Richard Coplan: Soft Metrics, The Key to Understanding Agile Team Dynamics and Succeeding as a Scrum Master

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.

Richard offers insights into how Scrum Masters can measure success, focusing more on soft metrics like collaboration and initiative, rather than just numerical measures. While managers often push for hard metrics, Richard argues that soft indicators—like team self-organization and PO engagement—are much more revealing.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Sailboat Retrospective

Richard discusses his favorite retrospective format, the Sailboat retrospective. He explains how it uses metaphors to engage teams and bring future risks and opportunities into the conversation. While Richard values simplicity in retrospectives, he believes the Sailboat format strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and meaningful engagement. 

 

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About Richard Coplan

Richard joins us from the UK. He has been a software developer for many years and later became data-centric, eventually transitioning into the role of Scrum Master. Over the past decade, Richard has specialized as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach, with a focus on collaboration tools like Miro and helping firms streamline their team structures.

 

You can link with Richard Coplan on LinkedIn.