The (mis)adventures of an agile coach
One night, while going down a reading-rabbit hole, I came across an unfamiliar term: ‘Agile Kata’. My thoughts strayed, and I found myself transported back to 2002, to the film “Equilibrium.” Equilibrium (directed by Kurt Wimmer) is a dystopian action film, starring Christian Bale. The film contains some fantastic action moments, but it was sadly … Read more
As someone who uses Spotify on a regular basis to listen to music and podcasts, I like the platform’s user-friendly design and vast library. Although I’ve just recently became aware of the ‘Spotify model’ as a framework for scaling agile development processes, I’m not familiar with its distinguishing features or how it compares to other … Read more
During a recent Scrum training I enquired about the different Scrum certificates. I have attained a lot of certificates through Scrum.org, but I know that the Scrum Alliance also gives out their own certificates. The response of my (Scrum.org licenced) trainer was a little more dramatic than I initially expected. They shared their insights on … Read more
We humans love comfort and habit. We seek consistency, predictability, and the familiar. Comfort can provide joy, relaxation, and tranquillity. It acts as a safe haven when the world seems chaotic or dangerous. Yet, growth and comfort can’t always go hand in hand. When we get too used to comfort, we may stagnate and miss … Read more
In my quest for personal growth, I have found that true growth comes from embracing my imperfections. Nowadays, self-discovery has a starring role in my adult life. The older I become, the closer I feel to becoming a complete person. Life experiences have coloured what used to feel like a blank slate. Embracing my complete … Read more
“Know thyself”, the age-old saying reminds us. It beckons us to explore our desires, motives, strengths, and even our deepest vulnerabilities. I recently took a short break, during which I penned a few articles. One titled “The State of Discomfort” examines how discomfort can catalyze positive personal and professional transformation. These writings flow from me … Read more
I have often heard the term ‘white-passing’ used to describe me. People look at my build and complexion, and they see a European, perhaps with a touch of Mediterranean. Yet, I have always identified as someone of mixed heritage. Upon closer inspection, there’s a hint of something else. A round face that tans a bit … Read more
In December 2022, I took part in the Professional Agile Leadership™ (PAL-E) training. After this, I completed the PAL I assessment. However, I still had questions about applying empiricism to gain business value. To find answers, I decided to enroll in the “Evidence-Based Management ™” course. This article will share my key takeaways from the … Read more
Last year was a whirlwind of new experiences for me – a new job, three courses and writing a lot for this blog. Despite the challenges, I persevered and made significant progress in my personal and professional life. As summer approaches, I am excited to take a step back, unwind, and focus on my personal … Read more
This article is a review of “Thanks for the Feedback” by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen. Consider the following scenario: a manager is providing performance feedback to an employee. The employee is doing their best, but they are feeling defensive and dejected as the boss cites all of their areas for improvement. The manager, on … Read more
The Scrum Master has two important roles: to remove impediments that are blocking the team’s progress, and to coach the team in becoming self-managing. While these roles may seem contradictory, they are actually complementary and interconnected. As a Scrum Master, you’re kind of like a parent to your Scrum Team. Your primary job is to … Read more
This month I finished the Scaled Professional Scrum™ (SPS) course and assessment, another great milestone in my professional journey! Just a few months ago, in December 2022, I had pursued the Professional Agile Leadership™ (PAL-E) training and the subsequent PAL I assessment. Despite the valuable insights gained, I found myself grappling with some unresolved questions … Read more
Did you know I actually have a long history in UX design, dating back to when the term “User Experience” first became famous. Back in 2006, while I was studying for my Bachelor’s degree (gasp!), mobile applications were still a novelty, and heuristic assessment was one of the ways we used to verify product usability. … Read more
Now that we have explored four different scaling frameworks, each with their own characteristics and merits, how does one choose a framework? What are the similarities? What are the key distinctions? Is it feasible to mix frameworks? This is the final installment in my series of articles about Scrum scaling. Similarities and differences The Scrum … Read more
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; – John Donne I want to open up about a topic that means a lot to me. For over a year now, I’ve been reflecting on the phrase “no man is an island”. This … Read more