The Agile Coach Podcast

Although the title of "master" may evoke ideas of one who flawlessly executes their craft with independence and authority, when it comes to the art of scrum, principles such as collaboration, communication, and humility are the key to becoming a true master. A great scrum master leads by example, not only facilitating positive behavior within their team but showcasing that behavior daily in themselves and with every interaction from the first good morning to the last good night. To be Agile is to take pride in being human, and as a scrum master, empowering your agile team and giving them a chance to add value is one of the best things you can do. With empathy and openness, show your team how much you care, and once you're in a position where you feel less like authority and more like a friend, you have then become a true master. In today's podcast, we sit down once again with scrum master, Adam Miner, and discuss topics such as evolving as a scrum master, becoming a better coach and mentor, and how to empower your teams. Timestamps: xxx Our Speaker: Adam Miner Baseball has always been his passion, and when it comes to being a scrum master, Adam Miner hits a home run. With a background in athletics, majoring in biology and starting his career in finance, Adam’s route to becoming a scrum master in IT product management is less than conventional. However, Adam’s unique experiences have allowed him to draw many parallels between high-performing sports and corporate teams and has molded how he treats others as a leader today. We are proud to have Adam Miner back on the podcast. Our Speaker: Adam Miner Baseball has always been his passion, and when it comes to being a scrum master, Adam Miner hits a home run. With a background in athletics, majoring in biology and starting his career in finance, Adam’s route to becoming a scrum master in IT product management is less than conventional. However, Adam’s unique experiences have allowed him to draw many parallels between high-performing sports and corporate teams and has molded how he treats others as a leader today. We are proud to have Adam Miner back on the podcast. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

When looking into the eyes of a newborn baby, it's almost impossible to not think about the potential contained within this new life. A baby can become anything, do anything and achieve anything that he/she puts their mind to, right? Why then do we tend to lose this mentality when it comes to examining our own lives? When we start out as children, the world is too big for our minds to process, so as we get older, we start forming patterns to predict how we think the world will be. These predictions can sometimes come in the form of limiting beliefs: views that restrict what you think you're capable of. Limiting beliefs can come in the form of social pressures, emotional protections, and a lack of self-love, but all of them stem from the fact that we don't see the world as it is, but rather as we are. Emotional Agility is the practice of shutting down limiting beliefs through feeling your feelings, showing up authentically, embracing sadness, and navigating fear so that you can become the master of your emotions and fall madly in love with your life. In today's podcast, we sit down with psychotherapist, Josh Magro, and discuss topics such as overcoming limiting beliefs, the philosophy of seeking approval, embracing sadness, loving yourself, and much more! Our Speaker: In a chaotic world where acting impulsively seems to be the norm, Josh Magro encourages us to master the art of emotional agility. Josh is a licensed psychotherapist, motivational speaker, self-mastery coach and co-founder of Personal Power and Prosperity, Inc; an organization that helps others navigate their emotions, heal from their past, and fall madly in love with their life. In the short term, Josh does live workshops as well as one-on-one therapy sessions where members learn to challenge their own limiting beliefs and express their vulnerability. However, in the long term, his goal is to make concepts such as “feeling your feelings” and “showing up authentically” so common that the work he currently does is no longer needed. We’re proud to introduce Josh Magro. To connect with Josh, check him out at the links below: Josh on LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/JoshMagro P3 Workshops: https://P3Workshops.com Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

We've all heard of "the corporate ladder"; a term used to describe the positional hierarchy that exists within a company. You're either at the top, the bottom or somewhere in between, but wherever you are, you still hold a place on the ladder. Although a ladder is a handy tool for getting from one place to another, there are certain situations where using a ladder as a metaphor to describe the way a company functions aren't quite as appealing. When a company's positional hierarchy starts to heavily impact the social atmosphere of the workplace, issues may arise. People at the bottom might feel unheard or disrespected and people at the top might feel stressed and uninformed. One of the core values of the Agile mindset is "individuals and interactions over processes and tools". In other words, success should not be at the expense of people. The SAFe framework is a widely-adopted, freely-available knowledge base that allows teams to apply Agile practices and scale up to enterprise-level. With values such as transparency and alignment, the SAFe framework places a functional hierarchy over the positional hierarchy so that the company is thought of more so as a team and less so as a ladder. In today's podcast, we sit down with Agilist, Venkat Bagayat, and deep-dive into the SAFe framework, its values, and how they work with PI Planning to bring about an efficient, prosperous and happy workplace. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, Venkat Bagayat began work on the floor in a production manufacturing industry. However, it wasn't long until he realized that this was not the career he was meant for. On the floor, people were seen as resources rather than people, and Venkat wanted to work in a position where he'd be respected. He switched over to IT in search of that respect, but unfortunately, he did not find it there either. It seemed as if the only people being respected were the ones who held higher positions of authority, so Venkat decided to become the change he wanted to see by leading as a product manager. This way, he could share his ideas, shift the culture of command and control and give a voice to the unheard. This desire to bring respect and a voice to all the members of a team is what fueled Venkat's 22-year experience in software and technology; 12-year experience in Agile mentoring, consulting and training; and his John Maxwell coach verification. He's worked with a spread of clients ranging from start-ups to larger financial companies like JP Morgan, Chase, American Express, Discover and BNY Mellon. We are proud to introduce Venkat Bagayat. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

COVID-19 has taken a toll on how almost everyone now lives their daily life. In just this past year, the world has seen a tremendous boom in virtual connectivity as it relates to the professional sphere. Thousands of people now work from home, and remote work is no longer the future... It's the now. Companies have been made to adapt, and more importantly, so have people. It may seem like an adjustment that's too difficult to make, but with hard work and the right knowledge, transitioning into remote work can be positively life-changing. In today's podcast, we sit down with The Remote Job Coach himself, Jordan Carroll, to discuss the benefits of remote work; the process of online networking, interviews and applications; and his optimism towards those who are confidently shifting into the world of remote work. With roughly six years of both local and international experience in creating a livelihood online, Jordan Carroll is an expert when it comes to remote work. Along with being a guest-lecturer at Cal State, a proud member of the Forbes Coaches Council and running a weekly podcast, Jordan is also the founder of The Remote Job Coach, an online service that provides companies and individuals with strategy sessions uniquely tailored to help them meet their needs regarding success online. Jordan's main focus is on liberating people and giving them happier, healthier lives through the power of remote work. We are proud to introduce Jordan Carroll. To connect with Jordan, visit his website TheRemoteJobCoach.com or find him on LinkedIn @JordanCarroll. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

The world we live in is face-paced. When we want something, we tend to want it as soon as possible, with as few delays as possible and with as little resistance as possible. However, when it comes to software development, when more focus is placed on how quickly a process is completed rather than on the people completing those processes, things will inevitably get worse. In a fast-paced world, you have to be willing to invest. When you invest your time and resources into the people you work with and their understanding of the processes that they're being asked to complete, not only will there be an increase in production efficiency, but also in the satisfaction of those who are on your team. In today's podcast, we sit down with Agilist, Mark Shead and explore things such as behavior-driven development, dev-ops, quality assurance testing and how each of these practices can help bring you a great return if you are willing to invest in them. Mark Shead is the acting president of Xeric Corporation, an operation that "helps organizations increase their return on investment in software development." With over 20 years of software development experience and 10 years working as an Agile coach, Mark has helped a wide gamut of businesses (from start-ups to highly regulated spaces) achieve their shared goal of successfully going Agile. We are proud to introduce Mark Shead. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

Scrum is a framework that values courage, focus, commitment, respect and openness, and its goal is to create teams that can solve complex problems in a creative way. Despite being a framework that is easy enough to understand, Scrum is difficult to master. There are many avenues within scrum such as how/when to scale, which models to choose, UX integration, leading/organizing teams and working remotely that are all things necessary to explore when beginning your scrum journey. In today's podcast, we sit down with Agilist, Jeff Bubolz and talk all about mastering the art of scrum. In his own words, Jeff's goal is "to end human suffering in organizations." Although he began life as a software developer with a lot of skepticism when it came to Agile, over the years, Jeff has discovered the sense of autonomy that Agile can bring to individuals within a team. Starting as an Agile consultant, Jeff eventually went on to begin his own company where he acts as a Scrum.org trainer and coach, instructing courses that discuss scrum, product ownership, Kanban, UX/UI and scaling. His deep care for people is a big part of why Jeff does what he does and his mission is to "unleash people within organizations," helping them become the best versions of themselves. We are proud to introduce Jeff Bubolz. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

When it comes to working on a team of any size, the concept of being a leader is important to understand. In Agile, whether you’re a scrum master, facilitator, teacher or coach, being a leader means more than just managing a team and “doing the work”. Agile leadership is about growth and efficient productivity through personal channels such as self-awareness, humility, active listening, self-organization, flexibility and trust. A leader’s job is to not just solve the problem but to create a fun and open team of confident individuals who are happy to solve those problems alongside you. In today’s podcast, we’re meeting with Agile leader, Joe Ziadeh, and hearing his thoughts on Agile facilitation and true Agile leadership. With over 25 years of successful Agile experience, Joe Ziadeh definitely lives up to his last name, which roughly translates to "awesome" from its Arabic roots. Starting as a software developer who happened to stumble into Agile during his college years, Joe would go on to work as a coach, teacher and consultant, helping transition startups, healthcare companies and banking companies into the Agile mindset. We're proud to introduce Joe Ziadeh. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

Finding your future career was never an easy task, and in the midst of a pandemic, it has become even more of a challenge. However, despite these new setbacks, it’s important to keep pushing through. There are a plethora of tools and resources that exist online to aid in your job search. LinkedIn is currently one of the most valuable devices when it comes to connecting you with your next employer. With over 722+ million users, LinkedIn acts as your virtual resume, job board and professional network, connecting you with helpful recruiters and countless opportunities from around the world. Although the LinkedIn landscape may at first be intimidating, with the right know-how and some hard work, finding your career might be easier than you think… and maybe even a little fun! In today’s podcast, we sit down with IT recruiter, Cari Pisoni, and deep dive into LinkedIn optimization, best resume practices, and what recruiters are looking for in potential job candidates. Our Speaker: Cari Pisoni When it comes to being a job recruiter, Cari Pisoni takes her job extremely seriously… but that doesn’t stop her from trying to make her job fun! With over ten years in the IT recruiting space, Cari’s goal is to make job-searching as painless of an experience as possible, connecting people as individuals with the jobs that are right for them. We are proud to introduce, Cari Pisoni. To connect with Cari, check out her LinkedIn @CariPisoni. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

No matter what job you’re working, communication is key when it comes to creating a high-preforming team. As a scrum master, along with guiding your team through difficult technical situations, it’s your job to properly guide them through social and emotional situations as well, fostering an environment of humility, transparency, confidence and trust. Growth doesn’t happen inside the comfort zone, so sometimes you have to be willing to push yourself and your team into challenging circumstances such as conflict-resolution, admitting mistakes and weaknesses, and bridging gaps with empathy. Being a scrum master is sort of a pseudo-role, as you’re asked to act as a leader, psychologist, facilitator, coach and whatever else is necessary to progress your team. In the end, however, the ultimate goal of a scrum master should be to “not be needed”. Creating a team that is so high-preforming that they no longer require your guidance is what separates the good scrum masters from the greats. In today’s podcast, we sit down with scrum master, Adam Miner and break down the art of scrum through topics such as navigating conflict, building teams as relationships, leading in a remote world, and trying new things. Our Speaker: Adam Miner Baseball has always been his passion, and when it comes to being a scrum master, Adam Miner hits a home run. With a background in athletics, majoring in biology and starting his career in finance, Adam’s route to becoming a scrum master in IT product management is less than conventional. However, Adam’s unique experiences have allowed him to draw many parallels between high-performing sports and corporate teams and has molded how he treats others as a leader today. We are proud to introduce Adam Miner. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

The secret to any good relationship is trust. Trust is not just what holds a relationship together, but it's also what propels it forward and allows it to grow in a way that is satisfying to all parties. It's easy to convince ourselves that a company is just a building; that it's simply mechanical. However, a company should be thought of more so as one big relationship because it's made up of people. It's not just a building, it's a business owner, a manager, a team leader, an employee. All of these people come together and form relationships as they work towards a common goal. When you stop thinking about a company as a machine in need of oil and rather as people with relationships in need of trust, that's when things will begin to take off. Scrumban is a combination of Scrum and Kanban, two distinct methods of mixing trust with efficient product-delivery. In today's podcast, we sit down with Agilist, Andrew Stellman and take a closer look at the proper implementation of Scrumban and how it relates to transitioning a company from a culture of control to one of trust. Andrew Stellman earned a degree in Computer Science from Carnegie-Mellon, but although he started out as a humble software developer, he has since come to develop a generation of Agilists through his work as a product manager, consultant and O'Reilly published author. Some of his literary works include, "Beautiful Teams," "Learning Agile," "Applied Software Project Management," "Head First Agile," "Head First PMP," and "Head First C#". He's worked with both small and large, 80+ person teams and served as the Vice President of Goldman Sachs for five years. We are proud to introduce Andrew Stellman. To connect with Andrew, visit his website Stellman-Greene.com or find him on LinkedIn and Twitter @AndrewStellman. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

Many of us have grown up to place a high value on expertise. We're paid for our expertise, and we're admired for our expertise and, at times, we might even value ourselves based on our level of expertise. The idea of being an independent lone-wolf type of character is idolized and wished for, when, in reality, there is no real reason for it. If the goal is to accomplish a task or achieve a dream, shouldn't finding the best way to do that hold a higher precedent than being able to do it alone? Although it may seem counter-intuitive, one of the first steps in reaching a goal is truly understanding that in order to do something larger than yourself, you need to have trust in people. There is no way to completely hold knowledge and control over everything, and the sooner you learn to humble yourself and grow with others, the sooner your goals will be reached. In today's podcast, we sit down with Agilist, Jolene Jangles, and deconstruct what it looks like to be a trusting leader. Topics to be discussed include Agile meeting facilitation, levels of listening and a deep-dive into proper coaching techniques. Attributing most of her success to her belief in people, Jolene Jangles has spent over 20 years working in technology and product development as a business analyst, mentor, coach, facilitator and Agile team leader. While working as a BA back in 2005, many now-traditional Agile practices had not yet evolved, so Jolene was required to figure out how to demonstrate Agility in her own unique way. This stroke of serendipity would later go on to heavily influence her philosophy on what it means to be a good leader, promoting the idea that successful teams tend to come from an environment where unique personal growth and decision-making take priority over traditional technique implementation. Aside from working in the Target system for nine years, transforming groups of sizes between 150 to 300 people, Jolene is also a Brené Brown instructor and the founder of Balanced Agility. We are proud to introduce Jolene Jangles. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support

Typically, people think of a product manager as a mini-CEO or that they’re in the middle of customers, technology and business, but the role of a product manager depends on many factors, such as the size of the company and what the product is that they’re helping to produce. Their job isn’t to boss people around, but rather influence them via data-driven communication and empathy. Product managers are storytellers. It is their job to set the team vision, strategy, create backlogs and roadmaps and communicate with many different people within and outside of the company. Product managers must be willing to deal with ambiguity, work cross-functionally, live with influence, communicate, be data-driven and place the customer as their number one priority. Product managers are the connection between all the different parties that come together to solve the customer’s problem. It takes confidence, empathy, and most of all, practice. In this episode, we sit down with product manager, Diego Granados and discuss product management through topics such as core skillsets, influence-based communication, prioritization, challenges and advice. Our Speaker: Diego Granados Although he enjoys testing out new Xbox features as a part of his job at Microsoft, Diego Granados doesn’t play games when it comes to product management. Originally from Mexico City, Diego graduated with an MBA from Duke University. He has several years of experience working as a product manager at Cisco and now Microsoft where he primarily works with machine-learning models. We’re proud to introduce Diego Granados. To connect with Diego, search for him on YouTube under "PM Diego Granados". Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theagilecoach/support