Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Mike Lyons: Guiding Agile Teams to Independence, Tips For Scrum Masters Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this segment, Mike shares practical tips on measuring and fostering team independence using the five events of Scrum. Key strategies include ensuring teams have seen work before planning, encouraging team-defined goals, limiting the scrum master's role in daily scrums, optimizing sprint lengths for quicker feedback, and focusing on product showcasing and feedback during sprint reviews. Mike challenges teams to push boundaries and continuously improve. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Commitment-Driven Retrospectives Mike shares his favorite retrospective format—commitment-driven retrospectives. Mike emphasizes the importance of starting retrospectives with the question, "Did we make the improvement we committed to last time?" He argues that

Mike Lyons: Agile Beyond Teams, Leading Organizational Change Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Mike discusses the broader implications of Agile beyond just team dynamics, highlighting the need for coaching and influence at the organizational level. Why does Mike believe that Agile is not just a mindset but a substantial practice that requires change in behaviors before culture can shift? Explore how understanding business language and aligning with organizational outcomes can expand and strengthen the role of Scrum Masters.   [IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change pro

Mike Lyons: Slipping Back, When Agile Teams Drift Back Toward Waterfall Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Mike shares a story from his time with a team that inadvertently started adopting waterfall practices despite beginning with Agile intentions. How did the introduction of a business analyst role lead to a disconnect between the team and their product owner, and what does this signify about the delicate balance of roles within Agile teams? Learn from Mike's retrospective insights on maintaining Agile principles and the importance of quick feedback cycles. Featured Book of the Week: The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim In this segment, Mike describes why the "The Phoenix Project," a business novel resonates so much with scrum masters and Agile practitioners. Why does Mike find himself returning to this book time and again, and how does it mirror the realities

Mike Lyons: The Humility to Listen, A Sprint Planning Turnaround Story Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. When Mike took on one of his early projects, a seemingly small requirement during sprint planning sparked an epiphany about Agile workflows. Mike's story unfolds as he learns that dictating tasks isn't always the best approach, and he realized the importance of listening and empowering those who do the work. What crucial lessons did Mike learn about intellectual humility and creating space for his team to excel? Discover how these insights transformed his approach to sprint planning and why the Toyota Production System might hold secrets to doing your best work.   [IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with will also fac

BONUS: The Art of Slicing Work with Anton Skornyakov This episode features Anton Skornyakov, an expert in Agile methodologies and the author of "The Art of Slicing Work: How to Navigate Unpredictable Projects." Let's unpack the concept of slicing work and explore how it can revolutionize productivity and project management. Inspiration Behind The Book "Focusing on 'what's the result we want from this discussion' shifts our mindset towards more practical, outcome-oriented conversations." Anton shares what drove him to write his book. In his coaching practice, he noticed that many organizational discussions were mired in theory rather than focusing on actionable outcomes. By centering the conversation on "the next step" and the desired results for the upcoming two weeks, teams can move from abstract planning to concrete, actionable steps. Understanding Slicing Work "Think of work like a large dinner; slicing it into dishes rather than tasks offers flexibility and maintains the connection between d

Mike Richards: Leading with Trust, The Product Owner’s Guide Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Leading with Trust, The Product Owner’s Guide Discover some of the essential qualities of an effective Product Owner through Mike’s experiences and stories. How does leading with trust transform team dynamics and project outcomes? This episode highlights the benefits of a trusting relationship between the team and the Product Owner, emphasizing the importance of trust in fostering a productive and collaborative environment. The Bad Product Owner: The Dangers of Over-Engagement, And How It Affects Scrum Teams What happens when a Product Owner is too involved in the day-to-day operations of a project? Mike Richards discusses the fine line between engagement and micromanagement. Learn about the anti-patterns of Product Owner behavior that can

Mike Richards: The Scrum Master Feedback Loop, Measuring What Really Matters For Scrum Masters Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this segment, Mike shares his approach to measuring success through key performance indicators and anonymous feedback. How can scrum masters create a safe space for team feedback and foster a learning environment within their teams? Discover the significance of emotional security and predictability in achieving sprint goals and maintaining effective team dynamics. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Cat Memes Retrospective Explore a unique retrospective format with Mike as he shares how using cat memes can inject humor and openness into team discussions. How does this light-hearted approach help teams express emotions and enhance engagement during retrospectives? Learn tips on varying retrospective formats to maintain

Mike Richards: Managing Agile Teams Under Tight Deadlines, The Remote Team Edition Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Mike shares his professional journey of facilitating agile transformations and fostering change within diverse teams. How does establishing clear communication and understanding story points contribute to project success, especially under tight deadlines? Gain valuable insights into the use of work agreements and the importance of early and iterative discussions in distributed teams.   [IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup inspired change framework that can be used as the backbone of any change process! You can buy Lean Cha

Mike Richards: Beyond Lip Service, True Stories of Agile Transformation Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Mike recounts his experiences with a scrum team that struggled to fully embrace the agile mindset. We also talk about the pitfalls of "lip service" to scrum practices, and how teams can genuinely adopt continuous improvement. Discover how data-driven insights and a shift in team culture can catalyze meaningful change and enhance team performance. Featured Book of the Week: Radical Candor by Kim Scott Immerse yourself in the insights Mike got from the book Radical Candor by Kim Scott as Mike explores the transformative power of honest feedback within agile teams. How can fostering a culture of candid feedback impact team dynamics and project success? Learn practical tips for giving and receiving feedback that fosters growth and enhances

Mike Richards: Rethinking Project Priorities As a Way to Overcome The Project Iron Triangle Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Mike describes a story of managing a challenging project within the constraints of the iron triangle of project management. How did a shift in focus help his team avoid the pitfalls of gold plating and get back on track? Mike shares practical tips on asking the right questions, presenting data effectively, and the importance of prioritizing mandatory functionality over bells and whistles wishes and features. Discover how to tackle project deadlines with minimum viable solutions and the value of communicating issues promptly to prevent the need for miracles.   [IMAGE HERE] Recovering from failure, or difficult moments is a critical skill for Scrum Masters. Not only because of us, but also because the teams, and stakeholders we work with

Paul Jarvis: The Enthusiastic Product Owner, and How it Affects Agile Team Performance Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: The Enthusiastic Product Owner, and How it Affects Agile Team Performance Celebrating a Product Owner who embodies enthusiasm for the product and excellent team collaboration, Paul outlines the essential qualities of an outstanding PO. This episode provides insights into building mutual trust between the team and the PO, emphasizing the PO's role as a part of the team and the importance of collective effort in refining and executing product vision. The Bad Product Owner: The Isolated Product Owner Anti-pattern Paul shares a cautionary tale of a Product Owner who, despite being good at their job, fell into the trap of working in isolation from the team. This episode explores the detrimental effects of isolation on

Paul Jarvis: Key Indicators of Success for Agile Teams and Their Scrum Masters That You Can Reflect On Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Investigate Paul's perspective on what defines success for Scrum Masters, from the smooth running of refinement sessions to the collaborative maintenance of the Product Backlog. This episode provides practical tips for Scrum Masters to assess their impact, emphasizing the importance of team collaboration, effective backlog management, and the ease of sprint planning. Discover how to assess success in the Agile world through a blend of team dynamics, process efficiency, and shared responsibility. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Sailboat Retrospective and Other Formats Paul emphasizes the critical role of retrospectives in enabling relentless improvement, highlighting formats like the Sailboat retrospective,

Paul Jarvis: Embracing the Stretch Zone, Tools for Personal and Agile Team Growth Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Paul introduces the "comfort - stretch - panic model" by Karl Ronker. This episode explores the necessity of stepping out of comfort to achieve personal and professional growth, emphasizing the role of the Stretch zone in challenging and expanding our capabilities. Through practical tips and insights, including the significance of a growth mindset. Paul refers to Managing for Happiness, Jurgen Appelo. Regarding change processes, Paul guides listeners on how to use experiments, spikes, and the Cynefin model to navigate and embrace change effectively. What does it truly mean to stretch beyond our comfort zones, and how can we apply these principles to foster a culture of continuous improvement and happiness? Discover tools, tips,

Paul Jarvis: Unlocking Scrum Team Potential, The High-performance Tree Tool  Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, we explore the dynamics of two high-performing teams hindered by a single member's reluctance to seek help. This episode explores the critical lesson, such as leveraging the "power of the team", and introduces the high-performance tree metaphor, illustrating the foundational values and desired behaviors in effective Scrum teams. How does one individual's challenge affect team performance, and what strategies can encourage collective problem-solving and support? Paul discusses his approach and insights, and refers to a video from Lyssa Adkins about the high-performance tree. Featured Book of the Week: Management 3.0 by Jurgen Appelo Paul recommends the book "Management 3.0" by Jurgen Appelo. He shares the book's profound impact

Paul Jarvis: Agile is a Framework for Collaboration, Here’s How Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. "Agile is a framework for collaboration" In this episode, Paul shares a story from his early days as a Scrum Master in digital agencies, focusing on website projects for real estate agents. Despite the prevalence of the waterfall methodology, Paul ventured into the world of Agile, aiming to transform his and supplier teams' approach to project management. His journey wasn't without its challenges, especially in conveying the benefits of Agile over traditional methods. Through a mix of daily phone calls and strategic persuasion, he learned valuable lessons about teamwork, the essence of Agile as a framework for collaboration, and the importance of explaining new processes to those involved. How can the shift from waterfall to Agile catalyze better teamwork and proje

In this BONUS episode, we delve into the merging of Scrum and Kanban with Todd Little, Chairman at Kanban University, and Joey Spooner, Vice President of Product Management at Kanban University. Join us as we uncover the journey and strategies behind integrating Scrum and Kanban to replace project management and enhance team productivity. The Genesis of Agile and Kanban Integration  "Finding the right balance between Scrum and Kanban came from a need to handle uncertainty in tech projects better," explains Todd.  Both leaders discuss their initial encounters with agile methodologies and how challenges in their projects led them to innovate and blend Scrum with Kanban to improve flexibility and responsiveness. Understanding Scrum and Kanban  "There's a historical divide between the Scrum and Kanban communities, but bridging them can significantly enhance how teams operate." Notes Joey. They break down the fundamental aspects of Scrum and Kanban, explaining how each contributes uniquely to manag

Tom Baldwin: Agile Team Champion, The Product Owner Who Gave the Stage Away Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Agile Team Champion, The PO Who Gave the Stage Away This segment spotlights an exemplary Product Owner who, through openness and experimentation, fosters a strong bond between stakeholders, developers, and the Scrum team. Tom emphasizes the importance of backlog management, team involvement in decision-making, and the PO's non-technical, yet impactful, leadership style, illustrating how an effective PO can be a linchpin for team success and stakeholder satisfaction. The Bad Product Owner: The Proxy PO As A Strategy To Overcome PO Anti-Patterns Tom shares some critical anti-patterns often seen in the role of the Product Owner, like distance, dictatorship, and the toxicity surrounding the PO role. By proposing solutions such a

Tom Baldwin: Beyond The Process Ceremonies, The Necessary Evolution Of Scrum Master Success Over Time Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Tom talks about how we need to, over time, evolve our signs and metrics of success for Scrum Masters, from mastering ceremonies to measuring lead times and value delivery. Emphasizing the importance of team engagement with users and customers, Tom offers insights into fostering a culture of responsiveness and continuous improvement, ensuring that the team's journey towards autonomy and efficiency is both measurable and meaningful. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: 5 Why's Tom explores the essence of effective Agile retrospectives, focusing on the 5 Why's technique to address root causes of team challenges. He advocates for personalized approaches, ensuring the right stakeholders are present, and fostering an envir

Tom Baldwin: Agile Under Pressure, Strategies for Effective Organizational Change Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Tom shares a story about leading organizational change under a tight deadline, leveraging Agile principles to dismantle complexity and align teams with corporate goals. Through collaboration with an organizational design consultant, Tom emphasizes practical steps like optimizing team structures, engaging support functions, and applying throughput accounting to facilitate a transformation focused on simplicity, efficiency, and problem-solving, inspired by insights from Taiichi Ohno on eliminating waste.   [IMAGE HERE] As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? The Lean Change Management framework is a fully defined, lean-startup

Tom Baldwin: From Centralized to Collaborative, Cultivating Independent Agile Teams Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. As Tom steps into a team entangled with centralized communication and decision-making issues, he shares his strategic approach to fostering team independence and effective communication, especially during a managerial hiatus. Key strategies include direct dialogue among team members, engaging leadership in problem-solving discussions, and advocating for managerial coaching, drawing upon a real-life transformation where team autonomy and progress shine despite initial resistance. Featured Book of the Week: The Scrum Field Guide by Mitch Lacey Tom sheds light on the pivotal role The Scrum Field Guide by Mitch Lacey played in his Scrum Master journey, emphasizing its approachability and practical insights into role expectations, task decomposi