Agile Mentors Podcast from Mountain Goat Software

Join Brian as he rediscovers and relives the most captivating topics, memorable guests, and impactful topics from the first year of the “Agile Mentors” podcast. Overview From deep dives into Agile methodologies and practical tips for using your knowledge to benefit others and foster change, the first 50 episodes of the “Agile Mentor” podcast have been filled with fascinating topics and memorable guests. In this episode, Brian Milner embarks on a retrospective journey through the inaugural year of the show. Listen in as he shares the real stars of the podcast, the moments that surprised him, those that took him out of his comfort zone, and the ones that inspired him to push to be better every day! Plus, what’s next for the show. Listen Now to Discover: [00:45] - Brian introduces the retrospective episode to celebrate one year and 50 episodes of the "Agile Mentors" podcast and share what's next. [01:54] - A thank you for YOUR role in the show. [02:17] - The role of marrying the right topic to the right guest. [02:56] - The format that allows listeners to choose the episodes that interest them the most. [04:03] - Pointing you toward the best of the best. Our first several episodes were focused on the Agile Framework and some core topics, including having Mike Cohn on to talk about the different roles and generally accepted practices. [05:13] - Sending out thanks to a few of our guests, including the trainers at Mountain Goat Software, including Lance Dacy. [05:45] - Kert Peterson joined us to share his knowledge, and Scott Dunn shared his insight from the product owner's perspective. [06:05] - On episode 16, Mitch Lacey joined us to discuss The Hidden Secret Ingredient And Julie Chickering brought a great perspective from a project management background and applying that to some of the stuff we've discussed here on the show. [06:39] - The time when one of my mentors joined us on the show to discuss transformation. [07:08] - Learning about coaching and marketing from the best! [07:27] - Roman Pitchler joined us to discuss product roadmaps and planning things from a product owner perspective. And John Miller shared about using Scrum in the education environment. [07:46] - On EP25, Henrik Nieberg came on and talked to us about scaling, and on EP27, Tricia Broderick walked us through leadership without blame. [08:18] - How Scrum can be applied outside of software development and mob programming. [08:42] - The key to working with humans. [09:03] - The episode that surprised Brian a little bit. [09:34] - Three episodes all about change: The first one was about how one organization uses Scrum to help impoverished micro-entrepreneurs succeed (and change their lives). The second featured Chris Li sharing his insight on how to know when it’s time to strike out on your own, and Karim Harbott walked us through the difficulty of transforming an organization's culture. [10:25] - The episode that inspired Brian to try to push in different ways to get better. And how to cultivate an Agile culture in a virtual world. [10:53] - Why transformations take people, how to assess a company’s culture before you accept their job offer, and lean thinking in Agile with Bob Payne. [11:49] - The real stars of the podcast. [12:30] - What’s ahead for the podcast? [13:02] - Stepping off the gas a bit. [13:45] - Virtual dial—targeted tips. [14:32] - The lifeblood of the “Agile Mentors” podcast. [15:06] - Mike Cohn and Brian are both presenting at Agile2023 in Orlando, July 24 through 28th. [15:39] - The most significant benefit of BIG conferences. [16:41] - Thank you for getting us to a year and 50 episodes! Join the Agile Mentors Community to continue the discussion. If you have topics for future episodes, email us by clicking here. And don’t forget to subscribe to the “Agile Mentors” Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. References and resources mentioned in the show: Agile2023 | Orlando, Florida | Agile Alliance #1: Scrum vs Agile & Keys to Success with Mike Cohn #3: What Makes a Great Product Owner? With Lance Dacy #9: Scrum Artifacts with Kert Peterson #10: Why User Stories are the Best Way to Capture Requirements with Mike Cohn #17: Getting There From Here: Agile Transformations with David Hawks #18 Coaching in an Agile World with Lyssa Adkins #21: Agile Marketing Teams with Stacey Ackerman #22: How to Create Helpful Product Roadmaps with Roman Pichler #23 How Agile Works in Education with John Miller #25: Scaling with Henrik Kniberg #27: Leading Without Blame with Tricia Broderick #29: Influencing Up with Scott Dunn #32: Scrum in High School Sports with Cort Sharp #33 Mob Programming with Woody Zuill #34: I'm Trained, Now What? with Julie Chickering #37: Servant Leadership, Not Spineless Leadership with Brad Swanson #38: Using Agile for Social and Societal Transformation with Kubair Shirazee #40: Is it Time to Go Out on Your Own? Tips and Insights with Chris Li #41: Cultural Transformation in Organizations with Karim Harbott #42: The Importance of Self-Mastery with Bob Galen #43: Cultivating Agile Team Culture in a Virtual World with Richard Cheng #44: Transformations Take People with Anu Smalley #46: How to Assess Company Culture Before Accepting a Job Offer with Christina Ambers #47: Exploring Lean Thinking in Agile Development with Bob Payne Mountain Good Software's Certified Product Owner course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work.

Join Brian and his guests, Janet Gregory, and Lisa Crispin, as they share their expertise on integrating testing into Agile teams. Discover how to bridge the gap between programmers and testers for collaboration and success. Overview In this episode of the "Agile Mentors," Brian Milner sits down with Janet Gregory and Lisa Crispin, founders of Agile Testing Fellowship, to discuss integrating testing into Agile teams. They discuss the history of the divide between programmers and testers and the importance of collaboration and communication between the two groups. Listen in as they explore the different levels of holistic testing, the mindset shift needed for bug prevention, and the tools and strategies for planning and estimating testing activities. Plus, the role of AI in testing. Listen Now to Discover: [00:05] - Brian Milner introduces the guests for this episode, Janet Gregory and Lisa Crispin, who are advocates for integrating testing into Agile teams and the Founders of Agile Testing Fellowship. [02:25] - Lisa explains the most important goal for collaboration and success. [03:34] - Janet talks about the history of the gulf between programmers and testers. [05:09] - How to bridge the gap between programmers and testers and the value of collaboration. [07:29] - What the values of Agile and Extreme Programming emphasize. [09:49] - The mindset shift needed for bug prevention. [11:17] - Managers behaving badly—Brian shares a story about how measuring the wrong things can drive the wrong behaviors. [12:13] Brian discusses the micro view of testing instead of a system view. [12:17] How to handle intense forms of testing that take a long time to complete. [14:02] Janet explains the different levels of testing and that teams should determine where testing belongs based on when it can be performed earliest. [15:23] Avoiding a "hardening sprint." [16:48] Lisa shares how to use visual models like the agile testing quadrants and the holistic testing model to help plan and communicate the testing activities needed throughout the software development lifecycle. [17:25] The website where you can find the training written by Lisa and Janet, including “More Agile Testing” and “Agile Testing Condensed” (recently released), and where you can download the FREE Mini-book "Holistic Testing: Weave Quality into your Product." [18:29] - Brian introduces the sponsor for the podcast, Mountain Goat Software. If you are thinking about getting certified as a Scrum Master, check out the resources and training options where certification classes are available every week. [19:26] - The key to fitting testing into a normal sprint cycle and integrating testing with other system pieces. [20:52] - Janet shares a tip for ensuring testing is not overlooked. [20:59] - Lisa shares how to remind teams to do testing at the right time. [22:31] - Why have a visible reminder for testing? [23:54] - The importance of accounting for testing and not treating it as a separate thing to do. [24:37] - Lisa shares her experience using planning poker for estimation and her preference to get every story the same size so they can be completed in a day or two. [25:50] - Janet suggests sizing stories and estimating tasks, why she estimates her tasks herself, and what she’s learned in that process. [26:44] -How to reduce the time needed in estimation meetings: Lisa shares some insight to identify when a story is too big and needs to be split up. [27:35] - The importance of conversation and understanding to avoid creating a wall between programmers and testers during estimation. [28:03] - Another tool in the toolbox: how Chat GPT will revolutionize testing (and who it might replace). [29:01] - There will never be enough time to do all the testing required. [29:31] - Lisa highlights how AI as a tool saves time with testing and allows more time for critical thinking skills. [30:12] - The need for a human presence in the use of AI. [31:19] - Janet shares information about her and Lisa's two courses, Basic Strategies for Agile Teams and Holistic Testing for Continuous Delivery, based on the Holistic testing model of looking at testing activities throughout the software development lifecycle. These courses can be found here. [36:37] Lisa mentions that her book, “Assessing Agile Quality Practices” helps teams identify where they are and where they can improve, using a framework that looks at ten different quality aspects. Plus, information on the book they are working on now on how to facilitate an assessment. [39:03] - Brian provides a list of resources available from Lisa and Janet, including their books “Agile Testing Condensed: A Brief Introduction” “Agile Testing,” “More Agile Testing,” and Assessing Agile Quality Practices and their "Holistic Testing: Weave Quality into Your Product” free download. [40:14] - Join the Agile Mentors Community to continue the discussion. If you have topics for future episodes, email us by clicking here. And don’t forget to subscribe to the “Agile Mentors” Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. References and resources mentioned in the show: Agile Testing Fellowship Agile Testing - The Book Agile Testing Condensed: A Brief Introduction More Agile Testing Holistic Testing: Weave Quality into Your Product Assessing Agile Quality Practices Mountain Good Software's Advanced Certified Product Owner course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Lisa Crispin is the Co-founder of the Agile Testing Fellowship, an author, and an Agile tester and coach, who helps practitioners deliver quality software frequently and sustainably. Janet Gregory is the Co-founder of the Agile Testing Fellowship, an author, and a consultant, specializing in building quality systems and helping companies promote agile quality processes.

Join Brian and his guest Bob Payne as they discuss the principles of lean thinking and how they apply to Agile methodologies. Overview In this episode of the “Agile Mentors” Podcast, Brian sits down with Bob Payne to discuss the intersection of Agile and lean thinking. As an experienced Agile coach and host of the “Agile Toolkit Podcast,” Bob shares his insights and offers practical tips for implementing lean thinking in your own team. Listen in as they explore the fundamental principles of lean thinking in Agile methodologies. They discuss managing flow, not workers, and the importance of continuous improvement and experimentation to achieve sustainable, high-quality results in your organization and success in today's fast-paced business environment. Listen Now to Discover: [01:23] - Brian welcomes Bob Payne, the Senior Vice President of Training and Coaching at Lithespeed, as well as the host of the “Agile Toolkit Podcast” and the Chairman of the Agile DC Conference. Bob is here to discuss lean systems and lean thinking. [03:57] - Bob explains how lean thinking is connected to Agile methods in knowledge work. [07:30] - Agile methods generate value through teamwork that ultimately ends up in the customer's hands, and lean thinking is the larger circle that encompasses these methods. [08:24] - Lean thinking involves discipline and continuous improvement, which are essential characteristics for any successful team. [10:30] - Lean thinking also considers the sustainability of the workforce—workers are seen as producing value, while management is there to create the system that makes them the most effective. [11:31] - Lean thinking provides inspiration for visual management systems (such as Kanban boards) to track work which is incredibly powerful (and were not invented by Agile methods). [11:47] - Lean didn't just appear out of thin air; it built off of multiple things. [12:17] - Lean principles are foundational, and empiricism is built into lean. [14:34] - Bob shares that visualizing work is crucial to managing it effectively and citing the example of Toyota's electronic boards. [15:52] - Managing the flow of work, not the workers. We aim for cross-functional, self-organizing teams in an Agile team to get the job done. [17:05] - Bob shares an analogy about the workflow in a coffee shop. [17:41] - Bob shares the lean thinking philosophy and discusses the use of on-demand planning and continuous improvement. [19:14] - Brian introduces the sponsor for the podcast, Mountain Goat Software, which offers various training options for Agile methodologies. You can find their training schedule here. [19:46] - The difference between fixing the system and fixing the people in terms of leadership— Brian highlights the importance of a holistic view of the organizational structure to support the work and the workers in lean thinking. [20:36] - Brian shares the importance of limiting work in process within Scrum. He shares his experiences with XP teams and emphasizes the need to identify blockages and fix the source, not (just) the symptom. [23:03] - Bob and Brian discuss how Agile methods often miss local optimization, focusing on fixing bottlenecks instead of making other parts of the process more efficient. [25:23] - Bob shares how the focus on DevOps and better tooling has enabled Agile teams to go faster while maintaining safety (and avoiding burnout). [26:30] - Bob shares a talk called "Project to Product: Practical Realities at Large Scale Enterprises,” Kevin Fisher gave at a DevOps conference about an end-to-end value stream analysis. [27:40] - Bob discusses the need for a shift towards prioritizing rapid building and getting products to market, as Jeff Patton and Marty Cagan advocate. [28:37] - Bottlenecks? What the Scrum Master should focus on. [29:27] -Understanding the theory and philosophy behind Agile rather than just focusing on the practices is important. Brian shares why he believes it's crucial to recognize that the system needs to be fixed, not the worker. [30:49] - Understanding the theory and philosophy behind Agile methodologies rather than just focusing on the practices for more successful teams is essential. [31:18] - Bob talks about how teams should experiment with different ways of doing things and shares the early Agilists were making stuff up and pulling together ideas that worked. He spends the first hour and a half of his classes talking about the history and mindset of Agile and lays out these principles with case studies. [35:24] - Check out Bob Payne’s work on his podcast, “Agile Toolkit Podcast,” and at Lithespeed. [36:08] - Join the Agile Mentors Community to continue the discussion. If you have topics for future episodes, email us by clicking here. And don’t forget to subscribe to the “Agile Mentors” Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. References and resources mentioned in the show: Lithespeed "Agile Toolkit Podcast” Agile DC Conference Project to Product: Practical Realities at Large Scale Enterprises Mountain Goat Software's Advanced Certified Product Owner course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Bob Payne is an industry-leading Lean+Agile Transformation leader with over 20 years of experience. He is the SVP of Enterprise Transformation at Lithespeed, the host of the “Agile Toolkit Podcast," and the Chair of the Agile DC Conference. With a wealth of practical experience, Bob has been a trusted advisor to executives, teams, and management at leading firms such as Walmart, National Geographic, and Samsung.

Join Brian and guest Christina Ambers on this episode of the "Agile Mentors" podcast as they discuss the importance of asking the right questions during a job interview to determine if a company (and its culture) is a good fit for you. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors podcast, Brian sits down with Christina Ambers to discuss the most important questions to ask during a job interview for an Agile role and the yellow and red flags to look out for. Listen in as Christina shares her insights on which questions to ask in order to probe deeper and better understand the company's values and culture to assess whether the role is a good fit for you as a candidate. Whether you're a job seeker or a hiring manager, this episode offers valuable insights into ensuring a good match between the company and the candidate. Listen Now to Discover: [01:13] - Brian welcomes Christina Ambers to the Agile Mentors podcast. Christina is an Agile Enthusiast, Enterprise Coach, Speaker, and owner of SMART ACE Formula. She’s also an active member of the Agile Mentors Community. Today we're discussing the topic of interview questions and why it's essential to ask questions during an interview. [02:31] - Christina explains how asking questions during an interview allows the candidate to interview the company to see if it's a good fit for you. [02:48] - Brian shares that having questions prepared shows a level of preparedness and readiness for the interview to determine if the company is the right fit for you, especially in today's job market with increased layoffs. [03:54] - How asking the right questions can save you from frustration and a dead-end career [05:01] - Christina shares a good starting point for asking questions that will help you determine what it's like to work at a company and help you get a sense of their culture. [05:35] - Brian shares a tip on weeding out vague answers about culture and offers a warning of what to look for as an indicator that the culture isn't great. [07:04] - Christina adds that if the interviewer relates culture to food or other benefits, it’s another warning sign that culture might not be taken seriously in the organization. [07:58] - Christina suggests that these red flags could also be opportunities to improve the company culture if it's an area you excel in, offering a chance to make a positive impact and provide you with some job security. [8:37] - Brian suggests asking a question that puts the interviewer at ease and helps them focus on the company's culture and offers an example [09:09] - Christina shares her favorite question to ask in an interview, sharing that this question helps her understand what the interviewer expects out of your role. [09:44] - Christina shares that if an organization's culture isn't conducive to improvement, that could be a red flag. [10:36] - More than just a warm body—why it's essential to clarify what is expected of your role BEFORE you take the job. [11:09] - How to avoid being the “new Dave.” [11:46] - Christina shares how asking questions about the outcomes and responsibilities of the role can help a candidate identify any hidden or unexpected aspects of the position that were not included in the job description. [12:30] - Asking the right questions to avoid misunderstandings (and wasted time and effort)— Brian shares his experience of being misled during the interview process by a company that claimed to be interested in agile methodology. [13:50] - How flipping the question can help clarify what outcomes they expect from the role, especially when talking to the team, to understand how to be successful in the position. [14:28] - Christina talks about clarifying whether the role is a replacement or a new role and how the company values the role. [15:04] - Christina shares her concern about the company's expectations being too high, especially for a new role. She suggests asking whether the company is ready for the change and how much they value the new position. [15:41] - Brian adds that asking how the team's performance is measured is essential. He recommends understanding what the company is trying to accomplish with the team. [16:49] - Christina shares some yellow flags that provide room to grow and an opportunity for coaching. [18:08] - Brian recommends asking how the company invests in employee growth to determine how they value individuals versus teams. [18:40] - Brian shares the sponsor for today’s episode, Mountain Goat Software's Certified Scrum Product Owner Training which teaches how to use the product backlog as a tool for project success. [19:17] - Christina talks about inquiring about how the company connects developers to actual customers. [20:36] - A passion for continuing education: Christina recommends asking about how the company values additional learning experiences and how they reward individuals versus teams for continuing education. [23:56] - Avoiding potential red flags. [24:46] - Christina suggests asking about the company's changes since COVID-19 to find out how they respond to significant disruption and delving into employee longevity. [25:58] - Brian emphasizes the importance of asking questions during the interview process to determine how Agile a company is right now and how they actually care for their employees vs. just what they can deliver. [27:44] - The value of talking to other employees in the company. [28:32] - How to determine how a company views work/life balance (and their flexibility for work from home). [29:35] - Probing a company's attitude towards offshore or outsourced employees in relation to their in-office employees before starting to work for them. [30:18] - Success isn't measured by simply sitting at a desk and typing—watching out for red flags indicating the company hasn't figured out what success means to its customers. [31:05] - Determining the Agile framework of your future team. [32:15] - What does Scrum mean to you—there might be more than one answer—how to find out and what follow-up questions to ask. [32:50] - Connect with Christina in the Agile Mentors Community or check out SMART ACE Formula. [33:39] - Join the Agile Mentors Community community to continue the discussion. If you have topics for future episodes, email us by clicking here. And don’t forget to Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. References and resources mentioned in the show: SMART ACE Formula Mountain Good Software's Certified Product Owner course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Christina Ambers is a certified Scrum Master, Agile, and Kanban Coach with over 16 years of experience in software development and transformations. She is passionate about unlocking agile potential, inspiring teams to succeed, and applies agility and lean concepts in her everyday life. Christina is a founding member of the SMART ACE Formula and has worked with companies of all sizes and industries to help teams collaborate and work more effectively.

Join Brian and guest Scott Dunn as they share practical tips on navigating the challenges and achieving success in implementing Agile practices in regulatory environments on this episode of the "Agile Mentors" podcast. Overview: In this episode of the Agile Mentors podcast, Brian and Scott Dunn delve into the challenges of implementing Agile practices in regulatory environments. They discuss the importance of finding ways to work within regulatory frameworks, building trust with stakeholders, and adapting Agile principles to fit the unique needs of the organization. Listen in to discover practical strategies for navigating regulatory hurdles, effective communication with regulators and customers, and building a culture of continuous improvement in highly regulated industries. Listen Now to Discover: [01:30] - Brian welcomes Scott Dunn to the Agile Mentors podcast. Scott is a Certified Enterprise Coach and Scrum Trainer with over 20 years of experience. Today's show is focused on the listener-inspired topic of implementing Agile in regulatory environments. (If you want to hear something specific, you can email us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com). [02:31] - Change is hard. Sometimes you must dig deeper into the reasons for resistance, as it may not always be related to regulatory requirements. [03:09] - Scott shares his experience working in a compliance-heavy environment, noting that the people responsible for compliance may not always fully understand the regulations. [04:16] - Scott emphasizes the importance of researching the regulations independently. In his experience, mindset and willingness are key factors in successfully implementing Agile in regulatory environments. [06:05] - Brian shares an anecdote about a pushback he received in a private class about whether Agile principles would work in the real world. [07:59] - Scott shares a recent experience on a call with a Prime contractor for the government, where they discussed the government's modernization efforts and their shift towards agile methodologies. He also mentions the GSA's internal agile group, which requires funding recipients to adopt agile practices. [09:19] - The issue of government contracts requiring specific roles rather than generalists and how this can limit the implementation of agile practices. [10:20] - Scott discusses how contracts in government organizations can limit the ability to fully implement Agile principles and how to create change within their organizations. [11:33] - Brian discusses the idea that a transformation is an ongoing process and not something that can be checked off as completed. He talks about the importance of continual learning. [12:01] - Brian introduces the podcast sponsor, Mountain Good Software's Advanced Certified Product Owner course. He explains how the course can help product owners increase their confidence, credibility, and value. [12:39] - The importance of collaboration over contract negotiation: Brian shares a story about Michael Sahota, who worked with the Canadian government on a bidding contract and revolutionized the government's fixed bid system. [15:07] - Brian explains that while regulatory environments require more documentation, examining whether certain documentation is necessary is essential. [15:54] - The need for empathy and understanding when working with regulatory environments. [16:26] - Small nudges = Significant change. [19:45] - The challenge of testing in regulatory environments, particularly regarding validation. Brian shares a story about a client with FAA regulations and how they tackled the issue, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. [23:20] - Scott suggests a pragmatic approach to achieving work goals, acknowledging the external constraints that may prevent perfection. [24:09] - Scott further explains that in some cases, there may be a sliding scale of achieving different levels of agility. Even small incremental steps towards agile implementation can provide benefits. [25:37] - Brian shares what he considers the #1 win in implementing Agile into these types of environments. [26:57] - What's possible? If you fast forward a year from now, what could be done now that gets us to the next step? [28:10] - Think about how you are showing up: the importance of facilitating idea-generating conversations and the type of leadership it takes to start those conversations and helps make the right thing happen. [29:30] - Scott and Brian discuss the quote, "if you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room," and how important it is to be around people who can push you and help you grow. [30:52] - Join the Agile Mentors Community community to continue the discussion. If you have topics for future episodes, email us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com. References and resources mentioned in the show: Mountain Goat Software's Advanced Certified Product Owner course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Agile Manifesto​​ Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. ● Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. ● Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He’s passionate about making a difference in people’s day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Scott Dunn is a Certified Enterprise Coach and Scrum Trainer with over 20 years of experience coaching and training companies like NASA, EMC/Dell Technologies, Yahoo!, Technicolor, and eBay to transition to an agile approach using Scrum.

In this episode of the “Agile Mentors” podcast, Brian and Anu Smalley share their perspectives on the relationship between culture and Agile transformation and why people are key. Overview Coaching an Agile transformation requires more than just knowing how to run a daily Scrum. Finding the right people for the job is critical to success. In this episode of the "Agile Mentors" podcast, Brian and Anu Smalley chat about the importance of diversity in Agile teams. Listen in as Brian and Anu explore how culture impacts an organization's ability to adopt Agile practices, the role of leaders in creating an inclusive culture, and the power of sharing stories in building a strong community. Listen Now to Discover: [01:17] - Brian introduces us to the guest, Anu Smalley, who has a lot of experience in Agile coaching and consulting. She’s also been instrumental in increasing diversity in the Agile community. She has a CST mentoring group for people who don't have the same background as the majority of people in the Scrum Alliance. Her company is Capala Consulting Group. [03:34] - Metrics and methodologies are important in organizational transformation, but people are at the heart of it. Organizations cannot successfully transform without the right people. [04:02] - Anu talks about how the Agile Manifesto emphasizes individuals and interactions as the key to success in transformation. She emphasizes the importance of having the right people in an organization to ensure a successful transformation. [05:07] - Coaching an Agile transformation requires more than just knowing how to run a daily Scrum. Finding the right people for the job is critical to success. [05:55] - Brian notes that some businesses see their employees as replaceable parts in a machine. A diversity of perspectives is essential; having only one perspective limits the team's potential. [06:52] - Each person is unique and cannot be replaced like a part in a machine. Anu stresses the importance of recognizing the human aspect of transformation to succeed and that metrics alone will not suffice. [07:48] - Brian discusses the comparison between Agile software development and research and development. Having the right people for the job is critical. [08:30] - Agile transformation requires a focus on people and coaching, and the framework will fall into place once that focus is in place. [09:14] - Anu highlights the importance of understanding what being Agile truly means rather than just knowing the techniques. [09:59] - Brian notes that while many attendees may attend Agile training classes solely for certification, trainers can use this opportunity to teach attendees a deeper understanding of Agile and transform their approach to work. [10:46] - Anu notes that there is a significant difference between implementing Scrum and transforming an organization—one can be learned in a two-day class, while the other requires a deeper understanding of what being Agile truly means. [12:02] - Focusing on people is the key to success in Agile transformation; without it, organizations will not get very far. [14:17] - Brian emphasizes the uniqueness of organizations and how Scrum is designed to be adjusted and custom fit for each group that uses it. [14:49] - Anu highlights the importance of role clarity for individuals and teams to minimize conflicts. [15:53] - The virtual world has made role clarity even more important. Anu shares an example of a client whose main focus for 2023 is to achieve role clarity amongst their teams, explaining what is essential to achieving this goal. [16:19] - Clarity is achieved by bringing people together, resolving conflicts, and working towards common goals. [16:19] - Anu emphasizes that coaching and resolving conflicts are key to achieving role clarity and smooth functioning among teams in an organization. [16:37] - Brian compares learning the basics of baseball to attending a class on Scrum—a class can teach you the basics—a coach is necessary to grow and improve. [17:50] - Anu shares that a coach is essential, even for the best sports people on the planet. [16:19] - Anu emphasizes the importance of role clarity and resolving conflicts in an organization to ensure everyone understands their role and works together effectively. [18:39] - Anu explains that the best players in any sport have personal coaches to keep them in the "being mode," focusing on the individual's growth to impact the company's growth. [19:33] - Brian highlights that even the best athletes in the world have coaches, and we should always keep growing and never stand still. [19:51] - Agile transformations are about the people we have—Anu reiterates the importance of focusing on individuals' growth to impact the company's growth. [20:12] - Leaders need to ensure they have the right people and are continuously teaching, coaching, and helping them move forward. [20:35] - Brian introduces the sponsor of the podcast, Mountain Goat Software's Certified ScrumMaster Class, and highlights its benefits for those interested in understanding Scrum. [23:34] - Anu shares examples of clients who have decided to combine roles or accountabilities due to budget cuts and how it impacts the Agile journey. [24:40] - Anu advises against continuing the Agile journey until it can be done properly. [25:43] - Leaders often make the mistake of not understanding the importance of ScrumMasters, but ScrumMasters do, in fact, provide value (a little sarcasm here). [26:00] - Without capable ScrumMasters, the transformation will stall or fail. [26:39] - Brian notes that even with capable ScrumMasters, leaders must trust and empower them to drive the transformation forward. [27:02] - Culture is all about people; if you don't have a culture supporting Agile transformation, it won't go anywhere. [27:55] - Talking about trust issues between leadership and teams. [28:55] - Anu explains that some leaders may have talented staff, but they are too scared to trust them with an Agile transformation because they are worried about the culture and power structure changes. [29:35] - Brian suggests an innovation initiative, to which Anu sarcastically proposes an innovation sprint as a solution. [29:47] - Brian encourages listeners to contact Anu through LinkedIn or through the website of her company, Capala Consulting Group. [30:52] - Anu invites listeners to share their Agile transformation stories with her and promotes the importance of building a community through shared experiences. [32:58] - The value of learning from different cultural perspectives. [33:17] - Brian invites you to share your ideas for the show or feedback. Email Brian. References and resources mentioned in the show: Capala Consulting Group Mountain Goat Software's Certified ScrumMaster Class Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Agile Manifesto​​ Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He’s passionate about making a difference in people’s day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Anu Smalley is the President and Founder of Capala Consulting Group, where she specializes in Executive Coaching and Agile Transformations. She is a Certified Enterprise Coach and Certified Scrum Trainer®. She’s an active member of the larger Scrum and Agile community and enjoys giving back via volunteering at various conferences.

In this episode of the Agile Mentors podcast, Brian and Richard Cheng discuss the challenges of working in a virtual environment, sharing insights and strategies for maintaining team collaboration and communication. Listen in for practical tips and expert advice on navigating the changing landscape of remote work. Overview In this episode of the "Agile Mentors" podcast, Brian and Richard Cheng discuss the challenges and opportunities of the ever-evolving world of remote work in Agile teams and the role of technology in supporting Agile practices. Listen in as they share their insights on the tools to use, how to maintain team cohesion and collaboration, and the importance of culture and personal connections. You'll find practical tips and inspiring ideas to help you navigate the virtual landscape and thrive in the new normal of work. Listen Now to Discover: [01:14] - Brian introduces Richard Cheng, founder of Agility Prime Solutions, trainer, teaching CSM, product owner, and combat classes. He is also working on a graphic novel about the adventures of a scrum master. He's here today to discuss the challenges of working.‌ [04:16] - Richard highlights the significant shift towards virtual work that was already happening before the pandemic and the adoption of virtual work tools such as Zoom, Miro, and Slack, which made the transition easier during the pandemic. [06:22] - Richard emphasizes the importance of using tools that foster better communication and collaboration rather than replacing them. The tools and policies around them should enable people to work better together rather than create more distance. [07:08] - Richard is relatively agnostic regarding specific tools, but he mentions that he is a huge fan of Zoom for instruction and prefers Miro or Mural for collaboration. [08:03] - Brian tends to use Mural but also acknowledges the benefits of Miro (and shares a fun fact about Miro). [09:42] - Brian advises against letting the tool drive the collaboration process and instead focusing on conversations and collaboration first, then finding tools that enhance that process. [11:00] - Richard agrees with the idea that tools should not drive the team's workflow, but rather the team should drive the tools using the example of Jira™. He advises teams to tailor their tools to support their evolving needs. [12:46] - Brian acknowledges the importance of standardization in big enterprises and advises teams to refer to items in their terms to better align with their workflow. [14:20] - Brian shares why tools that allow deep customization are enormously useful because you can implement a wealth of plugins. [15:01] - The key to keeping it simple—strip it down to the bare bones and then grow it. Richard shares an example from the best Agile shop he ever worked at, The Motley Fool, and their tools, including Bugzilla. [16:00] - Brian shares the sponsor for the podcast, Mountain Goat Software, and the team home software they use for their Agile and Scrum Training. [18:39] - Richard discusses the virtual challenges of creating culture and teamwork, including communication, collaboration, and cross-functionality. [19:15] - The new frontier for companies: experimenting with different methods is essential while adapting methods to make them more effective. [20:46] - Richard discusses the issue with the Scrum guide's statement that Scrum is immutable, stating that once you're an expert, you should take what works and tweak what doesn't, drawing on an analogy about CrossFit, where workouts can be scaled up or down, and suggest that Scrum should be approached similarly. [23:48] - Promoting conversation and collaboration between teams, which is a big issue for many teams in the virtual world. Brian points out that time zone differences can be a problem. People on the other side of the globe must experiment more with asynchronous tools to communicate and collaborate effectively. [24:49] - Collaboration is less about geography and more about times. He promotes time zone friendliness to enable teams to collaborate more effectively and independently. Richard recommends setting up time zone-aligned value streams to improve product and service delivery speed, particularly for organizations with teams in multiple time zones. [26:25] - Brian emphasizes the importance of maintaining company culture in a virtual environment. He recommends virtual show-and-tell sessions to build a deeper connection among team members. [27:51] - Richard suggests that events such as game nights and virtual chocolate tastings can help bring teams and organizations closer together, even in a virtual environment. At the same time, optional in-person events for geographically connected teams can also be a good way to foster a sense of togetherness and culture. [29:15] - To help improve communication and strengthen the team's dynamics, create user manuals for team members: that includes their background, contributions to the team, and [30:37] - As a Scrum Master and Coach, being there and having osmotic communication was a big part of the job. Without it, we have to engineer everything, which can be challenging. [31:30] - Brian acknowledges that technology is rapidly changing but emphasizes the importance of not letting the tool drive the conversation. Instead, he suggests promoting collaboration and enabling teams to work better through policies and practices that bring the team together and rethink those that separate them. [32:56] - You can learn more about Richard and his classes at Agility Prime Solutions or email him at richard.c@agilityprimesolutions.com. [34:24] -Join the Agile Mentors Community for further discussion, and if you have an idea for the show or feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Email Brian. References and resources mentioned in the show: Agility Prime Solutions Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Mural Miro Jira Bugzilla Private Virtual Chocolate Tastings– Bar & Cocoa Join the Agile Mentors Community Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He’s passionate about making a difference in people’s day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Richard Cheng is the founder of Agility Prime Solutions, which provides training programs that focus on Agile, Scrum, Kanban, and Product Management. Richard is a founder and was an executive committee member of the Agile Delivery for Agencies, Programs, and Teams (ADAPT), an Agile government task force.

Join Brian and agile coach Bob Galen as they delve into the importance of self-mastery in leadership and coaching, emphasizing self-reflection, emotional intelligence, and the role of mentors. Bob highlights the need for continuous improvement and becoming a 'feedback sponge' to enhance coaching skills and humility.

Karim Harbott joins Brian to talk about the 5 levers of crafting a strong culture in an organization and the critical role of leaders in establishing it. Overview On this episode of the "Agile Mentors" podcast, Karim Harbott joins Brian to discuss the importance of crafting a strong culture in an organization through his 5 Levers for Changing Organizational Culture. Listen in as they discuss the importance of aligning behaviors with the organization's strategy and the often-overlooked but critical role that leaders play in the cultural transformation of organizations. Listen Now to Discover: [01:34] - Brian introduces Karim Harbott, an Agile coach and CST, and highlights his book, “The 6 Enablers of Business Agility” He’s joining Brian to discuss culture change and the challenges associated with it. [02:25] - Karim discusses where to begin to make cultural change. [04:14] - Brian and Karim discuss the challenges of teaching culture and the importance of modeling desired behaviors. [04:47] - Karim explains that behaviors are a key factor in shaping culture and shares that there are five levers for changing the culture of an organization. The first lever is the organization's structure, which can encourage collaboration or silos and is the first thing within your control to influence behavior and how people collaborate. [07:15] - Karim emphasizes the importance of examining the system in place using the analogy of a gardener to explain that leaders need to create an environment that fosters the growth of the desired culture and behaviors. [07:51] - Brian references a quote by Craig Larman highlighting that whatever you're seeing at the moment, your system is designed to output that—for a different output, you gotta change the system. [08:21] - Karim explains that Craig Larman's and Deming's quote that "every system is perfectly designed for the results it's getting" both emphasize the importance of the structure in determining culture. [08:47] - Karin shares the second lever for changing culture, which is that the policies and rules that leaders create can be used to control or influence behaviors. [10:37] - Brian references the "Don't be evil" structure at Google and what it entailed. [11:37] - Karin discusses the importance of weaving high-level values into every part of how the organization operates, even the low-level aspects of the organization, to truly influence behaviors. [12:15] - Karin talks about the third lever of culture change, which is metrics and targets, and notes that what you measure and set as targets speaks volumes about what leadership values in the organization. [14:18] - Measuring intangible things like respect and integrity can be difficult, but it is important to find a way to measure them even though they don’t fit neatly into a dashboard. [15:51] - Brian shares an interesting paradigm they use at Mountain Goat Software, where they set goals with both a visual and emotional aspect to help them determine when they’ve reached their goal. [16:56] - Karim discusses the importance of HR processes as a lever (Lever #4) for influencing and reinforcing behaviors in an organization. [18:27] - Brian shares the sponsor for the podcast, Better User Stories, a one-day live online training course with Mike Cohn to improve your user story writing, so your team can do its best work, faster. [19:12] Brian emphasizes the concept that the company is a team effort, not an individual sport. [20:21] Karim highlights the difference between Henry Ford's production line and a team-based environment using the analogy of chopping onions in the kitchen but being asked to make a tiramisu. [21:30] - If the culture incentivizes individuals to prioritize their own interests over the interests of the team, then there is a problem, and conflicting incentives will lead to failure. [22:21] - Incentivizing individualism over teamwork will lead to failure (and unhappiness among 70% of employees). [23:39] - Karim discusses the fifth lever, which he considers to be the most powerful: leadership behaviors. [26:20] - Actions speak louder than words: Brian speaks about the importance of leadership behavior in promoting a healthy work culture with the example of unlimited vacation policies. [28:23] - Karim talks about the importance of behavioral norms in an organization, citing descriptive and injunctive norms as examples. By using the example of a library, he illustrates how people tend to conform to social norms. [30:39] - Karim shares the two things that are necessary to strengthen a culture; without these, a culture cannot be strong (it's important for leaders to be hypersensitive to this). [31:47] - The disapproval of others can be a powerful tool to make sure people behave the way we want them to behave. [32:47] - Brian shares how the TV show Brain Games demonstrated social norms and people conforming to the crowd. [33:43] - Karim emphasizes the importance of crafting a strong culture as one of the most important things a leader can do and calls for it to be a core leadership capability. [35:46] - Do you have an idea for the show or feedback you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Email Brian. References and resources mentioned in the show: Mountain Goat Software's Better User Stories The 6 Enablers of Business Agility: How to Thrive in an Uncertain World The 6 Enablers of Business Agility 5 Levers for Changing Organisational Culture Lead and Disrupt Larman's Laws of Organizational Behavior Join the Agile Mentors Community Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He’s passionate about making a difference in people’s day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Karim Harbott is a leadership and business agility expert, entrepreneur, author, and international keynote speaker with over a decade of experience helping organizations with business agility. Karim is one of only a few people globally to hold the Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) Educator, Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST), and Certified Enterprise Coach® (CEC) status.

Chris Li joins Brian to talk about making informed decisions about going out on your own and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Overview On this episode of "Agile Mentors," Chris Li joins Brian to discuss the journey to becoming an entrepreneur. They dive into everything from the importance of having a clear vision and passion to weighing the benefits of partnerships and investors. Listen in for valuable advice from Chris and Brian on sidestepping the fear of going alone and the crucial things to consider before taking the leap. Listen Now to Discover: [01:08] - Brian introduces Chris Li. [03:13] - Chris discusses the importance of taking stock of your threshold for comfort before determining the next step, especially in the current climate. [05:33] - Brian emphasizes the importance of passion in making decisions about the next steps and recognizing when you've reached the pinnacle of your current position so you can explore other opportunities that align with your passions. [07:05] - Chris shares his journey, from knowing he had an entrepreneurial spirit to finding the right people to help him as he took the leap. [08:51] - Brian highlights the importance of having a network of people to fall back on and the value of mentorship for personal and professional growth. [09:29] - Chris notes that going out on your own looks different for everyone and why it's essential to find the path that works for you and shares an example of someone who took a different route to improve their career. [11:35] - Chris breaks down external and internal factors that can help you determine if you're ready to go out on your own, including the most critical factor to consider. [14:22] - Brian discusses healthcare as a significant factor. [15:15] - Brian discusses the importance of risk tolerance and mapping out income streams and costs to ensure that going out on your own is financially viable. [15:49] - Chris discusses the investment period at the beginning of a move and why having an end goal is essential. [17:37] - Taking stock - what will you have to give up to have this other thing? [18:47] - The importance of a support team to help walk you through ALL sides of the situation—good, bad, and neutral. [21:13] - Brian talks about why developing a backup plan is essential. [21:43] - Chris shares why getting legal advice is vital. [23:23] - Brian emphasizes the importance of hustling when you are your own boss. [24:05] - Chis encourages listeners not to be discouraged by the elements of the process. Starting a business can be a valuable experience (regardless of its outcome). [25:17] - Brian encourages listeners to be realistic about their situation but not to let fear hold them back from pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. [26:18] - Chris advises listeners to consider all the angles of any new opportunities that may come up, being realistic about their potential value. [29:21] - Brian emphasizes the importance of hustling, working extra hours as an entrepreneur, and considering your own work-life balance priorities. [31:32] - Think about how you will spend your time AND your money: Chris shares some practical things to consider, like how you will spend your time AND your money, and partnerships and securing funding. [35:49] - No matter your choice, you can always change course. [35:56] - Do you have an idea for the show or feedback you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Email Brian. References and resources mentioned in the show: Join the Agile Mentors Community Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Scrum Alliance Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast on Apple Podcasts Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He’s passionate about making a difference in people’s day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Chris Li is the Founder of SparkPlug Agility and a dynamic and enthusiastic IT consultant with more than two decades of industry experience. He specializes in delivering exceptional learning opportunities and is passionate about delivering outstanding speaking engagements, mission-focused insights, and cultivating meaningful partnerships for individuals, teams, and organizations.