

Mastering Agility
Sander Dur, Jim Sammons, and Rich Visotcky
Why is it that products are so hard to develop and deliver? How can we truly deliver value with so many different variables that can affect the outcome? We are Sander Dur and Jim Sammons, professional consultants and trainers who support organizations in their pursuit of creating valuable products. Passionate about helping the community and practitioners apply the theory many authors and thought leaders bring to the industry, we started this podcast to make these concepts more accessible. This podcast will change your career and organization. You’ll be entertained while learning about the industry’s leaders and other practitioners, and you’ll feel familiar with the situations discussed as we invite guests over and discuss tools, concepts, models, metrics, leadership, frameworks, and many more elements that help you deliver amazing products. Both of us understand the many struggles, challenges, antipatterns, and dysfunctions many of us face in our daily working lives. We are here to provide actionable advice and strategies for you to create continuous improvement. You will find things that actually work for many organizations, as we and our guests have tried and tested them. You will find a goldmine of actionable information from many fields, including the space industry, Formula 1, psychology, and Silicon Valley’s top entrepreneurs. We break down these complex topics into easily digestible insights that you can start applying in your careers right away. The best part is that you can even join our live recordings to ask your most burning questions and get them answered based on your needs! We dive deep into the world of business agility, product discovery, delivery, validation, product management, and product frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, LeSS, and many more. We’ll explore the benefits of decentralized decision-making, autonomous empowered teams, leadership, and much more. We empower you with the information you need to become the leaders your organization deserve. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 12, 2024 • 1h 12min
S06 E17 Dan Balcauski on Pricing Strategies
SummaryThe conversation explores various aspects of pricing strategies, including benefits framing, pricing orientations, value-based pricing, and the challenges associated with it. The importance of regularly reviewing pricing and making incremental changes is emphasized. The fear of pricing conversations and risk mitigation strategies are discussed. The emotional relationship with money and its impact on pricing decisions is explored. The chapter concludes with a discussion on bundling price increases with value increases. The conversation explores the topics of costs, value, different business models, adjusting pricing based on value, defining value, and getting started with pricing strategy. It also touches on the concept of overpriced products.TakeawaysRegularly review and update pricing strategies to align with market changes and customer value.Consider benefits framing and value-based pricing to effectively communicate the value of products or services.Understand the emotional relationship customers have with money and the impact it has on pricing decisions.Mitigate risks associated with pricing changes by conducting market research, testing, and communicating effectively with customers. Consider the costs and value of your product or service when determining pricing.Different business models, such as razor and razor blades, can impact pricing strategies.Adjust pricing based on the value customers receive from your product or service.Define value by understanding the functional, emotional, and social jobs your product or service fulfills.Start thinking about your pricing strategy early in your company's development and treat it as an ongoing process.Perceived value plays a significant role in customers' willingness to pay.Be mindful of unexpected fees and their impact on customers' perception of value.The most overpriced products can vary based on individual perspectives and preferences.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jan 29, 2024 • 1h
S06 E16 Fred Deichler on Zelda's Guide to Agile
Summary In this conversation, Sander, Jim and their guest Fred Deichler discuss various topics related to public speaking, conferences, and agile practices. They explore the importance of creating a positive work environment and advocating for clear direction and autonomy in teams. Fred shares his journey as a speaker and the nervousness he still experiences before each talk. They also discuss the impact of conferences and the value of networking and building relationships with experienced speakers. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the power of storytelling in talks and the importance of tangible takeaways for the audience. Takeaways · Advocate for a positive work environment that promotes clear direction and autonomy in teams.· Embrace nervousness as a speaker and use transparency to create empathy with the audience.· Build relationships with experienced speakers and learn from their experiences.· Name concepts and techniques to make them more memorable and easier to discuss.· Focus on education and providing tangible takeaways for the audience in talks.If you like our podcast, please leave us a review. This helps us to grow the show and bring in even bigger guests. Sponsors:ScrumMatch: https://scrummatch.com/enXebia Academy: https://xebia.com/academy/nl/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jan 22, 2024 • 58min
S06 E15 Becky Savill on Workplace Learning for Human Beings
SummaryIn this conversation, Becky Savill discusses her recently launched book and the importance of workplace learning for humans. She shares her experience of unpacking the physical copy of her book and the pride she felt in achieving this milestone. Becky emphasizes the need for self-directed learning and the limitations of traditional learning approaches. She also discusses her career transition from audio engineer to scrum master and the skills she gained from her previous profession. The conversation highlights the importance of creating space for learning in organizations and the cultural shift needed to prioritize learning investments. The conversation explores the importance of seeking diverse perspectives and learning from others. It emphasizes the value of being the smartest person in the room and the benefits of expanding perspectives beyond the agile field. The discussion also touches on the experience of writing a book as a couple and provides advice for personal growth and development.TakeawaysSelf-directed learning is more effective and engaging than traditional approaches.Creating space and a culture that supports learning is essential for individual and organizational growth.Learning communities, such as communities of practice, provide valuable opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.Balancing structure and flexibility in learning approaches allows for individual preferences and needs to be met.Investing in learning and development is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent in organizations. Seek opportunities to be the smartest person in the room and help others, but also gravitate towards rooms where you can learn from experienced individuals.Expand your perspectives beyond the agile field and seek agility outside of agility.Collaborating on a project with your partner can be a rewarding experience that strengthens your relationship.Be curious and ask open-ended questions to learn from others and seek diverse perspectives.Don't overthink and be brave in pursuing your goals and seeking feedback.If you like our podcast, please leave us a review. This helps us to grow the show and bring in even bigger guests.Sponsors:ScrumMatch: https://scrummatch.com/enXebia Academy: https://xebia.com/academy/nl/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jan 15, 2024 • 57min
S06 E14 Teresa Torres on Leading Products through Discovery
Summary In this conversation, Teresa Torres discusses the importance of product discovery and how it differs from product development. She emphasizes the need to focus on building the right things and highlights the value of talking to customers regularly. Torres provides practical tips for engaging customers in the discovery process, including how to conduct effective interviews and use data to enhance the conversation. She also addresses organizational resistance and offers strategies for bridging the gap between product and sales teams. Overall, the conversation highlights the significance of customer-centricity in product development. In this conversation, Teresa Torres discusses various aspects of the discovery process in product management. She provides insights on dealing with unwilling participants in interviews, the use of recordings to involve the entire team, and the role of AI tools in synthesis. Torres also shares her perspective on roadmaps in the discovery process and how they can be adapted to represent ambiguity and uncertainty. Additionally, she shares a story about discovering the team was building the wrong thing and highlights the workplace depicted in the TV show 'The West Wing' as an ideal environment.TakeawaysProduct discovery focuses on building the right things, while product development focuses on how to build them.Regularly talking to customers is essential for understanding their needs and building the right products.Effective customer interviews involve asking open-ended questions and collecting specific stories about past behavior.Overcoming organizational resistance requires starting small, building rapport with stakeholders, and demonstrating the value of customer insights.Find out more about Teresa's content:The book: https://www.producttalk.org/The blog: https://www.producttalk.org/blog/The course: https://learn.producttalk.org/homeCheck out our sponsor: www.scrummatch.comwww.xebia.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jan 8, 2024 • 1h 4min
S06 E13 Cliff Hazell on Lessons from working at Spotify
Topics covered in this podcast include remote team management, clear communication in remote work, the future of remote work, dealing with information overload, importance of facilitation in meetings, balancing autonomy and alignment, dangers of focusing on new tools, shift from output to outcome, measuring output, outcomes, and impacts, funding and budgeting in agile work, balancing autonomy and constraints in product design, cultural challenges in diverse teams, and increasing chances of getting hired at Spotify.

Jan 2, 2024 • 41min
S06 E12 Omnipresence and Needing to be Perfect
SummaryIn this second part of the conversation, Jim and Sander discuss their holiday plans and reflect on the highlights of the podcast in 2023. They also share their dream guests for future episodes and discuss the importance of understanding root causes in problem-solving. They explore how Scrum Masters can help teams become more effective and the need to build environments for product success. They also discuss the challenges of avoiding reactive approaches and the importance of continuous improvement. Finally, they discuss the importance of recognizing blind spots and areas for improvement. In this conversation, Jim and Sander discuss various topics related to their professional lives and personal preferences. They explore the balance between quality and satisfaction, the importance of professional emotional regulation, and the need to bury unwanted concepts. They also touch on the issue of hate and ad hominem attacks on social media and the value of constructive feedback. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the misuse of the Shu-Ha-Ri model and the joy of holiday food traditions.TakeawaysReflecting on the highlights of the past year can provide valuable insights and learning opportunities.Understanding root causes is important for effective problem-solving and preventing recurring issues.Scrum Masters can have a wider impact by building their skills and focusing on continuous improvement.Creating environments for product success is crucial for long-term value creation.Avoiding reactive approaches and focusing on proactive measures can lead to better outcomes.Recognizing blind spots and areas for improvement is essential for personal and professional growth. Balancing quality and satisfaction is important in professional work.Professional emotional regulation is crucial for maintaining composure and being a calming influence.It's okay to have strengths and weaknesses, and not everyone has to be good at everything.Unwanted concepts and practices should be buried to make room for more effective approaches.Hate and ad hominem attacks on social media should be replaced with constructive feedback.Being candid is important, but it's essential to avoid being an asshole.Teaching should be focused on practical application rather than just theoretical knowledge.Being a little like Mr. Miyagi and withholding certain information can be beneficial in facilitating learning.Helping others should not be driven by selfish motives.Identifying as a teacher or educator depends on the specific context and knowledge.Food and holiday traditions bring joy and create memorable experiences.Don't forget to check out our sponsor: https://scrummatch.com/enHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 27, 2023 • 35min
S06 E11 2023 Reflections and Finding Root Causes
SummaryIn this conversation, Jim and Sander discuss their holiday plans and reflect on the highlights of the podcast in 2023. They also share their dream guests for future episodes and discuss the importance of understanding root causes in problem-solving. They explore how Scrum Masters can help teams become more effective and the need to build environments for product success. They also discuss the challenges of avoiding reactive approaches and the importance of continuous improvement. Finally, they discuss the importance of recognizing blind spots and areas for improvement. In this conversation, Jim and Sander discuss various topics related to their professional lives and personal preferences. They explore the balance between quality and satisfaction, the importance of professional emotional regulation, and the need to bury unwanted concepts. They also touch on the issue of hate and ad hominem attacks on social media and the value of constructive feedback. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the misuse of the Shu-Ha-Ri model and the joy of holiday food traditions.TakeawaysReflecting on the highlights of the past year can provide valuable insights and learning opportunities.Understanding root causes is important for effective problem-solving and preventing recurring issues.Scrum Masters can have a wider impact by building their skills and focusing on continuous improvement.Creating environments for product success is crucial for long-term value creation.Avoiding reactive approaches and focusing on proactive measures can lead to better outcomes.Recognizing blind spots and areas for improvement is essential for personal and professional growth. Balancing quality and satisfaction is important in professional work.Professional emotional regulation is crucial for maintaining composure and being a calming influence.It's okay to have strengths and weaknesses, and not everyone has to be good at everything.Unwanted concepts and practices should be buried to make room for more effective approaches.Hate and ad hominem attacks on social media should be replaced with constructive feedback.Being candid is important, but it's essential to avoid being an asshole.Teaching should be focused on practical application rather than just theoretical knowledge.Being a little like Mr. Miyagi and withholding certain information can be beneficial in facilitating learning.Helping others should not be driven by selfish motives.Identifying as a teacher or educator depends on the specific context and knowledge.Food and holiday traditions bring joy and create memorable experiences.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 21, 2023 • 1h 8min
S06 E10 Dave Snowden on Organizing for Emergence
Dave Snowden, an expert in complexity, agility, and decision-making, discusses adapting presentations, patterns in the Agile community, organizing for emergence, and the impact of AI and ecological collapse. The conversation delves into the tension between control and empowerment, building ecosystems, distributed decision-making, and the future of the Agile landscape.

Dec 11, 2023 • 44min
S06 E09 Starting with Scrum and forming your Scrum Team
For questions or requests that you would like us to check on, please drop a message on LinkedIn or join the Mastering Agility Discord community!
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Sander Dur
Sander Dur is a Professional Scrum Trainer at Scrum.org, podcast host of Mastering Agility, Professional Scrum Master and Lead Agile Consultant, and trainer at Xebia. Besides this, he's an avid writer for predominantly Serious Scrum on Medium.com. Sander has a major passion for the human side in complex domains. Ensuring a high level of psychological safety, therefore, is a critical part of his work. Organizations in complex domains can only survive when innovating. Innovation can only take place with the right balance between low social friction and high intellectual friction. While most organizations now understand how to apply Agile frameworks, they struggle with the delivery of value. Psychological safety is the next step in this evolution and Sander has a huge drive to help organizations reach that step.
Sander is enthusiastic, open-minded, and ambitious. He finds interpersonal relationships and intrinsic motivations very important in team dynamics. Besides his work, Sander loves to spend time with his family, enjoys sports and eating healthy, barbecuing, riding his motorcycle, and traveling.
Jim Sammons
My passion is helping people to:
Do more of the right work (and less of the wrong work).
Create more actual teams than just groups of people who work together.
Learning how to improve themselves, their team, and their organization incrementally.
Understand that less, not more, is usually part of the answer to some of the hardest questions we all face.
See their workplaces, teams, and their sphere of influence as something that is evolving, which requires an evolution of all of its parts to adapt.
Throughout my career, I have worked with clients of all sizes, industries, and technologies. Whether it’s leading a transformative strategy at a Fortune 100 or helping a new startup understand its unique value proposition the common focus I bring to each role is “making people better.”
Contact us at:
Masteringagility.org
https://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-dur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 10min
S06 E08 Unlocking Business Agility with EBM with Patricia Kong, Ryan Ripley, Todd Miller, and Kurt Bittner
For questions or requests that you would like us to check on, please drop a message on LinkedIn or join the Mastering Agility Discord community!
Participate as an audience member
Mastering Agility Mural
Mastering Agility merch
Sander Dur
Sander Dur is a Professional Scrum Trainer at Scrum.org, podcast host of Mastering Agility, Professional Scrum Master and Lead Agile Consultant, and trainer at Xebia. Besides this, he's an avid writer for predominantly Serious Scrum on Medium.com. Sander has a major passion for the human side in complex domains. Ensuring a high level of psychological safety, therefore, is a critical part of his work. Organizations in complex domains can only survive when innovating. Innovation can only take place with the right balance between low social friction and high intellectual friction. While most organizations now understand how to apply Agile frameworks, they struggle with the delivery of value. Psychological safety is the next step in this evolution and Sander has a huge drive to help organizations reach that step.
Sander is enthusiastic, open-minded, and ambitious. He finds interpersonal relationships and intrinsic motivations very important in team dynamics. Besides his work, Sander loves to spend time with his family, enjoys sports and eating healthy, barbecuing, riding his motorcycle, and traveling.
Jim Sammons
My passion is helping people to:
Do more of the right work (and less of the wrong work).
Create more actual teams than just groups of people who work together.
Learning how to improve themselves, their team, and their organization incrementally.
Understand that less, not more, is usually part of the answer to some of the hardest questions we all face.
See their workplaces, teams, and their sphere of influence as something that is evolving, which requires an evolution of all of its parts to adapt.
Throughout my career, I have worked with clients of all sizes, industries, and technologies. Whether it’s leading a transformative strategy at a Fortune 100 or helping a new startup understand its unique value proposition the common focus I bring to each role is “making people better.”
Contact us at:
Masteringagility.org
https://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-dur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.


