Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
James outlines his vision of success for Scrum Masters. How does he measure a Scrum Master's effectiveness in fostering self-organization within a team? James emphasizes the importance of engineers being invested in the product and sensitive to customer needs. What specific behaviors indicate that a team has truly internalized agile principles? How can a Scrum Master's absence reveal the team's level of self-sufficiency? Listen in to find out how James measures his own success as a Scrum Master!
James discusses his approach to selecting retrospective formats, emphasizing the importance of matching the format to the team's current needs. He shares his preference for combining fun formats like "Two Truths and a Lie" with more analytical approaches such as the A3 Report from Toyota. How does James use metrics to inform his choice of retrospective format? What advice does he offer for tailoring retrospectives to a team's developmental stage? Listen in to find out!
[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox!
About James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, James shares a comprehensive approach to implementing culture change in a multi-site healthcare company. They used a simple three-step process to align values across diverse locations. And implemented an ambassador program and storytelling workshops catalyze the change. James explains the use of the ADKAR model and Lean Change Management principles in this large-scale transformation. James also shares the role that gamification played in encouraging narrative-centric sharing throughout the organization.
[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.
About James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
James shares a story from a healthcare company formed through acquisitions. He explores what happens when team autonomy goes too far and becomes anarchy. James also describes how one team's culture shifted from a focus on quality to a lack of basic practices, leading to degrading product quality. What non-negotiables did James identify as crucial for balancing team autonomy with organizational standards? How can leadership play a role in setting appropriate constraints for autonomous teams? Listen to find out!
James discusses the profound impact of "Turn the Ship Around" by David Marquet on his approach to leadership development. How does this book's principles apply to creating effective leadership at all levels of an organization? James shares insights from his experience developing a leadership curriculum aimed at empowering decision-making at the front lines. What key patterns does he highlight for leaders looking to succeed across various organizational levels? Listen to find out.
Note that David Marquet has been a previous guest on the podcast.
[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!
About James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this episode, James shares a valuable lesson from his experience as a Scrum Master. How can being too helpful actually hinder a team's growth? James recounts a situation where his tendency to jump in and solve problems backfired when he took a two-week break. During his absence, the team struggled without his constant involvement, which taught James a valuable lesson about enabling teams to own their challenges. He reflects on the need for Scrum Masters to model the right behavior, set clear expectations, and allow teams the space to grow.
James also discusses an effective approach he used when working with a doctor-turned-product manager in a healthcare setting. What tips does he offer for building trust and showing genuine care for others' success? Listen in to find out!
[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.
About James Gifford
James Gifford, a notable Agile/Lean coach and ProKanban Certified Trainer, is also a co-founder of Agile Uprising. He envisions a future where companies integrate Lean principles and Agile methodologies effortlessly, cultivating organizations that are dynamic, resilient, and centered around customer-focused products.
You can link with James Gifford on LinkedIn and connect with James Gifford on Twitter.
In this BONUS episode, leadership experts Tricia Broderick and Diana Larsen explore their latest book, Lead Without Blame, talking about how leaders can create high-performing teams without resorting to blaming. This conversation tackles the key themes from their book, and offers insights on how leaders can foster resilient, learning-focused teams.
"Leadership isn't about finger-pointing; it's about creating an environment where learning and growth can flourish."
Tricia and Diana kick off the conversation by breaking down what it means to lead without blame. They explore the impact of blame in the workplace, particularly how it stifles innovation, and erodes psychological safety. The authors stress the importance of making space for learning and acknowledge that many leaders, even unintentionally, perpetuate a culture of blame.
"To lead without blame, focus on building a culture where learning is prioritized over finger-pointing."
"Blame has always been a leadership issue, and this book was a way to address it head-on."
Tricia and Diana share personal anecdotes that inspired the book. Tricia describes writing the book as therapeutic, reflecting on her past experiences as an executive who lacked the skills to prevent a blame culture. Diana highlights how pervasive blame is in toxic work environments and the urgent need for a shift in leadership approaches to create healthier, more supportive workplaces.
"Our goal is to equip leaders with the tools they need to create environments where everyone can thrive without the fear of blame."
"Learning is the evolution of knowledge work, and it's the foundation of resilient teams."
The authors discuss the shift from traditional knowledge work to what they call "learning work." They explain that building resilient teams requires fostering an environment where continuous learning is encouraged and natural. Leaders must embrace the idea that learning is an ongoing process, crucial for adapting to changes like remote work and other modern challenges.
"To build resilient teams, leaders must prioritize creating a learning environment where everyone is prepared to adapt and grow."
"Courage, Compassion, Confidence, and Complexity—these are the pillars of effective leadership in today's world."
Tricia and Diana introduce the "4Cs" of Learning Leaders—Courage, Compassion, Confidence, and Complexity. They emphasize that leadership is not just about hierarchical authority but about modeling these qualities at all levels within a team. Leaders must navigate uncertainty and complexity with confidence, showing their teams how to do the same.
"True leadership is about embodying the 4Cs—showing courage, compassion, confidence, and understanding complexity in every situation."
"Leaders must exemplify the learning process, guiding their teams through growth and change."
The authors explore the concept of "Leadership through Learning," where leaders actively engage in and model the learning process. They discuss essential motivators like shared purpose, autonomy, and co-intelligence, which are crucial for fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
"Leadership through learning means being intentional about creating a space where your team can grow together."
In their book, Tricia and Diana outline "Five Rules for Accelerated Learning" that are essential for leaders looking to cultivate high-performing teams. These rules guide leaders in creating environments where learning is continuous, rapid, and deeply integrated into the team's daily work.
"Accelerated learning happens when leaders set the right conditions and provide clear, actionable guidance."
"Healthy conflict is a sign of engagement, but it's crucial to recognize when it starts to become destructive."
The authors discuss the "Escalating Conflict Model", which helps leaders identify and manage conflict stages within their teams. The model emphasizes recognizing when conflicts move from healthy disagreements to destructive behaviors and provides strategies for keeping conflicts constructive and focused on team goals.
"Understanding the stages of conflict helps leaders intervene early and keep team dynamics positive."
"Retrospectives are not just about looking back—they're about learning and adapting for the future."
Tricia and Diana highlight the importance of retrospectives in team development, emphasizing that these sessions are critical for continuous learning and adaptation. They offer practical advice on how leaders can conduct effective retrospectives that focus on purpose-relevant topics and foster a culture of open, constructive dialogue.
"Use retrospectives as a tool to reinforce your team's shared goals and drive continuous improvement."
The book is Lead Without Blame by Tricia Broderick and Diana Larsen. You can learn more about the book and access additional resources at leadwithoutblame.com.
Tricia: Ignite Insight + Innovation
Diana: Diana Larsen
Both: LinkedIn profiles
Tricia Broderick, co-author of Lead Without Blame, is a leadership and organizational advisor with over twenty-five years of experience. Her transformational leadership ignites the growth of leaders and resilient high-performing teams to deliver quality outcomes. She is a highly-rated trainer, coach, facilitator, and motivational keynote speaker. In 2020, she founded Ignite Insight + Innovation.
You can link with Tricia Broderick on LinkedIn or visit Tricia’s website.
Diana Larsen is a leadership and team improvement advisor, offering consulting and mentoring services. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has co-authored several books on Agile leadership and co-originated the Agile Fluency® Model. Her book Agile Retrospectives is one of the most mentioned works on this podcast, with the 2nd edition set to release in early 2024.
You can link with Diana Larsen on LinkedIn or visit Diana’s website.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this segment, we learn about a PO that possessed market knowledge, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills. This PO's leadership and ability to empower the team highlight the critical role of Product Owners in driving product success and team collaboration.
In this segment, Sofi shares the story of a disorganized Product Owner whose lack of preparation and messy backlog management negatively impacted the team. She discusses the importance of collaboration, timely preparation, and efficient time management to avoid such pitfalls.
[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.
About Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this segment, Sofi highlights how important it is to pay attention to moments when team members independently adhere to agreements, prioritize customer needs, and suggest improvements. She shares a KPI framework developed to measure Scrum Master effectiveness through team feedback, emphasizing the value of transparency and personal development.
Sofi's favorite retrospective format, The Speedcar Retrospective (similar to the speedboat retro), uses a simple yet effective race car image to identify what slows the team down and what drives them forward. She emphasizes the importance of varying retro formats and adapting them to the team's needs, making retrospectives engaging and insightful.
[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox!
About Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Sofi describes a project involving two Scrum teams working on the same product but struggling with engagement and alignment. By involving the team in product definition and creating a product map linked to OKRs, Sofi transformed the team's perspective. Regularly revisiting the product map and involving the team in strategic discussions led to a more motivated and cohesive team, contributing significantly to the product's success.
[IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Change Management the book at Amazon. Also available in French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.
About Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Sofi shares the story of a high-performing team that overcommitted. Despite their successes, and maybe because of them, the team had developed an unhealthy self-confidence that led to trouble. Initially praised for their can-do attitude and high-quality releases, the team began to struggle with burnout. Sofi highlights the dangers of overcommitment and the importance of sustainable pace, transparent stakeholder communication, and the need for fresh projects to prevent burnout.
In this segment, Sofi introduces How to Speak Tech: The Non-Techie’s Guide to Key Technology Concepts by Vinay Trivedi, a must-read guide for anyone navigating the tech industry. The book simplifies complex tech jargon, making it accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Sofi discusses the importance of understanding these terms, particularly for non-tech team members, to enhance collaboration and communication within tech teams.
[IMAGE HERE] Do you wish you had decades of experience? Learn from the Best Scrum Masters In The World, Today! The Tips from the Trenches - Scrum Master edition audiobook includes hours of audio interviews with SM’s that have decades of experience: from Mike Cohn to Linda Rising, Christopher Avery, and many more. Super-experienced Scrum Masters share their hard-earned lessons with you. Learn those today, make your teams awesome!
About Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Sofi assumed connecting with her remote team would be easy since she had prior experience in a distributed team environment. However, as she was starting a new job in a new country during the pandemic, Sofi quickly learned it wasn't that simple. She faced unexpected challenges, like team silos and surprising escalations during retrospectives. Sofi realized she needed to invest more in personal connections and understanding cultural backgrounds. Her journey underscores the importance of building relationships and fostering team collaboration, especially in remote settings.
[IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also face these moments! We need inspiring stories to help them, and ourselves! The Bungsu Story, is an inspiring story by Marcus Hammarberg which shows how a Coach can help organizations recover even from the most disastrous situations! Learn how Marcus helped The Bungsu, a hospital in Indonesia, recover from near-bankruptcy, twice! Using Lean and Agile methods to rebuild an organization and a team! An inspiring story you need to know about! Buy the book on Amazon: The Bungsu Story - How Lean and Kanban Saved a Small Hospital in Indonesia. Twice. and Can Help You Reshape Work in Your Company.
About Sofi Simonyan
Sofi is a Scrum Master with 6 years of experience in tech startups and a diverse work background. Passionate about people, her mission is to build teams where active listening and growth mindset are essential values. Currently on maternity leave, Sofi practices agility in a completely different dimension.
You can link with Sofi Simonyan on LinkedIn and connect with Sofi Simonyan on Twitter.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Karina shares a success story of an engaged and technically adept Product Owner who collaborated closely with the team and stakeholders. This PO’s focus on user-centric solutions and effective communication led to a successful project outcome.
In this segment, Karina tells the story of a project plagued by an absent Product Owner, leading to poor communication and integration issues between teams. This scenario highlights the importance of a PO's active involvement in the development process. What happens when a Product Owner is disengaged? Discover the pitfalls of absentee Product Owners and how to avoid them.
[IMAGE HERE] Are you having trouble helping the team work well with their Product Owner? We’ve put together a course to help you work on the collaboration team-product owner. You can find it at bit.ly/coachyourpo. 18 modules, 8+ hours of modules with tools and techniques that you can use to help teams and PO’s collaborate.
About Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this segment about Scrum Master success, Karina emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose of Scrum ceremonies and fostering a culture where team members proactively address issues. Are your teams self-correcting and collaborative? Learn the key indicators of Scrum Master success and how to cultivate them within your teams.
Karina introduces the "no speaking" retrospective format, where participants use written feedback to express their thoughts. This method encourages contributions from those uncomfortable with speaking out loud, fostering a safer environment for all team members. How can silent retrospectives enhance team engagement and inclusivity? Explore innovative retrospective techniques with Karina.
[IMAGE HERE] Retrospectives, planning sessions, vision workshops, we are continuously helping teams learn about how to collaborate in practice! In this Actionable Agile Tools book, Jeff Campbell shares some of the tools he’s learned over a decade of coaching Agile Teams. The pragmatic coaching book you need, right now! Buy Actionable Agile Tools on Amazon, or directly from the author, and supercharge your facilitation toolbox!
About Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
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, Karina shares a case study of leading an Agile transformation within a DevOps/Infrastructure team. By dividing responsibilities between handling immediate requests and long-term projects, the team found a balance. To help adoption of their process by their users, they introduced QR codes for request submissions, making the process engaging and user-friendly. How can you streamline incoming requests while maintaining long-term project focus for DevOps teams? Discover practical tips for managing change and improving team workflow.
[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 Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Karina shares her experience managing multiple teams in a high-pressure game development project. With continuous sprints and mounting technical debt, the teams faced burnout and tunnel vision. She stresses the importance of maintaining a sustainable work pace and periodically stepping back to assess long-term goals. Are your teams sprinting toward burnout? Learn how to balance productivity and sustainability in agile projects.
Karina explores the complexities of working within systems and the significant impact of external systems on our work. Systemic Coaching and Constellations: The Principles, Practices and Application for Individuals, Teams and Groups enlightened her about systemic issues, modeling systems, and focusing on manageable influences. She also highlights "Crucial Conversations" by Patterson et al., a must-read for Scrum Masters, which equips them to handle any conversation with confidence.
[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 Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Early in her career, Karina tackled a challenging consultancy project. Trusting the internal team’s feedback, she proceeded without consulting the client directly, only to find out - too late - that the client had been pleased with the work and the changes she suggested had negative consequences! This taught her the importance of gathering information firsthand and considering multiple perspectives in any situation. She emphasizes double-checking your understanding and being open to changing your mind to ensure comprehensive decision-making. Learn about Karina's key insights on client communication and making informed decisions.
[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 Karina Margole
Karina Margole is an Agile Coach with over a decade of experience, based in the UK. She has ADHD and a passion for creating an environment where everyone can do their best work. Karina approaches her work with a holistic, systemic view while also paying attention to individuals on a personal level.
You can link with Karina Margole on LinkedIn.
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Kevin highlights the qualities of an exceptional Product Owner who excels in communication, provides clear context, and uses inclusive language like "us" and "we". This PO effectively conveys the product vision, fosters team collaboration, and ensures everyone understands the impact of their work. Kevin underscores the importance of over-communication and listening, demonstrating how great POs drive team success.
Kevin discusses the challenges of working with an absent Product Owner, which he identifies as a significant anti-pattern. He shares his experience of addressing the issue by understanding the PO’s pressures and advocating for their presence. Kevin introduced the concept of a Proxy PO, which eventually led to a successful transition and improved team dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, understanding, and taking transition steps to manage risks.
[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 Kevin Hoey
Kevin is the lead scrum master at Domestic and General, with 10 years' experience in project management before moving into scrum mastery. He now heads up a team of scrum masters, whilst continuing to support his own squads. Kevin believes scrum masters need to focus on self-improvement to turbocharge their ability to better support teams and the wider business on the journey to effectiveness.
You can link with Kevin Hoey 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.
When it comes to success for scrum masters, Kevin focuses on people-centric approaches, continuous improvement, and value delivery. He emphasizes aligning with stakeholders' goals and measuring outcomes. Kevin discusses the importance of having a product roadmap and vision, conducting health checks, and striving for daily improvement. Removing unnecessary steps and making processes more efficient are key to achieving better outcomes for the team and the business.
Kevin emphasizes the necessity of retrospectives, especially for teams that claim to be too busy. He discusses the anti-pattern of avoiding retros, highlighting the benefits of examining sprint goals and reinforcing what works well. Kevin suggests periodically reviewing stories by cycle time to identify and address delays, ensuring continuous improvement in handling challenging tasks.
Kevin also shares two other retrospective formats. Starting with the simple: just do a retro, and talk; and he also recommends another simple format: “Did we meet our Sprint goal? Why/Why not?”
[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 Kevin Hoey
Kevin is the lead scrum master at Domestic and General, with 10 years' experience in project management before moving into scrum mastery. He now heads up a team of scrum masters, whilst continuing to support his own squads. Kevin believes scrum masters need to focus on self-improvement to turbocharge their ability to better support teams and the wider business on the journey to effectiveness.
You can link with Kevin Hoey 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.
Kevin discusses the constant nature of change in the scrum master role, highlighting the challenges of working with external stakeholders who often revert to command-and-control under pressure. He stresses the importance of coaching stakeholders on agile principles, prioritizing high-value items, and showing progress every sprint. Kevin shares tips on managing scope, meeting deadlines without compromising quality, and the value of incremental delivery to reduce risk and extract value.
[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 Kevin Hoey
Kevin is the lead scrum master at Domestic and General, with 10 years' experience in project management before moving into scrum mastery. He now heads up a team of scrum masters, whilst continuing to support his own squads. Kevin believes scrum masters need to focus on self-improvement to turbocharge their ability to better support teams and the wider business on the journey to effectiveness.
You can link with Kevin Hoey 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.
Kevin describes a team struggling with collaboration, where members worked in isolation and did not work towards a sprint goal. This led to over-the-wall work handoffs and blame in the team. Kevin emphasizes the importance of having cameras on during remote meetings to foster team connection. He shares that effective scrum masters unlock team productivity by focusing on people first, ensuring everyone is aligned and engaged in their work.
Kevin shares that his greatest influence isn't a book, but the Agile podcasts such as this one and others. As a new scrum master, it was the insights from experienced professionals that shaped his journey. However, he recommends "Drive" by Dan Pink, which emphasizes intrinsic motivation through mastery, purpose, and autonomy. Kevin's company has long embraced autonomy, helping him reflect on his role in fostering these qualities within his teams. He highlights the importance of enabling autonomy, purpose, and mastery to drive motivation and success in the teams we work with.
[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 Kevin Hoey
Kevin is the lead scrum master at Domestic and General, with 10 years' experience in project management before moving into scrum mastery. He now heads up a team of scrum masters, whilst continuing to support his own squads. Kevin believes scrum masters need to focus on self-improvement to turbocharge their ability to better support teams and the wider business on the journey to effectiveness.
You can link with Kevin Hoey 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.
Kevin reflects on his early career, sharing a time when his team of 12 struggled due to an anti-pattern of splitting stories by roles, causing an eight-week delivery delay. Kevin recognized the issue and initially approached the team with a focus on adherence to the Scrum guide, which didn't resonate. He later revised his approach, explaining the benefits, and managed to persuade the team to deliver one story in one go, although unsuccessfully at first. Through continuous effort, he introduced better story splitting, quick deliveries, and built trust with stakeholders, boosting team morale and productivity.
[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 Kevin Hoey
Kevin is the lead scrum master at Domestic and General, with 10 years' experience in project management before moving into scrum mastery. He now heads up a team of scrum masters, whilst continuing to support his own squads. Kevin believes scrum masters need to focus on self-improvement to turbocharge their ability to better support teams and the wider business on the journey to effectiveness.
You can link with Kevin Hoey 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 the great PO segment, Stella highlights an exemplary Product Owner who, despite lacking deep technical knowledge, developed a clear vision and strategy for the product and communicated it clearly to the team. This PO regularly collaborated with subject matter experts and held frequent calls to align with team members on the roadmap. By fostering a shared product vision, this PO exemplified effective leadership and teamwork.
Stella shares the story of a Product Owner who was present but not engaged with the team. This PO missed key team events, leading to confusion and demotivation among the team members. Stella understood that the team lacked context and clear priorities, resulting in a poor ability to understand stakeholder feedback. When analyzing the causes for this anti-pattern, Stella highlights the pitfalls of spreading a PO too thin and the importance of mid-sprint reviews.
[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 Stella Ihenacho
Stella is the Manager of the Continuous Improvement and Agility team at RedHat and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies. Dedicated to transforming organizations and individuals through an agile mindset, she believes there's always room for improvement, even when things aren't broken.
You can link with Stella Ihenacho on LinkedIn and connect with Stella Ihenacho on Instagram.
In this episode, Stella explores the complex definition of Scrum Master success, focusing on team dynamics, agile principles, and sustainable delivery. She emphasizes transparency, ownership, and continuous improvement. Stella shares her approach to building self-organizing teams and measuring success through delivery metrics and team well-being.
Stella’s favorite retrospective format, Start/Stop/Continue, is simple yet powerful. Stella tweaks the format to always start with a gratitude exercise, setting a positive tone, and encourages openness about possible issues to be discussed. Stella explains how this format is accessible to any team and fosters continuous improvement. Listen in to find out what makes this format so effective, and how can it be implemented seamlessly.
[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 Stella Ihenacho
Stella is the Manager of the Continuous Improvement and Agility team at RedHat and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies. Dedicated to transforming organizations and individuals through an agile mindset, she believes there's always room for improvement, even when things aren't broken.
You can link with Stella Ihenacho on LinkedIn and connect with Stella Ihenacho on Instagram.
In this episode, Stella talks about her experience transitioning multiple teams from another system into JIRA as their work management tool. In this story, Stella emphasizes the challenges that any change can bring, even a simple tool change. Teams were initially resistant, fearing the new tool would disrupt their work. Stella highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement workshops, pilot projects, and finding tool champions. She provides practical tips on gaining leadership buy-in and establishing clear feedback loops. How can we effectively manage tool transitions in agile environments?
[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 Stella Ihenacho
Stella is the Manager of the Continuous Improvement and Agility team at RedHat and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies. Dedicated to transforming organizations and individuals through an agile mindset, she believes there's always room for improvement, even when things aren't broken.
You can link with Stella Ihenacho on LinkedIn and connect with Stella Ihenacho on Instagram.
Stella shates the story of a high-stakes project team plagued by blame-shifting and management interference. The project’s tight deadlines and high complexity led to fear and blame culture in the team. Upon investigation, Stella became aware of some customer agreements made without team input. To overcome these anti-patterns, Stella’s strategy involved separate retrospectives for different groups and resetting customer expectations. Listen in to learn about fostering a blame-free culture and aligning team and customer expectations.
Stella shows how transformative power of small, incremental changes helped her. She found out about that approach from the book "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. She explains how these principles apply to agile transformations, emphasizing that success is built over time, not through quick fixes. Stella shares tips on focusing on small wins, the importance of vision, and the need to explain metrics clearly.
[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 Stella Ihenacho
Stella is the Manager of the Continuous Improvement and Agility team at RedHat and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies. Dedicated to transforming organizations and individuals through an agile mindset, she believes there's always room for improvement, even when things aren't broken.
You can link with Stella Ihenacho on LinkedIn and connect with Stella Ihenacho on Instagram.
Stella talks about her journey from project manager to Scrum Master, revealing how she struggled to balance both roles. She learned the critical difference between the two, focusing on trust and empowerment for her teams. When it comes to a critical lesson she learned in the process, Stella talks about a developer who resisted support, highlighting the importance of early intervention and effective 1:1s. What can we learn from her transition and the lessons on team support?
[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 Stella Ihenacho
Stella is the Manager of the Continuous Improvement and Agility team at RedHat and Agile Faculty Lead at NSTAR Technologies. Dedicated to transforming organizations and individuals through an agile mindset, she believes there's always room for improvement, even when things aren't broken.
You can link with Stella Ihenacho on LinkedIn and connect with Stella Ihenacho on Instagram.