Showing posts with label leader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leader. Show all posts

Sunday, June 16, 2013

What is it, to be an Agile Coach?


I am ...

a teacher - providing people with new knowledge.

a trainer - running people through exercises and giving them feedback, so they can improve their skills.

a networker - connecting people so that they can help each other.

a mentor - encouraging people to grow and improve.

a facilitator - organising events/ceremonies/meetings ensuring they deliver results while involving everyone.

a coach - helping people to grow, through thinking differently/ thinking about new things.

an agent of change - working tirelessly to improve how people, teams and companies operate.

councilor - really listening to people as they talk through their concerns.

a supporter - helping people through tough times.

a student - always learning from others, reading, listening, observing.

a scientist - running experiments and sharing what I learn.

a statistician - gathering data, analysing that data, and sharing my thoughts. 

a historian - recording and explaining the history of projects and teams, both successful and unsuccessful.

an author - writing my blog for others to read.

an orator - speaking in a language that my audience can clearly understand. 

an evangelist - shouting out loud and proud about what I believe in.

a leader - providing direction to those who call for it.

a team member - mostly working with others to achieve my goals.

an agile coaching - helping people, teams and companies, to make their work life more fulfilling, enjoyable, effective and efficient.


Are you like me? What can we learn from each other?

Photo Credit: Phil W Shirley


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Iteration Manager to Iteration Leader


Scrum Master to Scrum Leader


Lead by showing


Iteration Managers/Scrum Masters should not just be managing their team. They should be providing the team with leadership that helps them to achieve great things to together.
  • Lead not by telling them.
  • Lead by helping them to set clear and elevating goals.
  • Lead by teaching an agile way of thinking.
  • Lead by teaching them to think through the problems that you yourself contemplate.
  • Lead by making them think for themselves.
  • Lead by encouraging them all to be their best.
  • Lead by example. I.e. exhibit the Scrum values. Be the change you want to see.


Self-organising doesn't mean they don't have an Iteration Manager, it means they can function without one. An Iteration Manager will always be there leading them onto a greater success then they could achieve by themselves. That is what great leaders do.

This article is available in presentation form on SlideShare: Iteration Manager to Iteration Leader.

Photo Credit: I was unable to find the owner of this photo. Please contact me if you own it.