Exploring the Human edge in Agile
Ever since I muttered “no friction, no sex” about a team conflict, it’s become a favourite catchphrase. It kind of stuck, as I love to provoke gasps and giggles. But the point lands: one cannot get to the exhilarating highs of teamwork without putting in the hard work of dealing with tension. Het mag knetteren, … Read more
In Scrum Teams, the Scrum Master often becomes the team’s cornerstone. While they do ensure the implementation and adherence to Agile frameworks, their true impact comes from the subtle, human skills they contribute. It’s these vital soft skills—often unseen yet deeply felt—that inspire collaboration and build resilience in self-organising teams. This blog post explores the … Read more
Looks like I’m a bit behind the curve, finding this book a good six years after it first came out. But hey, better late than never! In my quest to discover more on hostmanship, I have decided to read a wide range of literature related to this topic. In The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker … Read more
As a Scrum Master, I’ve always been devoted to encouraging teamwork and positive interactions among team members. Over the years it’s become clear to me that mastering facilitation skills is essential for improving team dynamics and problem solving. Personally, I considered my facilitation skills to be “okay-ish.” I’ve often looked up to other professionals and … Read more
The “Five Whys” technique has emerged as a crucial tool for problem-solving and continuous improvement. This technique is based on asking “Why?” five times to dive deep into the root cause of a problem. It is a method that turns a challenge into an opportunity for growth and learning. Harnessing the power of the Five … Read more
In this dynamic world, continuous growth is paramount. The Scrum Master, often perceived as a mere facilitator, has a more profound role. Not only do they guide the Scrum process, but they can also help team members flourish – both technically and in soft skills. In this article, I will highlight the essential function of … Read more
We’ve all been there. Uncomfortable silences, glaring issues that everyone knows about but no one wants to talk about, the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’. As humans, we naturally avoid conflicts. We would rather ignore the issue or get lost behind our screens, coding away, or jump into another meeting. The problem, however, continues to … Read more
Imagine you work for a company that wants to improve its processes. Despite numerous brainstorming sessions and team meetings, transformative ideas are unattainable. How could this be resolved? By implementing Liberating Structures! Liberating Structures provides a set of dynamic methods that revitalize conventional thinking, generating new ideas and solutions to complex problems. These methods promote … Read more
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
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