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.
Anita shares a story about a team that was paralyzed by fear of their own manager. Despite the manager's care for the team, communication had broken down entirely. Anita focused on mediating and rebuilding trust between the team and the manager. She reflects on the importance of understanding team dynamics and continuously defining the role of a Scrum Master.
In this episode, Anita introduces "NeuroTribes" by Steve Silberman, a book that explores the history of autism. Anita highlights the importance of understanding neurodiversity, especially in Scrum teams, where the percentage of neurodiverse individuals can be significant. She discusses how this book is a valuable resource for Scrum Masters to better understand and support their team members.
[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 Anita Kalmane-Boot
Anita is a neurodiversity advocate and considers herself European, not bound to one single country. Anita is passionate about Agile but is losing hope in corporate organizations and their adaptation of Scrum.
You can link with Anita Kalmane-Boot 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, Anita shares her experience with a team that had already gone through two Scrum Masters before her arrival. Despite her best efforts, she realized that the team didn’t want to work with a Scrum Master. The situation was compounded by the challenges of remote work during the pandemic. Eventually, Anita made the difficult decision to step away from the team. She emphasizes the importance of seeking external perspectives and approaching situations without judgement. How do you handle a team that resists change, and when is it time to walk away? 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 Anita Kalmane-Boot
Anita is a neurodiversity advocate and considers herself European, not bound to one single country. Anita is passionate about Agile but is losing hope in corporate organizations and their adaptation of Scrum.
You can link with Anita Kalmane-Boot 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.
Great Product Owners understand both the business and the team’s needs. Johann shares an inspiring example of a PO who not only managed the product but also guided the team with a deep understanding of business and technology. What qualities set great Product Owners apart, and how can they drive both product and team success? Johann highlights the importance of accountability and collaboration in effective Product Ownership.
A bad Product Owner (PO) can derail even the best Agile efforts. Johann discusses common PO anti-patterns and the importance of getting PO responsibilities right. Why do organizations struggle with effective Product Ownership, and how can they avoid common pitfalls? Johann emphasizes the critical role of the PO in maximizing value and maintaining team morale.
[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 Johann Botha
Johann joins us from South Africa, helping build digital-age capabilities by developing practical skills to solve problems, grow people, and facilitate difficult change. A long-time proponent of Lean and Agile, Johann consults, coaches, speaks, and writes on the topic. He is also the chief examiner for the EXIN Agile Scrum product.
You can link with Johann Botha on LinkedIn and connect with Johann Botha 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.
Success for a Scrum Master goes beyond just following Scrum rules; it’s about nurturing a team’s belief in itself. Johann explores the delicate balance Scrum Masters must maintain between authority and influence, and why transparency and accountability are key. How can Scrum Masters help teams embrace self-management and foster a sense of belonging? Johann shares insights on how to be a coach, a counselor, and a champion for team autonomy.
Johann prefers retrospectives that go beyond surface-level discussions. His favorite format, "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly," focuses on identifying real issues and experimenting with solutions. Why is it crucial to dig deeper in retrospectives, and how can techniques like the double diamond design thinking process aid in root cause analysis? Johann explains how teams can drive continuous improvement through thoughtful reflection and experimentation.
[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 Johann Botha
Johann joins us from South Africa, helping build digital-age capabilities by developing practical skills to solve problems, grow people, and facilitate difficult change. A long-time proponent of Lean and Agile, Johann consults, coaches, speaks, and writes on the topic. He is also the chief examiner for the EXIN Agile Scrum product.
You can link with Johann Botha on LinkedIn and connect with Johann Botha 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 large organizations, even the best Agile efforts can fail if external dependencies are not managed. Johann discusses his experience with a financial services IT department where traditional project governance stifled Agile initiatives. How can Agile leaders identify and navigate these roadblocks? Johann shares practical tips on engaging leadership, redefining governance, and using techniques like the double diamond for root cause analysis to foster an environment where Agile can thrive.
[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 Johann Botha
Johann joins us from South Africa, helping build digital-age capabilities by developing practical skills to solve problems, grow people, and facilitate difficult change. A long-time proponent of Lean and Agile, Johann consults, coaches, speaks, and writes on the topic. He is also the chief examiner for the EXIN Agile Scrum product.
You can link with Johann Botha on LinkedIn and connect with Johann Botha 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.
When Agile teams push too hard for transformation, they risk becoming the enemy. Johann explains how corporate "immune systems" react against new ideas, even when they’re beneficial. What strategies can Agile teams use to navigate organizational resistance and avoid self-sabotage? Johann emphasizes the importance of listening, finding safe spaces to experiment, and avoiding the trap of making Agile seem like an invasive force.
Johann shares his journey through influential books that shaped his approach to management, from Tom Peters’ Liberation Management to Netflix's story in No Rules Rules. How do these books provide a roadmap for progressive management practices in today’s fast-paced world? Johann also highlights key texts like Accelerate by Nicole Forsgren et al., and his own work, Competing in a Digital Future, offering listeners a rich library to explore.
[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 Johann Botha
Johann joins us from South Africa, helping build digital-age capabilities by developing practical skills to solve problems, grow people, and facilitate difficult change. A long-time proponent of Lean and Agile, Johann consults, coaches, speaks, and writes on the topic. He is also the chief examiner for the EXIN Agile Scrum product.
You can link with Johann on LinkedIn and connect with Johann 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.
Project management struggles to deliver successful software projects because customers often don’t know what they want upfront, and the world around us changes too quickly. Johann reflects on the outdated thinking rooted in the Industrial Age that hampers modern software development. How can an iterative approach help teams deliver projects on time and within budget? Johann shares insights on why traditional project management often fails in dynamic environments and discusses how concepts from books like Reinventing Organizations and The Machine That Changed the World can transform management practices.
[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 Johann Botha
Johann joins us from South Africa, helping build digital-age capabilities by developing practical skills to solve problems, grow people, and facilitate difficult change. A long-time proponent of Lean and Agile, Johann consults, coaches, speaks, and writes on the topic. He is also the chief examiner for the EXIN Agile Scrum product.
You can link with Johann on LinkedIn and connect with Johann on Twitter.
In this BONUS episode, we hear from Alex Schladebeck, CEO and Quality Advocate at BREDEX GmbH. Alex shares her journey from testing and consultancy to becoming a CEO, offering valuable insights into agile leadership, the importance of communication, and the evolving landscape of technology and quality in software development.
"Communication isn't just part of the work; it is the work."
Alex reflects on her career, emphasizing that her approach to leadership isn't defined by a single moment but by recurring patterns where communication played a crucial role. She shares how continuous conversation is vital for navigating changes and resolving conflicts, underscoring the importance of keeping communication channels open to manage the evolving demands of the tech industry.
"Effective leadership hinges on continuous conversations. Make communication the core of your leadership practice."
"We need to balance the excitement of new technology with what the customer truly needs."
Alex discusses the importance of aligning tech strategies with broader business objectives while maintaining agility. She shares her experience with implementing OKRs (Objective-Key Results) to bridge the gap between engineering teams and business leaders. By using short cycles for experimentation and decision-making, her team remains flexible and responsive to change without becoming reactive.
"Use OKRs and short cycles to keep your tech strategy aligned with business goals, ensuring adaptability without sacrificing focus."
"Stepping outside your own perspective is key to understanding what’s critical for both the business and the customer."
Collaboration between tech and business units is essential, and Alex highlights strategies that have helped her foster this collaboration. By encouraging teams to consider different perspectives, especially when making decisions that affect customers, Alex ensures that her team remains aligned with the business’s critical needs.
"Take different perspectives into account during decision-making to ensure alignment between tech and business objectives."
"Little experiments can lead to big innovations if we collaborate with customers early on."
Alex shares her approach to roadmapping by incorporating small experiments to explore new ideas. These experiments often involve pilot projects with customers, allowing her team to test and iterate on new technologies before full-scale implementation. This method helps maintain a balance between stability in ongoing projects and innovation.
"Incorporate small experiments into your roadmap to innovate while maintaining stability in ongoing projects."
"Stepping up from a team lead to CEO is about learning to take responsibility and adapt."
One of the biggest challenges Alex faced was transitioning from a team lead to a CEO. With the guidance of her co-CEO and mentor, she learned to navigate this complex role without a clear guidebook, focusing on transparency, reflection, and adaptability as key leadership traits.
"Reflect on your decisions and be transparent with your team to navigate the challenges of leadership transitions."
"Leaders are people too, and sharing our decision-making processes helps build trust."
Alex stresses the importance of creating empathy between leaders and their teams by being transparent about decision-making processes. She believes that while transparency doesn’t eliminate conflict or disappointment, it fosters a better understanding of the context behind decisions, helping teams to navigate challenges together.
"Build empathy by sharing your decision-making process, but be prepared for conflict—it’s part of leadership."
Alex shares her perspective on the rise of AI and its potential to transform software and product development. While she recognizes the opportunities AI presents, she emphasizes the need to remain focused on human-centric development, ensuring that technology serves to enhance, rather than replace, the human element in quality and product development.
"As AI evolves, keep your focus on human-centric development to ensure technology enhances, rather than replaces, human contributions."
"Numbers are useful, but context is crucial."
Alex discusses her cautious approach to KPIs, emphasizing that while metrics like the DORA metrics are valuable, they must be interpreted within the right context. She shares an example of how a clear KPI—reducing escalation meetings—helped turn around a troubled project by focusing on the underlying issues rather than just the numbers.
"Use KPIs to guide your decisions, but always consider the context behind the numbers to drive meaningful change."
"I delegate much of the learning to my team, but I remain curious and engaged."
To stay current with industry trends and best practices, Alex relies on a flat organizational structure where team leads are empowered to stay updated. She also participates in conference watch parties, engages in Slack groups, and pairs with colleagues to learn new technologies firsthand, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
"Empower your team to stay informed, but stay curious and engaged in the learning process."
"We work with humans in socio-technical systems, and it's important to understand both the technical and human aspects."
Alex shares some of the books that have influenced her leadership approach, including "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk," "Radical Candor," and "Never Split the Difference." These books have helped her navigate the complex, human-centric aspects of leadership in technical environments.
"Combine technical know-how with human understanding—books like 'Radical Candor' offer valuable insights for leaders."
[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 Alex Schladebeck Alex Schladebeck is the CEO and Quality Advocate at BREDEX GmbH. She is an agile leader with a passion for quality and human-centric development. With a rich background in testing, product ownership, and consultancy, Alex now focuses on strategy, team coaching, and customer communication. A frequent speaker at Agile events, she was named the Most Influential Agile Testing Professional Person in 2018. Outside of work, she enjoys sports, music, and exploring new cultures.
To learn more about Alex Schladebeck and follow her work, visit BREDEX GmbH and Schladebeck.de.
You can link with Alex Schladebeck on LinkedIn.
In this BONUS episode, we sit down with Tricia Broderick, a seasoned tech leader and co-author of Lead Without Blame. With over 25 years in software development leadership, Tricia shares her journey from an individual contributor to a transformative leader. The conversation touches on the challenges of giving up control, the importance of psychological safety, and how to foster resilient and empowered teams.
"Leadership isn't about doing everything yourself; it's about empowering others to excel."
Tricia reflects on a pivotal moment early in her career when she realized that her meticulous attention to detail was sending the wrong message to her team. She shares how this realization led to her "red-pen apology," where she acknowledged her need to step up as a leader rather than continuing to act as an individual contributor. This was the beginning of her journey toward understanding the importance of giving up control to create a healthier, more scalable work environment.
"If you want to lead effectively, you must be willing to let go of control and trust your team."
One of the biggest challenges Tricia faced was learning to give up control—a common struggle for leaders who transition from individual contributor roles. She discusses the lack of leadership role models and patterns available during her early career and how this shaped her understanding of effective leadership. Tricia emphasizes the importance of creating the right environment for collective decision-making and shares her insights on how to help other leaders learn these critical skills.
"Psychological safety isn't a luxury; it's a necessity for team success."
Tricia highlights the importance of psychological safety in leadership, particularly in environments where power dynamics are at play. She shares practical tips for helping leaders recognize when their current methods aren't working and how to guide them toward learning new, sometimes uncomfortable skills. Tricia also discusses the need for transparency in leadership, recounting a moment when she realized the mixed messages she was sending about failure within her team.
"To avoid blame and shame, we must focus on resilience factors that empower teams to handle conflict healthily."
Tricia introduces the concept of resilience factors—patterns and motivators that help teams avoid blame and shame while working together effectively. She discusses the importance of fostering healthy conversations about conflict and enabling teams to manage these situations independently. By paying attention to these resilience factors, leaders can create environments where teams are empowered and equipped to thrive.
"Metrics should guide us, not define us. Focus on trends and the bigger picture."
When it comes to KPIs, Tricia is cautious about relying too heavily on metrics, as they can sometimes negatively impact team morale. She emphasizes the importance of using a set of metrics to understand trends rather than focusing on individual numbers. Tricia also shares her approach to evaluating organizational health, customer impact, and individual contributions, stressing that metrics should align with key initiatives but not become the sole focus.
"To lead in tech, you must be committed to continuous learning and staying connected with industry trends."
Tricia shares how she stays up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in software engineering. She relies on a combination of conferences, networking, and books to inform her decision-making. Tricia also discusses how certain books, like The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, have influenced her leadership approach, particularly in creating environments that foster trust and collaboration.
[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 Tricia Broderick
Tricia Broderick, co-author of Lead without Blame, is a seasoned leadership and organizational advisor with over twenty-five years of experience in software development leadership. She specializes in transforming leaders and teams to achieve quality outcomes through authentic, inclusive, and engaging collaboration.
You can link with Tricia Broderick on LinkedIn and connect with Tricia Broderick on Twitter.
In this episode, Santeri Kangas, a seasoned CTO and CISO, explores the complexities of leading tech organizations through various stages of growth. Santeri shares his journey from a developer to an influential leader in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud transformation, offering valuable lessons on scaling businesses, aligning technology with business goals, and fostering collaborative teams.
"I grew into what I am through a series of pivotal moments, each shaping my approach to leadership and technology."
Santeri began his career as a developer, gradually advancing to roles such as architect, and eventually leading large-scale cybersecurity operations at F-Secure. He reflects on the challenges of dealing with exponential growth in malware, which pushed him to develop innovative, algorithm-driven solutions. This early experience highlighted the importance of integrating technology with broader business goals and set the foundation for his leadership philosophy.
"Leadership in tech is about growing with the challenges and continuously adapting your approach to meet evolving needs."
"In startups, the marketing message often races ahead of the product. The key is getting the right people on the bus to bring those visions to life."
Santeri discusses the transition from large enterprises to the fast-paced world of startups. He emphasizes the importance of assembling a core team with diverse skills and a shared vision. By fostering strong communication and collaboration among product managers, architects, and R&D teams, Santeri believes that even the most ambitious startup goals can be achieved.
"Success in scaling comes from a solid core team that communicates well and drives the vision forward."
"The CTO's role is to be the moderator, ensuring that technology strategies align with business goals without compromising on innovation."
One of the biggest challenges Santeri faces as a CTO is balancing technological innovation with the pressing demands of business growth. He describes the critical role of the CTO in maintaining this balance, ensuring that investments in new features, quality, and architectural improvements are aligned with the company's strategic objectives. Santeri also outlines the processes he uses, such as product portfolio steering groups and quarterly business reviews, to manage these competing priorities effectively.
"A successful CTO balances innovation with business needs, ensuring that both thrive together."
"Lazy engineers are the best engineers—automate every step to maintain focus on real innovation."
As companies grow, maintaining agility while scaling operations becomes increasingly challenging. Santeri advocates for the extensive use of automation, particularly in CI/CD pipelines, to reduce repetitive tasks and ensure that teams can focus on high-value work. He shares insights on transforming traditional teams into full DevOps teams, capable of managing multiple customer environments with efficiency.
"Automate relentlessly to free up your team for the innovation that drives your business forward."
"It's all about people—how they communicate, collaborate, and respect each other's roles."
Santeri emphasizes the importance of collaboration in decision-making processes within growing organizations. He describes how the structure of decision-making evolves as companies scale, from a small core team to complex, multi-layered organizations. By setting up regular synchronization points and ensuring that decision-making bodies, such as product and portfolio steering groups, are well-informed and collaborative, Santeri ensures that the organization stays aligned with its strategic goals.
"Effective collaboration is the backbone of decision-making in any growing organization."
About Santeri Kangas
Santeri drives enterprise value by leveraging the latest technologies and creating passionate teams. As an entrepreneurial CTO, CISO, and European regional CEO, he excels in cybersecurity, AI, and cloud transformation. Santeri is also a World Economic Forum Global AI Council member and leads CUJO AI in securing connected experiences.
You can link with Santeri Kangas on LinkedIn.
In this special BONUS episode of the CTO Series, Andrea Goulet, an innovative software executive, shares her mission to change the tech industry by making empathy a core technical skill. Andrea's insights reveal how empathy can transform leadership, foster collaboration, and drive success in software development. Through personal stories and practical tips, she illustrates the power of empathy in navigating complex challenges, from aligning mental models to enhancing communication between teams and leaders.
"Empathy isn't just credible in the software industry; it's crucial for innovation and collaboration."
Andrea reflects on her journey from a communications background where psychology played a pivotal role, to becoming a software executive who champions empathy. Despite initial skepticism from industry consultants, Andrea stuck to her belief that empathy was essential for success in tech. She shares a transformative experience with Scott Hanselman that highlighted the importance of understanding mental models and developing new communication strategies. This experience solidified her approach to leadership, emphasizing empathy as a vital skill for effective collaboration.
"Pause, reappraise, and think before you act – empathy in action is the key to navigating complex interactions in tech."
"Developers can be as empathic as business leaders, breaking down traditional communication barriers."
Andrea delves into the importance of empathy between teams and their leaders, particularly when dealing with mismatched mental models. She discusses the protocols she has developed based on real-life situations, which prioritize empathy in decision-making and feedback processes. By advocating for her team members and facilitating conversations between executives and developers, Andrea demonstrates how empathy can lead to more effective problem-solving and collaboration.
"Facilitate conversations that shift from confrontation to collaboration – empathy is the bridge to solving shared problems."
"The communication infrastructure is the 'plumbing' that allows information to flow seamlessly across your organization."
Andrea explains how the book Team of Teams by General Stanley McChrystal influenced her understanding of agile methodologies. Struggling with the lingo of Agile, she found clarity in McChrystal’s discussion of complex systems and the importance of managing interdependencies. Andrea emphasizes the need for a robust communication infrastructure to ensure that information flows freely within an organization, enabling teams to respond quickly to changing circumstances and align their efforts with broader business goals.
"Build communication loops that enable agility – the right infrastructure supports the flow of information and decision-making."
[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 Andrea Goulet
Andrea Goulet is on a mission to change the way the world thinks about empathy by leading a scientific revolution and making empathy a core technical skill for all technologists. She is a sought-after international keynote speaker, experienced software entrepreneur, and award-winning industry leader. Her expertise centers on using empathy and effective communication to modernize legacy and mission-critical software systems.
Andrea has taught over 75,000 students through her online courses on empathy and communication. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Empathy-Driven Software Development, and the founder of Empathy in Tech and Legacy Code Rocks, two online communities where code and compassion connect.
You can link with Andrea Goulet on LinkedIn.
In this special BONUS episode from our CTO Series, we learn about leadership and product from Alexander Grosse, a seasoned professional with an impressive track record at companies like Nokia, SoundCloud, and BCG Digital Ventures. Currently serving as the Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) at Veo, Alexander shares insights into his unique role, offering practical advice on how to structure teams, integrate product and engineering functions, and scale effectively during periods of rapid growth. Whether you're in the tech space or simply interested in effective leadership, this episode provides invaluable lessons on aligning product and tech for optimal results.
"Bridging the gap between product and technology is crucial to avoid conflicts and ensure everyone is aligned on the same objectives."
Alexander begins by explaining the evolution of his role from an engineer to a CPTO, highlighting the challenges he faced in organizations where product and engineering were separated into silos. He discusses how this separation often led to conflicting incentives, ultimately stifling progress and innovation. By combining these roles under one umbrella, Alexander has been able to foster a more cohesive team, incentivized by the same goals and working in unison toward shared outcomes.
"In a startup with limited runway, it's essential to have one team incentivized by the same numbers. This alignment dissolves conflicts and directs energy towards building the product."
"Moving from cross-disciplinary to interdisciplinary teams was a game changer—it shifted the mindset from individual ownership to shared responsibility."
Reflecting on his career, Alexander shares a pivotal moment that redefined his approach to leadership—embracing interdisciplinary collaboration. Influenced by the principles in the book Change by Design, he emphasizes the importance of teams owning everything together rather than just their specific domains. This shift not only improved the innovation process at BCG Digital Ventures but also laid the foundation for his current leadership style at Veo.
"Interdisciplinary teams own everything together, creating a culture where innovation thrives and leadership becomes a collective effort."
"Shared ownership across disciplines ensures that both business and tech priorities are aligned, resulting in a more agile and responsive organization."
As the CPTO, Alexander is responsible for both product strategy and the technology roadmap. He describes his process of fostering shared ownership among his teams, loosely following Agile principles to maintain flexibility and responsiveness. By working in short cycles, conducting regular retrospectives, and aligning product, engineering, and design, he has created a cohesive strategy that drives both innovation and business results.
"Shared ownership and agile processes enable us to stay responsive to both product and business needs, ensuring that we're always moving in the right direction."
"Combining commercial needs with incremental software releases requires a careful balancing act, especially in hardware-driven businesses."
Alexander discusses the unique challenges of launching hardware products while maintaining agile software development cycles. He underscores the importance of risk management and cross-functional collaboration, particularly between supply chain, commercial, and product development teams. With a dedicated program manager for hardware releases and strategic use of firmware updates, Alexander navigates the complexities of integrating hardware and software in a fast-paced environment.
"In hardware-dependent businesses, mastering risk management and aligning cross-functional teams are key to a successful launch."
"Aligning incentives between tech and commercial teams is crucial—what gets people to buy a product doesn't always keep them engaged."
Collaboration between tech and business units is vital for success, and Alexander shares several strategies to enhance this partnership. From organizing workshops to aligning incentives, he emphasizes the need for close cooperation between departments. One of his key practices is making product teams accountable for churn, ensuring that they are directly tied to business outcomes and closely aligned with sales metrics.
"Make your product team accountable for churn—it’s the closest business number to sales metrics and fosters true alignment with the commercial side."
"Tasks with sufficient training data will be taken over by AI, reshaping how we approach software and product development."
Alexander shares his thoughts on the rise of AI and its potential to transform software and product development. He predicts that AI will take over routine tasks, like CRUD operations, allowing developers to focus on more complex and creative aspects of product development. He also highlights the current use of AI in querying data sets, pointing to its growing influence in everyday business operations.
"AI is set to take over routine development tasks, pushing us to focus on innovation and higher-level problem-solving."
The book Change by Design has been a significant influence on Alexander's approach to his role as CPTO. He recommends it as essential reading for anyone looking to bridge the gap between product and technology, offering a framework for creating interdisciplinary teams and fostering innovation.
"Change by Design was the missing puzzle piece for creating a 'one team' approach—it's a must-read for any CPTO."
[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 Alexander
Alexander is a seasoned professional with a rich background in major corporations like Nokia, as well as experience with startups, and being a corporate venture builder at BCG Digital Ventures. Currently the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Veo, he invests in early-stage startups and offers expert advice, leveraging his experience as co-author of the O'Reilly book 'Scaling Teams'.
You can link with Alexander Grosse on LinkedIn.
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.