Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches The 90-Day Rule—Building Trust Before Disrupting the Status Quo | Joel Bancroft-Connors
Jun 4, 2025
Joel Bancroft-Connors, known as The Gorilla Coach, is a Certified Scrum Trainer and Agile disruptor dedicated to enhancing team effectiveness. He shares his journey in a traditional hard drive manufacturing company, emphasizing the importance of establishing trust before implementing changes. Joel advocates for the 90-day rule: listen first and build relationships, then plan for impactful change. He discusses the significance of transparency, valuing team members, and fostering collaboration to inspire motivation and innovation.
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Bridging Tradition and Agility
- Joel Bancroft-Connors was hired as a program manager bridging a traditional hard drive manufacturer and their agile startup.
- He improved transparency and streamlined reporting, leading to delivering a complex hardware product in just three months.
Apply the 90-Day Rule
- Use the 90-day rule: do no harm in the first 90 days, then have a plan to improve.
- Build trust by listening first and understanding before proposing changes or Agile practices.
Value Drives Motivation
- Giving people a feeling that their thinking and ideas matter builds motivation.
- This value feeling creates a positive cycle of contribution and ownership in teams.
