Exploring the Human edge in Agile
I once dabbled in project management. Then I found Agile, and I worked hard to say the world of project management goodbye. Structure-heavy schedules, Gantt charts, control disguised as communication, bickering over billable hours. I traded all that in for servant leadership, flow, and emergent design. Or so I thought. Because here I am again. … Read more
The Scrum Master becomes the team’s cornerstone not because the framework says so, but because the work demands it. Frameworks and events you can teach in a week. The quieter thing (holding a team together when the sprint buckles, when a developer stops speaking up in the Daily Scrum, when a stakeholder insists on “just … Read more
Transparency is one of the bedrocks of Scrum. It builds trust, sparks collaboration, and fuels continuous improvement by keeping everyone aligned. But like any potent tool, transparency must be handled wisely. Too much openness can backfire, leading to micromanagement, misinterpretation, and a shaky sense of psychological safety within teams. This blogpost digs into the advantages … Read more
What feelings do you experience when hearing the phrase “I don’t know”? Today, the world seems to demand instant answers from everyone. Especially those in positions of authority, like politicians, who are expected to look confident and decisive no matter what. But this expectation can feel suffocating. It builds an illusion of certainty in an … Read more
At the heart of Agile, and especially Scrum, lies the dynamic duo of self-organization and self-management, each painting a different shade of team autonomy. You have probably heard of them. I have used the terminology, often interchangably. A quick reminder: Self-organization is about teams owning the ‘how’ of the work: figuring out the best ways … Read more
Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 fairytale ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes‘ has always been one of my favourite fairytales. Even now, as a grown-up, it continues to capture my imagination and resonates within my professional life. The most striking scene from the fairytale involves a deceived emperor strutting around in ‘invisible’ clothing, with his subjects nodding and … Read more
Agile coaching is more than wielding methodologies or driving change. It is a role steeped in layers of skill, responsibility, and ethical mindfulness. Agile environments, with their inherent twists and turns, demand more than just technical knowhow. They call for a strong ethical compass, a ‘true north’ to keep decisions in line with both the … Read more
In a recent meeting, I found myself struggling to recall all the Scrum values. It was a moment of blankness, which was particularly frustrating as I pride myself on my expertise. Noooooo! Remembering lists has never been my strong suit. Previously, I had managed to remember the pillars of Empiricism—Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation—as TIA, using … Read more
As a Scrum Master, you can use the Agile Manifesto’s four values as a compass to guide your team through the complex landscape of software development. Prioritising individuals and interactions, valuing working software, collaborating closely with customers, and embracing change can help ensure that processes are more than just delivering software; they are also about … Read more
A few weeks ago, while preparing for my PSM-III exam, I encountered an article (in Dutch) where someone spoke of a useful tool to make connections between the different parts and aspects of Scrum. They proposed a spreadsheet with the various Scrum Events, Artifacts, Roles and Values. I have decided to make my own version … Read more
Scrum is mainly known for its visible roles, events and artifacts. But there are some elements, less visible to the naked eye, that are of utmost importance in using Scrum. Scrum focuses on individuals and their interaction, rather than on processes or tools. Scrum is also organized around values that Scrum Teams could (and should!) … Read more
“Scrum team members respect each other to be capable, independent people.” – The Scrum Guide Everyone comes from a different place in life, and they bring with them different experiences and ideas. To work as a Scrum Team, members must respect each other’s differences. Better yet, celebrate them! Take the developers for example. They are … Read more
“The Scrum Team and its stakeholders agree to be open about all the work and the challenges with performing the work.” – The Scrum Guide Openness as a Scrum Value is of utmost importance. To ensure that the Scrum Team makes the most progress in the shortest amount of time, each team member must be … Read more
“Everyone focuses on the work of the Sprint and the goals of the Scrum Team.” – The Scrum Guide Scrum Teams can quickly feel overloaded. Or they can lose sight of what each member is doing. To figure out what to tackle first and to minimize waste, the whole team needs to think as one … Read more
“Scrum team members have the courage to do the right thing and work on tough problems.” – The Scrum Guide Why should ‘courage’ be mentioned specifically, do you think? Courage in the context of the Scrum values means having the courage to do what needs to be done and not being afraid that it won’t … Read more