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.
Hassan defines success for a Scrum Master as creating a team of leaders who support each other and work collaboratively. His goal is to make himself redundant by helping the team become self-sufficient. Hassan emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with team members, understanding their passions, and continually checking in to ensure personal growth. His ultimate measure of success is when team members grow into leadership roles themselves.
Hassan recommends using retrospective formats that suit the team's current context and culture. He highlights the value of keeping things simple when facilitating retrospectives, especially for teams from diverse backgrounds. Early in his career, he realized that fancy formats did not always work, but simple, straightforward retrospectives often led to the most productive conversations. Hassan reminds us that it's not about the format but about what the team needs in the moment.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Hassan Butt
Hassan builds high-performing teams and unlocks their full potential in his current role as a Scrum Master for a UK FTSE100 Telco. He also serves as an Agile Coach and mentor, supporting others in their professional growth. Hassan is well-known on LinkedIn for sharing valuable content and insights with the Agile community.
You can link with Hassan Butt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nohassagile/
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.
Hassan shares his experience leading a change initiative through Radical Candor workshops. He noticed that people in the organization were hesitant to share ideas with leadership. By using the Radical Candor framework, Hassan encouraged openness and honest feedback. He shares practical tips, such as role-playing, embedding accountability, and using structured formats like Liberating Structures, to create a safe space for feedback and collaboration. Hassan emphasizes the importance of follow-ups and self-accountability to ensure lasting change.
Self-reflection Question: How can you foster a culture of Radical Candor in your organization?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Hassan Butt
Hassan builds high-performing teams and unlocks their full potential in his current role as a Scrum Master for a UK FTSE100 Telco. He also serves as an Agile Coach and mentor, supporting others in their professional growth. Hassan is well-known on LinkedIn for sharing valuable content and insights with the Agile community.
You can link with Hassan Butt 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, Hassan talks about one of his early experiences with a team struggling with ingrained hierarchy. Senior team members dominated conversations, creating a culture where only the most authoritative voices were heard. However, new team members with a growth mindset challenged this dynamic, leading to conflict. Hassan highlights the importance of listening to all voices, especially newcomers, and encourages leaders to avoid stifling ideas. "Good ideas can come from anywhere," he shares, reminding us to foster an environment of openness and collaboration.
Self-reflection Question: How do you create space for all voices to be heard in your team?
Hassan recommends Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins as a foundational book for Agile practitioners. The book, especially the chapter on "mastering yourself," helped Hassan overcome impostor syndrome and grow more confident in his role. He often recommends this book to others as it provides valuable insights into personal growth and self-awareness, critical for building effective teams.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Hassan Butt
Hassan builds high-performing teams and unlocks their full potential in his current role as a Scrum Master for a UK FTSE100 Telco. He also serves as an Agile Coach and mentor, supporting others in their professional growth. Hassan is well-known on LinkedIn for sharing valuable content and insights with the Agile community.
You can link with Hassan Butt 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, Hassan shares his personal story of failure and how it shaped his journey to becoming a successful Scrum Master. After a challenging first interview, where he felt driven by fear and failed to actively listen, Hassan decided to try again six months later. With newfound confidence and determination, he overcame his fears and landed the role that changed his life. Hassan’s story emphasizes the importance of persistence, active listening, and hunger for growth in the Scrum Master role.
Self-reflection Question: What steps can you take to turn failure into a learning opportunity in your own career?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Hassan Butt
Hassan builds high-performing teams and unlocks their full potential in his current role as a Scrum Master for a UK FTSE100 Telco. He also serves as an Agile Coach and mentor, supporting others in their professional growth. Hassan is well-known on LinkedIn for sharing valuable content and insights with the Agile community.
You can link with Hassan Butt on LinkedIn.
In this insightful BONUS episode, Vasco Duarte is interviewed by Bill Fox for an episode on the Forward Thinking Workplaces Podcast. Vasco is a visionary leader in agile and lean software development. Vasco shares his revolutionary approach to fostering innovation, creating dynamic workplaces, and leading teams to success. His strategies are designed for leaders looking to elevate their organizations by focusing on people, purpose, and efficient work processes. Tune in for practical advice on how to unlock your team’s full potential and thrive in today’s fast-paced work environment.
“Innovation is a natural human quality; it flourishes when you don't make an effort to prevent it.”
Vasco emphasizes that innovation isn’t something leaders need to force. Instead, it happens organically when the right environment is in place. He encourages leaders to shift away from rigid structures and towards creating motivating spaces where creativity can thrive. By doing this, teams naturally become more innovative and solutions-driven.
“The only way innovation does not happen naturally is if we make an effort to prevent it from happening.”
“Build your projects around motivated individuals and trust them to deliver their best.”
Vasco highlights the importance of centering projects around motivated individuals, giving them the trust and support they need to succeed. According to him, leaders should focus on empowering people, unleashing their full potential. When teams feel trusted and valued, they bring more energy and creativity to their work.
“If you trust people and give them the space to perform, they will achieve things you didn't expect.”
“Aligning purpose with autonomy and mastery leads to engaged and high-performing teams.”
Drawing from Dan Pink’s model of autonomy, mastery, and purpose, Vasco stresses the role of community and clear purpose in building engaged teams. He explains how people are naturally motivated when they understand the purpose of their work and have the freedom to master their skills. This alignment creates a strong sense of belonging and shared goals within the team.
“When people have a sense of community and purpose, they bring their best selves to work.”
“Clear boundaries create a flexible framework where innovation can thrive.”
Vasco believes that well-defined boundaries are essential to encouraging innovation. Far from being restrictive, these boundaries offer a structured yet flexible framework that helps teams feel secure while exploring new ideas. When teams know the limits but also have room to experiment, they perform better and innovate faster.
“Boundaries are not barriers; they provide the structure that allows innovation to flow freely.”
“Focus on delivering value efficiently by reducing waste in your processes.”
One of Vasco's most transformative ideas is his “No Estimates” approach to software development, which encourages focusing on value and reducing waste. This method ensures that teams spend their time wisely, enhancing productivity without the guesswork of traditional estimations. It's all about respecting everyone's time and effort while delivering maximum value.
“Stop wasting time on estimates and start focusing on delivering real value to your customers.”
“Leaders must understand and align with the purposes of their employees to drive team success.”
Vasco shares valuable leadership advice, urging leaders to connect with their team members on a deeper level. By understanding employees' individual purposes and goals, leaders can foster more meaningful and productive collaborations. Open communication is key to building cohesive, high-performing teams that are aligned with the organization's vision.
“When leaders align with their team's personal goals, they unlock higher levels of performance and engagement.”
“Learning from practitioners in the field brings fresh, actionable insights.”
Through his podcast, Vasco shares real-world insights from a wide range of industry practitioners. These stories highlight different approaches and solutions that have been successfully applied in various sectors, providing listeners with diverse perspectives on innovation and agile leadership.
“Every practitioner I speak with offers a unique lens on solving the challenges of modern work environments.”
About Vasco Duarte
Vasco Duarte is an agile thought leader, podcast host, and one of the pioneers behind the “#NoEstimates” movement. With years of experience in lean and agile software development, Vasco helps teams and organizations improve productivity, efficiency, and innovation through dynamic leadership and strategic processes. He is also the host of the Scrum Master Toolbox podcast, where he shares insights from industry practitioners on agile leadership, team dynamics, and efficient workflows.
You can link with Vasco Duarte on LinkedIn.
Karla describes a Product Owner who was open to feedback and continuously sought collaboration with the Scrum Master and the team. This PO’s willingness to engage in discussions and act on feedback fostered a productive and collaborative environment. They consistently asked how they could better support the team, demonstrating empathy and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
In contrast, Karla shares a story of a Product Owner who unintentionally held back the team by poorly writing epics and user stories. This PO tried to shield the developers from unnecessary involvement but ended up creating more confusion. Fortunately, they were open to feedback, and with coaching, they learned the importance of involving the team in discussions to avoid miscommunication.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Karla Merza
Karla joins us from Romania. She is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments.
You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn: Karla Merza 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.
Karla explains that a successful Scrum Master must balance the team's morale with delivery commitments. By adjusting her approach to meet the needs of a new team right before PI planning, Karla helped them take responsibility and deliver successfully. This example shows the importance of fostering both autonomy and accountability within teams.
Karla doesn’t have a go-to retrospective format but prefers to adapt the format based on the team’s vibe. She uses tools like Metro Retro to find suitable formats and checks in with the team’s mood before deciding how to proceed. For example, during stressful periods like release deadlines, Karla switches to lighter, surprise retrospectives to relieve stress and maintain engagement.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Karla Merza
Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments.
You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlamerza/
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.
Karla shares her experience working in a company with little understanding of Scrum. Through open-ended questions and proposing a three-month experiment, she helped the team embrace Agile principles. By fostering a culture of openness and collaboration, Karla was able to boost team morale and encourage leadership to actively engage with their teams.
Self-reflection Question: How can you encourage more open communication within your team to drive change?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Karla Merza
Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments.
You can link with Karla Merza 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.
Karla shares a story of a team struggling with internal conflicts caused by poor communication around promotions. This lack of transparency led to disengagement and frustration among team members. Karla emphasizes the importance of collaboration between leaders and Scrum Masters to ensure clear communication and maintain team morale.
Karla recommends "Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life" by Susan David, a book that helped her as a technical person to understand the emotional side of work. The book explores how to navigate emotions effectively in leadership and personal growth. It has been instrumental in Karla's journey, teaching her how different leadership styles can either empower or hinder teams.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Karla Merza
Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments.
You can link with Karla Merza 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, Karla shares her challenging experience as a junior Scrum Master managing two teams in a large corporation. She reflects on how the teams were overwhelmed due to leadership decisions and her struggle to handle the situation. Karla emphasizes the need for Scrum Masters to separate personal responsibility from the project’s failure and offers valuable tips for staying motivated in tough situations.
Self-reflection Question: How do you handle situations where a project’s failure feels personal to you?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people.
🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Karla Merza
Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments.
You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn.
In this BONUS episode, leadership expert and entrepreneur Jurgen Appelo joins us to dive into the transformative power of AI in today’s workplaces. Creator of the unFIX model and author of Management 3.0, Jurgen shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing team collaboration, creativity, and innovation. This engaging conversation covers practical examples, personal stories, and thought-provoking ideas for anyone interested in leveraging AI to thrive in their career and business.
"AI gives me more time to focus on the things I really enjoy."
Jurgen kicks off by discussing the major changes AI is bringing to how teams collaborate and get work done. He highlights how AI tools like ChatGPT are enhancing feedback loops in product development, allowing teams to gain insights faster and more efficiently. Jurgen shares how he's used AI to improve his own writing, helping his editor focus more on storytelling rather than grammar corrections. For teams, AI is already making client interactions smoother and boosting productivity.
"AI gives teams more time to focus on creativity and innovation by automating repetitive tasks and improving workflow efficiency."
"We need to learn to delegate to AI."
Jurgen dives deeper into his personal experience of managing multiple AI systems to develop a library of use cases and patterns. He sees AI as a powerful assistant, capable of generating creative ideas and enhancing human work, but stresses that we’re still in the early stages. To truly maximize AI’s potential, people need to learn how to delegate tasks to AI more effectively, while AI systems evolve to help us think beyond our usual patterns.
"Delegating to AI allows us to break free from old habits and explore new creative possibilities."
"AI is a general-purpose technology, like the internet was in the beginning."
AI may have a vast potential to enhance personal and professional growth. However, many of its future applications are still unknown. He compares AI to the early days of the internet, a tool with endless possibilities yet to be fully realized. Right now, AI can help individuals automate simple tasks, but it has the potential to do so much more, including reshaping how we approach learning and career development.
"AI could revolutionize personal development by helping people organize and prioritize their learning journeys."
"AI can give you instant feedback on whatever you create."
Jurgen discusses how AI can enhance creativity within teams, providing immediate feedback on ideas and helping teams refine their concepts without leaving their desks. He mentions real-world examples, such as using AI to generate designs and suggestions in creative fields, giving people access to insights they might not have considered otherwise.
"AI can act as a creative collaborator, offering immediate, actionable feedback that pushes innovation forward."
"I’m an optimist—AI frees us up to do more of what we love."
Looking ahead, Jurgen expresses optimism about AI's potential to change the way we work. While AI will inevitably displace some jobs, he believes it will also enable people to focus on tasks they truly enjoy. AI levels the playing field between small entrepreneurs and large enterprises by making high-quality tools accessible to everyone. This shift will create new opportunities and competition in the market.
"AI will free up time for the tasks that matter most while leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs and businesses alike."
Looking to dive deeper into the AI revolution? Jurgen recommends the book Co-intelligence by Ethan Mollick for those curious about AI’s collaborative potential and Rebooting AI by Gary Marcus for a more skeptical view on its impact.
"If you're looking to learn more about AI, these books will give you both the optimistic and cautious perspectives."
About Jurgen Appelo
Jurgen Appelo is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur who helps organizations thrive in the 21st century. Creator of the unFIX model, he focuses on organization design, continuous innovation, and enhancing the human experience. Jurgen is also the author of Management 3.0 and a recognized leadership expert by Inc.com.
You can link with Jurgen Appelo on LinkedIn.
Jelena Vucinic: Why Sharing Product Ownership Leads to Better Product Results
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, Jelena highlights the qualities of a great Product Owner (PO) who excels by sharing product ownership with the team. This PO had deep knowledge of the product but also understood that they didn’t need to know everything. By involving the team in product decisions and creating a sense of co-ownership, the team became more engaged and motivated to deliver better results. Jelena emphasizes that this collaborative approach helps the team to fully understand customer needs and take pride in the product’s success.
Jelena identifies two common anti-patterns in Product Owners: The Controller and The Organizer. The Controller tries to make every decision, leading to a bottleneck and stifling team creativity. On the other hand, The Organizer focuses more on coordination and administration but lacks a deep understanding of the product. This PO is often disconnected from the team’s efforts and the product vision. Jelena suggests fostering better collaboration and encouraging Product Owners to involve the team in decision-making processes, particularly through practices like mobbing, which can help integrate the PO more closely with the team and the product.
About Jelena Vucinic
Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential.
You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.
Jelena Vucinic: How Agile Team Satisfaction and Value Delivery Define Scrum Master Success
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, Jelena shares her approach to measuring success as a Scrum Master by focusing on two key areas: team satisfaction and value delivery. She emphasizes the importance of discussing these metrics with the team, gauging engagement levels, and reflecting on factors like time-to-market and throughput. Jelena encourages Scrum Masters to consider using net promoter scores as a way to evaluate their impact.
Self-reflection Question: How can you help your team define and measure success in a meaningful way? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
Jelena shares a retrospective format known as "Uncover the Stinky Fish," designed to help teams address underlying issues that are not being openly discussed. This format is especially useful in conflict resolution but requires a safe environment for it to be effective. Jelena emphasizes the need for personalization in retrospectives, tailoring the approach to the context and encouraging empathy and connection among team members.
About Jelena Vucinic
Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential.
You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.
Jelena Vucinic: Leading Change in a Large Scaled Agile 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.
Jelena shares her experience leading change in a large scaled agile organization with 200 engineering teams. The change involved restructuring roles, connecting teams closer to customers, and a significant mindset shift. Jelena emphasizes the importance of introducing changes slowly, being transparent, and keeping communication open. She highlights the need to empower leaders with tools and support while collecting continuous feedback throughout the process.
Self-reflection Question: What steps can you take to ensure that change initiatives are sustainable in your organization? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
About Jelena Vucinic
Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential.
You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.
Jelena Vucinic: The Pitfalls of Relying on Key Individuals 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, Jelena discusses a team of six that became heavily reliant on two highly capable individuals. Their eagerness to deliver results quickly created a bottleneck, as the two individuals began to own critical components of the project. Over time, this led to increased pressure and eventual conflict. Jelena reflects on how to manage situations where individuals may unintentionally dominate the team's workflow, and how team dynamics can be affected when key members are overburdened.
Self-reflection Question: How can you identify and address over-dependence on key individuals in your team? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
Jelena recommends Dare to Lead by Brené Brown, a book that encourages leaders to adopt a courageous, growth-oriented mindset. The focus is on leading with empathy and vulnerability, showing up for your teams, and creating a supportive environment that helps foster collaboration and creativity. Jelena finds this book valuable as it aligns with her belief that empathetic leadership leads to better outcomes and a stronger connection within teams.
About Jelena Vucinic
Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential.
You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.
Jelena Vucinic: The Power of Asking for Help During Difficult Workshops
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, Jelena shares a challenging story of facilitating a large internal workshop in Zurich, where 50 people participated in activities like story mapping, magic estimation, and release planning. Despite her preparation, the event quickly became difficult as participants grew frustrated, wanting to dive deep into details that could not be addressed. Jelena reflects on how she learned to adapt her approach, embrace agility even in preparation, and ask for help when needed.
Self-reflection Question: How can you recognize when your workshop expectations are too ambitious and need adjustment? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
About Jelena Vucinic
Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential.
You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.
BONUS: Unlocking High-Performance in Agile Organizations, with Rebecca Homkes
In this BONUS episode, strategy expert Rebecca Homkes delves into the core themes of her book Survive Reset Thrive: Leading breakthrough growth strategy in volatile times. With a wealth of experience advising CEOs and serving as a Lecturer at London Business School, Rebecca shares practical advice on how leaders can navigate uncertainty, cultivate internal predictability, and create adaptive, high-performing teams. Whether you're in the software industry or any other fast-paced environment, this conversation offers invaluable insights into leading through change and driving sustainable growth.
“Uncertainty is the new certainty. Let’s not make change bigger than it needs to be.”
Rebecca opens with a key premise from her book: the need to reframe our natural response to uncertainty. She challenges the common association between uncertainty and negativity, urging leaders to embrace it as an opportunity for growth. She explains how software industry leaders can guide their teams to view change as a pathway to innovation, rather than a setback. Uncertainty, after all, is a constant, and thriving in volatile times requires a mindset shift towards flexibility and resilience.
"Leaders should embrace uncertainty as an opportunity, not a setback. It’s about changing the narrative and leading your team to thrive amidst change."
“Shift from planning to preparing. Build capabilities to seize opportunities as they emerge.”
Rebecca advises against over-reliance on rigid strategic plans. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of building flexibility into long-term strategies—especially in fast-moving industries like software development. Leaders should focus on preparation, enabling their teams to adapt quickly to new opportunities as they arise. She highlights the value of testing beliefs, making small, incremental bets, and staying agile when strategic assumptions change.
"Stop focusing on rigid plans. Build preparation into your strategy and be ready to capitalize on unexpected opportunities."
“Internal predictability enables teams to navigate chaos. Clarity in decision-making is key.”
While adaptability is crucial, Rebecca highlights the importance of internal predictability to create a stable foundation for teams to thrive. This means establishing clear decision-making processes and aligning team goals, so that despite external chaos, there is an internal structure that teams can rely on. She underscores the need for "aligned speed"—the ability to make quick, effective decisions with clarity on who is responsible for each choice.
"Adaptability doesn’t mean chaos. Build internal predictability by codifying decision-making processes, enabling faster, clearer decisions."
"Surviving crises requires discipline in execution. The 9 Power Moves provide a playbook."
Rebecca shares insights into her "9 Power Moves," a framework designed to help organizations navigate crises. She explains how these moves can be adapted by software companies facing market shifts or project setbacks. Each move offers a practical step leaders can implement to ensure their teams remain agile, focused, and ready to turn challenges into growth opportunities.
"To thrive in a crisis, you need a disciplined approach. The 9 Power Moves give leaders a clear playbook for turning adversity into success."
“If you learn faster, you grow faster. Experimentation is about learning, not failure.”
Rebecca emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture that celebrates experimentation, especially in industries like software where innovation drives success. Experimentation is not about failure but about quickly testing assumptions that could impact the company's success. She encourages leaders to create an environment where experimentation is seen as a discipline, supported by clear processes to test new ideas rapidly and cheaply.
"Experimentation is about fast learning, not failure. Create a culture where testing assumptions is celebrated as a path to growth."
“Communication is not the same as understanding. Focus on simplicity and shared context.”
One of the key insights Rebecca shares is the idea that more communication does not necessarily lead to better results. Instead, she stresses the need for shared context among team members. In agile environments, leaders should focus on simplicity, ensuring everyone understands what the organization is trying to achieve and how each person’s work ties into that vision. This approach helps maintain alignment and efficiency, especially in cross-functional teams.
"More communication doesn’t equal better teamwork. Focus on building a shared context to ensure everyone is aligned on goals."
“Take a pause and reassess your beliefs. Don’t let past success create blind spots.”
Rebecca identifies common leadership traps during Agile transformations, such as overconfidence in past successes. She advises leaders to regularly reassess their beliefs and strategies to avoid stagnation. She also stresses the importance of creating space for strategic conversations, so teams feel aligned and empowered to execute their work within the broader organizational goals.
"Avoid leadership traps by regularly reassessing your beliefs. Don't let past success blind you to new realities."
“High-performing teams act on beliefs, not just facts. Track your beliefs to learn and adapt faster.”
Drawing from real-life case studies from companies like Spotify and Dell, Rebecca shares key lessons for building high-performing teams. She emphasizes the importance of acting on well-tested beliefs and using these as the foundation for strategic decisions. To support this, she suggests using a "belief tracker" to monitor and adapt strategies based on real-time learning and experimentation.
"Successful teams don’t just rely on facts—they act on beliefs. Use belief trackers to stay agile and learn faster."
About Rebecca Homkes
Rebecca Homkes is a strategy expert, advising CEOs and serving as a Lecturer at London Business School. With roles at Duke, BCG University, and as a London School of Economics fellow, she is also a keynote speaker and YPO Faculty Director. Leading fintech accelerators and serving on company boards, she holds a doctorate from LSE and resides in Miami, San Francisco, and London. Rebecca is the author of Survive Reset Thrive: Leading breakthrough growth strategy in volatile times.
You can link with Rebecca Homkes on LinkedIn.
Dominika Bula: The Power of Storytelling in Product Ownership
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.
Dominika shares a story about a great Product Owner (PO) who excelled in communicating the essence of what the team was doing through storytelling. This PO acted as an ambassador, bridging the gap between the team and stakeholders. They knew when to step in and when to step back, allowing the team to contribute their ideas. This PO also helped the team focus by presenting clear objectives and guiding the team through challenges without micromanaging. Their ability to communicate and foster collaboration made them an excellent example of what a Product Owner should strive to be.
In contrast, Dominika highlights a negative Product Owner pattern where the PO tried to take on too much by themselves. Lacking a holistic view of their role, this PO attempted to manage everything alone, making decisions without team input and feeling overwhelmed as a result. This led to a lack of team collaboration, with the team feeling unappreciated and their feedback ignored. The PO, in this case, failed to justify or validate their decisions, leading to disengagement and frustration for both the PO and the team.
Self-reflection Question:
Are you fostering collaboration as a Product Owner, or are you trying to manage everything on your own? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
About Dominika Bula
Dominika is an Agile Coach at SAP Signavio with a strong background in agile practices from her experiences at Oracle and Red Hat. She is passionate about Kanban and firmly believes that Agile and DevOps are the perfect combination. As a facilitator for the Women in Agile mentorship program, Dominika is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of agile leaders.
You can link with Dominika Bula on LinkedIn.
Dominika Bula: How To Grow Self-Sufficient 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.
Dominika shares a story of a self-sufficient team that fully embraced Scrum values, communicated openly, and thrived without her direct involvement. The team had developed a strong internal support system, understood their code of conduct, and took ownership of their decisions. For Dominika, the ultimate sign of success is when the team operates independently, learning and growing together.
Self-reflection Question: Is your team ready to operate independently, or do they still rely on you for guidance? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
Dominika recommends the "Circles of Control" retrospective format, a powerful tool to help teams identify what they can control, what they can influence, and what is outside of their control. This format opens up discussions on different perspectives within the team and creates a safe space for sharing. It also helps teams focus on what they can impact, driving actionable improvements.
About Dominika Bula
Dominika is an Agile Coach at SAP Signavio with a strong background in agile practices from her experiences at Oracle and Red Hat. She is passionate about Kanban and firmly believes that Agile and DevOps are the perfect combination. As a facilitator for the Women in Agile mentorship program, Dominika is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of agile leaders.
You can link with Dominika Bula on LinkedIn.
Dominika Bula: Tackling Resistance to Change with Effective Communication, A Scrum Master’s Guide
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, Dominika discusses the challenges of harmonizing tools across different teams within a project. As more teams join the project, the inconsistencies in tool usage become apparent. Dominika emphasizes starting with a discovery process to understand the current situation before proposing options for change. She shares tips on effective communication strategies, the importance of involving team leads, and how to tackle emotional objections to change. She also warns against focusing on tasks rather than end-state outcomes when defining goals for change.
Self-reflection Question: How do you communicate changes in your teams, and are you focusing on outcomes or just tasks? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
About Dominika Bula
Dominika is an Agile Coach at SAP Signavio with a strong background in agile practices from her experiences at Oracle and Red Hat. She is passionate about Kanban and firmly believes that Agile and DevOps are the perfect combination. As a facilitator for the Women in Agile mentorship program, Dominika is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of agile leaders.
You can link with Dominika Bula on LinkedIn.
Dominika Bula: Building Stronger Agile Teams Through Working Agreements And Deliberate Collaboration
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.
Dominika shares a story about a growing team in a scaling agile environment where new members were joining frequently. This team lacked a proper working agreement, which resulted in disengaged team members who didn't participate fully in daily discussions. Dominika’s approach was to help the team start a buddy system for new joiners and ensure that everyone, especially new members, felt heard. She emphasizes the importance of developing a deliberate decision-making model and the need to differentiate between the Definition of Done (DoD) and a team working agreement.
Self-reflection Question: Is your team’s working agreement fostering participation and inclusion from every member, especially new joiners? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
Dominika recommends Kanban Pocket Guide by Dan Vacanti as a must-read for anyone interested in improving team flow. It’s a concise and practical guide that helps integrate Kanban into Scrum teams by focusing on value and transparency. Dominika appreciates its clarity, specific examples, and how it helps Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches refine their understanding of Kanban to enhance team performance. The guide is also a great resource to revisit regularly.
About Dominika Bula
Dominika is an Agile Coach at SAP Signavio with a strong background in agile practices from her experiences at Oracle and Red Hat. She is passionate about Kanban and firmly believes that Agile and DevOps are the perfect combination. As a facilitator for the Women in Agile mentorship program, Dominika is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of agile leaders.
You can link with Dominika Bula on LinkedIn.
Dominika Bula: How To Let Go, And Help Teams Take Ownership of Their Problems
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, Dominika shares a personal story when she initially joined a team and made the mistake of trying to solve the problems for the team rather than letting them own their improvement journey. This approach led to disengagement, as team members stepped back and avoided participation. Dominika highlights key anti-patterns, such as thinking you are "too senior to learn" and being resistant to change. Her advice is clear: step back, let the team take charge, and foster a culture of continuous learning by exploring external communities and attending conferences.
Self-reflection Question:
Have you ever stepped back to allow your team to solve their own problems, or are you still trying to lead them through every challenge? Leave your answer in the comments, let’s get this conversation started!
[IMAGE HERE]🔥 In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it's about leadership. 🔥
Angela thought she was just here to coach a team. But now, she's caught in the middle of a corporate power play that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she rally her team to outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it's about the people.
🚨 Will Angela's leadership be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
👉 Don't wait—buy your copy NOW on Amazon and learn how to bring out the best in your teams!
About Dominika Bula
Dominika is an Agile Coach at SAP Signavio with a strong background in agile practices from her experiences at Oracle and Red Hat. She is passionate about Kanban and firmly believes that Agile and DevOps are the perfect combination. As a facilitator for the Women in Agile mentorship program, Dominika is dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of agile leaders.
You can link with Dominika Bula on LinkedIn.
NOTE: We want to thank the folks at Tuple.app for being so generous with their stories, and supporting the podcast. Visit tuple.app/scrum and share them if you find the app useful! Remember, sharing is caring!
In this BONUS episode, Antony, co-founder of RiverGlide and Head of Engineering at Ford Digital, joins us to share his experiences and insights from 30 years in software development, including 25 years in Agile practices. As a technical practitioner, leader, and consultant, Antony reflects on navigating remote work, overcoming challenges, and setting up successful remote software teams, while exploring future trends in the industry.
Antony reflects on his first fully remote software project, which took place during the pandemic when everyone was forced to work from home. While his team had been working together for 12 months, they struggled with traditional video conferencing tools that lacked the ability to support pair programming or mob programming effectively. This is when Antony and his team discovered Tuple, a tool that allows for seamless control sharing and a co-located pairing experience.
"Switching to Tuple was a game-changer for us in making remote pairing feel as interactive as in-person collaboration."
The biggest challenge Antony identifies in remote work is the loss of serendipitous moments—those random watercooler conversations that often lead to innovation. To address this, Antony encourages teams to create opportunities for these moments by structuring time for informal interactions and fostering a safe and open communication culture.
"You can’t recreate the watercooler, but you can create opportunities for innovation by encouraging open-door policies and setting up shared virtual spaces."
For Antony, real collaboration is critical to the success of remote teams. He grew up on XP (Extreme Programming) and believes in the power of pairing and mob programming. Antony emphasizes the importance of maintaining good practices from in-person work, such as prioritizing mental well-being, while adapting to the unique needs of remote teams.
"Collaboration is not just about tools—it’s about mental well-being, trust, and giving the team what they need to succeed."
Antony shares his approach to ensuring that teams remain aligned with clear goals and progress tracking. His teams focus on delivering small, incremental slices of work and using techniques like limiting Work In Progress (WIP). Rather than viewing user stories as a list of tasks, Antony encourages teams to focus on the user benefit and desired outcomes.
"It’s about the ‘why,’ not just the ‘what.’ User stories should focus on the goal, not just be a list of tasks."
Looking ahead, Antony predicts that tools will continue to evolve, with AI playing a more significant role in software development. He discusses the possibility of having AI participants in pairing sessions and shares his concerns about the convergence of tools that may lose focus over time. Antony encourages developers to experiment with new technologies and remain open to change.
"AI is the next frontier in software development, and we need to embrace how it can enhance our remote work experiences."
Antony notes that while many resources on remote work are often too generic, there are valuable tools and practices software teams can adopt. He recommends regularly rotating hosts during remote pairing sessions and setting aside time for retrospectives and discussions about the bigger 'why' behind the work.
"When pairing, rotate roles, reflect regularly, and always focus on the bigger ‘why’ to keep your team aligned and motivated."
About Antony Marcano
Antony is the co-founder of RiverGlide and Head of Engineering at Ford Digital. With 30 years of software development experience, including 25 years in Agile practices, he is a respected leader, coach, and consultant. Antony has contributed to books and journals and is a keynote speaker at global conferences and universities such as Oxford and McGill. He is also the co-creator of 'PairWith.Us,' and remains a hands-on technical practitioner, specializing in Agile development and leading teams to excel in agility.
You can link with Antony on LinkedIn visit RiverGlide.com, or check out RiverGlide TV on YouTube.
NOTE: We want to thank the folks at Tuple.app for being so generous with their stories, and supporting the podcast. Visit tuple.app/scrum and share them if you find the app useful! Remember, sharing is caring!
In this episode, Eli Goodman, Head of Product at Tuple, shares an inspiring example of a Product Owner who truly embraced collaboration, ensuring the entire team was aligned with the product vision. Eli highlights the positive impact of this behavior on both team morale and product outcomes.
Eli explores a classic Product Owner anti-pattern—working in isolation from the team. In this episode, he discusses the negative effects of this behavior on team collaboration and product success. Listen in to find out how Product Owners can avoid becoming isolated and instead foster collaboration within Agile teams.
About Eli Goodman
Eli Goodman has been working on software teams for 17 years. He’s been a full-stack developer and engineering manager at both large and small companies, including Etsy and Headspace. A few years ago, Eli transitioned to product management and is now the Head of Product at Tuple, a remote pair programming service used by companies such as Figma, Shopify, and many others in the software industry.
You can link with Eli Goodman on LinkedIn, or email Eli at Eli@Tuple.app.
NOTE: We want to thank the folks at Tuple.app for being so generous with their stories, and supporting the podcast. Visit tuple.app/scrum and share them if you find the app useful! Remember, sharing is caring!
Eli reflects on the unique challenges of being a product manager for a distributed team. He emphasizes the importance of staying in touch with reality, testing assumptions, and journaling as key habits for success. He also shares tips on how to pair effectively with colleagues to maintain accountability and stay aligned with the team’s goals. Listen in to find out what are some of the key habits that can help product managers thrive in remote environments.
In this episode, Eli Goodman, Head of Product at Tuple, shares his favorite retrospective format: the Sailboat Retrospective. Eli explains why this format helps teams visualize their progress and challenges while promoting open communication. He highlights the importance of retrospectives in creating alignment and continuous improvement within distributed teams.
About Eli Goodman
Eli Goodman has been working on software teams for 17 years. He’s been a full-stack developer and engineering manager at both large and small companies, including Etsy and Headspace. A few years ago, Eli transitioned to product management and is now the Head of Product at Tuple, a remote pair programming service used by companies such as Figma, Shopify, and many others in the software industry.
You can link with Eli Goodman on LinkedIn, or email Eli at Eli@Tuple.app.