal experience that can unify teams."
For more insights and to dive deeper into the themes discussed in this episode, visit BonfireMoment.com.
Martin Gonzales is the creator of Google's Effective Founders Project, where he decodes startup success factors. A globally recognized advisor, Martin has been honored by the Aspen Institute and Thinkers50 Radar. He is a sought-after speaker and expert in organizational design, leadership, and culture, with academic credentials from Columbia University and the London School of Economics. He is also the co-author of The Bonfire Moment with Josh Yellin.
You can link with Martin Gonzales on LinkedIn.
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 segment, James describes an exemplary Product Owner who transitioned from a business analyst role. What qualities and behaviors set this individual apart? James highlights the Product Owner's commitment to continuous learning, market understanding, and stakeholder collaboration. How did this Product Owner effectively balance customer needs with stakeholder expectations? What tip does James offer about the Product Owner's role in protecting the team? Listen in to find out!
In this segment, James shares a story of a Product Owner in a regulated medical software industry who prioritized meeting deadlines over ensuring product safety. What were the consequences of this decision, and how did the Product Owner respond to the ensuing crisis? James discusses the importance of outcome focus and taking ownership of decisions. How can a focus on problem-solving and outcomes lead to better accountability and purpose within teams? Listen in 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 James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
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.
James outlines his vision of success for Scrum Masters. How does he measure a Scrum Master's effectiveness in fostering self-organization within a team? James emphasizes the importance of engineers being invested in the product and sensitive to customer needs. What specific behaviors indicate that a team has truly internalized agile principles? How can a Scrum Master's absence reveal the team's level of self-sufficiency? Listen in to find out how James measures his own success as a Scrum Master!
James discusses his approach to selecting retrospective formats, emphasizing the importance of matching the format to the team's current needs. He shares his preference for combining fun formats like "Two Truths and a Lie" with more analytical approaches such as the A3 Report from Toyota. How does James use metrics to inform his choice of retrospective format? What advice does he offer for tailoring retrospectives to a team's developmental stage? Listen in to find out!
[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 James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
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, James shares a comprehensive approach to implementing culture change in a multi-site healthcare company. They used a simple three-step process to align values across diverse locations. And implemented an ambassador program and storytelling workshops catalyze the change. James explains the use of the ADKAR model and Lean Change Management principles in this large-scale transformation. James also shares the role that gamification played in encouraging narrative-centric sharing throughout the organization.
[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 James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
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.
James shares a story from a healthcare company formed through acquisitions. He explores what happens when team autonomy goes too far and becomes anarchy. James also describes how one team's culture shifted from a focus on quality to a lack of basic practices, leading to degrading product quality. What non-negotiables did James identify as crucial for balancing team autonomy with organizational standards? How can leadership play a role in setting appropriate constraints for autonomous teams? Listen to find out!
James discusses the profound impact of "Turn the Ship Around" by David Marquet on his approach to leadership development. How does this book's principles apply to creating effective leadership at all levels of an organization? James shares insights from his experience developing a leadership curriculum aimed at empowering decision-making at the front lines. What key patterns does he highlight for leaders looking to succeed across various organizational levels? Listen to find out.
Note that David Marquet has been a previous guest on the podcast.
[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 James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
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, James shares a valuable lesson from his experience as a Scrum Master. How can being too helpful actually hinder a team's growth? James recounts a situation where his tendency to jump in and solve problems backfired when he took a two-week break. During his absence, the team struggled without his constant involvement, which taught James a valuable lesson about enabling teams to own their challenges. He reflects on the need for Scrum Masters to model the right behavior, set clear expectations, and allow teams the space to grow.
James also discusses an effective approach he used when working with a doctor-turned-product manager in a healthcare setting. What tips does he offer for building trust and showing genuine care for others' success? Listen in to find out!
[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 James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
In this BONUS episode, leadership experts Tricia Broderick and Diana Larsen explore their latest book, Lead Without Blame, talking about how leaders can create high-performing teams without resorting to blaming. This conversation tackles the key themes from their book, and offers insights on how leaders can foster resilient, learning-focused teams.
"Leadership isn't about finger-pointing; it's about creating an environment where learning and growth can flourish."
Tricia and Diana kick off the conversation by breaking down what it means to lead without blame. They explore the impact of blame in the workplace, particularly how it stifles innovation, and erodes psychological safety. The authors stress the importance of making space for learning and acknowledge that many leaders, even unintentionally, perpetuate a culture of blame.
"To lead without blame, focus on building a culture where learning is prioritized over finger-pointing."
"Blame has always been a leadership issue, and this book was a way to address it head-on."
Tricia and Diana share personal anecdotes that inspired the book. Tricia describes writing the book as therapeutic, reflecting on her past experiences as an executive who lacked the skills to prevent a blame culture. Diana highlights how pervasive blame is in toxic work environments and the urgent need for a shift in leadership approaches to create healthier, more supportive workplaces.
"Our goal is to equip leaders with the tools they need to create environments where everyone can thrive without the fear of blame."
"Learning is the evolution of knowledge work, and it's the foundation of resilient teams."
The authors discuss the shift from traditional knowledge work to what they call "learning work." They explain that building resilient teams requires fostering an environment where continuous learning is encouraged and natural. Leaders must embrace the idea that learning is an ongoing process, crucial for adapting to changes like remote work and other modern challenges.
"To build resilient teams, leaders must prioritize creating a learning environment where everyone is prepared to adapt and grow."
"Courage, Compassion, Confidence, and Complexity—these are the pillars of effective leadership in today's world."
Tricia and Diana introduce the "4Cs" of Learning Leaders—Courage, Compassion, Confidence, and Complexity. They emphasize that leadership is not just about hierarchical authority but about modeling these qualities at all levels within a team. Leaders must navigate uncertainty and complexity with confidence, showing their teams how to do the same.
"True leadership is about embodying the 4Cs—showing courage, compassion, confidence, and understanding complexity in every situation."
"Leaders must exemplify the learning process, guiding their teams through growth and change."
The authors explore the concept of "Leadership through Learning," where leaders actively engage in and model the learning process. They discuss essential motivators like shared purpose, autonomy, and co-intelligence, which are crucial for fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
"Leadership through learning means being intentional about creating a space where your team can grow together."
In their book, Tricia and Diana outline "Five Rules for Accelerated Learning" that are essential for leaders looking to cultivate high-performing teams. These rules guide leaders in creating environments where learning is continuous, rapid, and deeply integrated into the team's daily work.
"Accelerated learning happens when leaders set the right conditions and provide clear, actionable guidance."
"Healthy conflict is a sign of engagement, but it's crucial to recognize when it starts to become destructive."
The authors discuss the "Escalating Conflict Model", which helps leaders identify and manage conflict stages within their teams. The model emphasizes recognizing when conflicts move from healthy disagreements to destructive behaviors and provides strategies for keeping conflicts constructive and focused on team goals.
"Understanding the stages of conflict helps leaders intervene early and keep team dynamics positive."
"Retrospectives are not just about looking back—they're about learning and adapting for the future."
Tricia and Diana highlight the importance of retrospectives in team development, emphasizing that these sessions are critical for continuous learning and adaptation. They offer practical advice on how leaders can conduct effective retrospectives that focus on purpose-relevant topics and foster a culture of open, constructive dialogue.
"Use retrospectives as a tool to reinforce your team's shared goals and drive continuous improvement."
The book is Lead Without Blame by Tricia Broderick and Diana Larsen. You can learn more about the book and access additional resources at leadwithoutblame.com.
Tricia: Ignite Insight + Innovation
Diana: Diana Larsen
Both: LinkedIn profiles
Tricia Broderick, co-author of Lead Without Blame, is a leadership and organizational advisor with over twenty-five years of experience. Her transformational leadership ignites the growth of leaders and resilient high-performing teams to deliver quality outcomes. She is a highly-rated trainer, coach, facilitator, and motivational keynote speaker. In 2020, she founded Ignite Insight + Innovation.
You can link with Tricia Broderick on LinkedIn or visit Tricia’s website.
Diana Larsen is a leadership and team improvement advisor, offering consulting and mentoring services. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has co-authored several books on Agile leadership and co-originated the Agile Fluency® Model. Her book Agile Retrospectives is one of the most mentioned works on this podcast, with the 2nd edition set to release in early 2024.
You can link with Diana Larsen on LinkedIn or visit Diana’s website.
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 segment, we learn about a PO that possessed market knowledge, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills. This PO's leadership and ability to empower the team highlight the critical role of Product Owners in driving product success and team collaboration.
In this segment, Sofi shares the story of a disorganized Product Owner whose lack of preparation and messy backlog management negatively impacted the team. She discusses the importance of collaboration, timely preparation, and efficient time management to avoid such pitfalls.
[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 Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
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 segment, Sofi highlights how important it is to pay attention to moments when team members independently adhere to agreements, prioritize customer needs, and suggest improvements. She shares a KPI framework developed to measure Scrum Master effectiveness through team feedback, emphasizing the value of transparency and personal development.
Sofi's favorite retrospective format, The Speedcar Retrospective (similar to the speedboat retro), uses a simple yet effective race car image to identify what slows the team down and what drives them forward. She emphasizes the importance of varying retro formats and adapting them to the team's needs, making retrospectives engaging and insightful.
[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 Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
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.
Sofi describes a project involving two Scrum teams working on the same product but struggling with engagement and alignment. By involving the team in product definition and creating a product map linked to OKRs, Sofi transformed the team's perspective. Regularly revisiting the product map and involving the team in strategic discussions led to a more motivated and cohesive team, contributing significantly to the product's success.
[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 Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
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.
Sofi shares the story of a high-performing team that overcommitted. Despite their successes, and maybe because of them, the team had developed an unhealthy self-confidence that led to trouble. Initially praised for their can-do attitude and high-quality releases, the team began to struggle with burnout. Sofi highlights the dangers of overcommitment and the importance of sustainable pace, transparent stakeholder communication, and the need for fresh projects to prevent burnout.
In this segment, Sofi introduces How to Speak Tech: The Non-Techie’s Guide to Key Technology Concepts by Vinay Trivedi, a must-read guide for anyone navigating the tech industry. The book simplifies complex tech jargon, making it accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Sofi discusses the importance of understanding these terms, particularly for non-tech team members, to enhance collaboration and communication within tech teams.
[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 Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
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.
Sofi assumed connecting with her remote team would be easy since she had prior experience in a distributed team environment. However, as she was starting a new job in a new country during the pandemic, Sofi quickly learned it wasn't that simple. She faced unexpected challenges, like team silos and surprising escalations during retrospectives. Sofi realized she needed to invest more in personal connections and understanding cultural backgrounds. Her journey underscores the importance of building relationships and fostering team collaboration, especially in remote settings.
[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 Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
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.
Karina shares a success story of an engaged and technically adept Product Owner who collaborated closely with the team and stakeholders. This PO’s focus on user-centric solutions and effective communication led to a successful project outcome.
In this segment, Karina tells the story of a project plagued by an absent Product Owner, leading to poor communication and integration issues between teams. This scenario highlights the importance of a PO's active involvement in the development process. What happens when a Product Owner is disengaged? Discover the pitfalls of absentee Product Owners and how to avoid them.
[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 Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
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 segment about Scrum Master success, Karina emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose of Scrum ceremonies and fostering a culture where team members proactively address issues. Are your teams self-correcting and collaborative? Learn the key indicators of Scrum Master success and how to cultivate them within your teams.
Karina introduces the "no speaking" retrospective format, where participants use written feedback to express their thoughts. This method encourages contributions from those uncomfortable with speaking out loud, fostering a safer environment for all team members. How can silent retrospectives enhance team engagement and inclusivity? Explore innovative retrospective techniques with Karina.
[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 Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.