Blog about team health and everything Agile

Agile at scale is a topic I’m truly passionate about, and you've probably noticed it's something I chew over a lot on this blog. To me, scaling Agile is more than just picking an Agile framework and running with it. It's about reshaping an entire organization from the top down and bottom...

In a previous post (link), I shared some red flags to watch out for when identifying an Agile coach. Now, let’s flip the script and focus on how to recognize a good one, whether you're considering hiring a full-time employee or a contractor for this role.

This article reflects my subjective...

In the ever-evolving world of Agile, there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Agile, while originally created for software development, has now branched out to encompass various sectors and disciplines. Each team, depending on their specific needs, will adopt their unique blend of Agile tools...

As an enterprise Agile coach, I've seen many organizations embrace Agile for a variety of reasons. The promise of increased customer-centricity, the ability to iterate quickly, heightened responsiveness to customer feedback and market changes, better goal setting, and an overall stronger sense of...

Have you ever heard of Agile pilots? As an enterprise Agile coach, I believe that Agile pilots are one of the most effective ways to jump-start an Agile transformation within an organization. What are Agile pilots, you might ask? They involve setting up one or several fully Agile teams -...

When running workshops or trainings, especially with new teams, it's a great idea to spend a few minutes breaking the ice and helping participants feel at ease. A good icebreaker should be short (10 minutes or less), help connect people, be fun, and easy to execute. It's essential to avoid...

Have you ever come across the term "Definition of Done" in your Agile journey? Many Agile teams encounter this concept, but not all of them adopt it. There could be several reasons for this: not fully grasping its purpose, confusing it with Acceptance Criteria, or simply not having enough time to...

In my last post, I explored the compelling benefits of using story points for Agile work estimation.

While intuitively straightforward, adopting this method does require some initial groundwork. Today, we're going to delve into how to introduce story points estimation to a...

Agile has taken the business world by storm, and it's no wonder why. With its emphasis on customer-centricity, quicker time-to-market, and fostering an environment for innovation, more and more organizations are eagerly hopping on the Agile bandwagon. However, there are times when, despite...

I've always found Agile workshops to be an incredibly effective tool for bringing teams together and addressing complex problems. These workshops can serve as a melting pot of ideas, fostering an environment where design thinking and creativity can flourish. Throughout my career in Agile...

First, let's clarify what Sprint Zero is. For those unfamiliar with the term, Sprint Zero refers to an initial sprint undertaken by a newly-formed team to create the foundational artifacts and kick off their work. A typical Sprint Zero might follow this sequence:

Day 1 - Team kick-off,...

You might be aware that Agile has its roots in Lean, and Lean principles were partially developed at Toyota. Terms like "Kanban" (看板, board), "kaizen" (改善, improvement), and "jidoka" (自動化, automation) come from the Japanese language, along with numerous other Lean concepts originating from Japan,...