The Agile Daily Standup - AgileDad

The Hand Written Letter of GratitudeIn a classroom study, students were asked to write a heartfelt letter of thanks to someone who had helped them and then read that letter aloud to the person in a surprise face-to-face meeting. The scene that followed — the surprised, emotional reactions from the recipients and the visible pride and relief on the students’ faces — was unforgettable. Beyond the moment, the students reported lasting increases in well-being and social connection, and many of the recipients later described feeling genuinely seen and appreciated. It’s a small, simple act (writing and delivering a gratitude letter) that created a powerful ripple for both giver and receiver.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

How Do we GROW? - Getting People on The Same Page!Do you know the Acronym GROW? G = GoalsR = Reality O = Options, Opportunities, and ObstaclesW = What We Will Commit to do First... How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Are You Protecting Your Team Against the Right Thing? - Mike CohnA lot has been written and said about the responsibility of a Scrum Master to protect the team.Examples of protecting the team typically involve running interference with well-meaning but overzealous product owners, stakeholders, and managers. Teams run into trouble all the time from people who want it all now or who keep adding more work in the middle or a sprint. Scrum Masters keep all that noise away so that the team can focus on delivery.But if you are only focused on problems coming from squeaky wheels, you’re missing one of the biggest dangers out there: complacency.Agile is about continually getting better. I don’t care how good a team is today; if they aren’t better a year from now, they’re not agile.Complacency can creep in when a team sees some initial improvement from adopting an agile approach. Team members will notice how improved they are and think that’s enough.But there’s almost always room for further improvement.Some teams become complacent about their process and stop looking for ways to deliver more value each iteration. Still other teams become complacent in seeking out new engineering practices that could make the team even better.Protect your team from complacency by setting high expectations and encouraging the team to set even higher expectations of their own performance.Teams that refuse to settle for the status quo are teams that advance from good to great.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

No, Product Management Isn’t Useless — You’re Just Doing It WrongIf you think PMs just write tickets and slow things down, you haven’t seen product management done right.I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard some version of this:“Do we even need product managers anymore?”Usually, it comes after a failed launch, a bloated backlog, or a roadmap that reads like a Frankenstein wishlist stitched together by six departments and zero users.And sure — if that’s what you think product management is, I can’t blame you for questioning it.

The Scrum Master Role Is Disappearing - Or Is It? The layoffs of 2023 told a story that few in the tech industry wanted to acknowledge. Among the 120,000+ tech workers who lost their jobs, Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches were disproportionately represented. But this wasn’t just about economic belt-tightening it was the culmination of a quiet revolution that’s been brewing for years.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

A touching story unfolds about little Zoe, who can't join her friends for Halloween due to leukemia. Her parents bravely post a sign to explain her absence, hoping to spare other kids disappointment. In a heartwarming twist, trick-or-treaters leave candy at her doorstep, showcasing remarkable empathy. This gesture becomes a beacon of hope for Zoe's family, highlighting the power of small acts of kindness. The host encourages listeners to spread kindness and reflect on the importance of giving, especially during tough times.

Witch’s Brew of Metrics — Don’t Let Vanity Hex Your TeamMetric definition templateName:What it measures:Owner:Frequency:Thresholds / signals:Action when threshold met:How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Poltergeist Meetings — When Meetings Throw Things At You... 5 micro-rituals (practical) Purpose line on invite — one sentence: “Decision needed / Sync / Info.”Time-boxed agenda — 3 bullets with owner & minutes.No Rotating facilitator — prevent single-person theater.Two-minute rule — speakers over two minutes get a “parking lot” nudge.Outcome artifact — one sentence note added to the meeting invite that records decisions.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Invisible work can derail your sprint without anyone noticing! Discover tactics to detect phantom dependencies, including using a visible dependency board to enhance team focus. Learn how to allocate capacity for both planned and unplanned tasks, while preventing recurring interruptions with pre-planning checkpoints. Explore the hidden factory concept and the importance of documenting fixes to avoid repeated issues. Plus, a risk register can help identify potential blockers early. Set realistic, outcome-based expectations to protect team velocity!

Dive into the spooky world of backlogs as old stories refuse to die. Discover how unresolved items sap team productivity and find out what a haunted backlog truly looks like. Learn why vague acceptance criteria can keep projects stuck in limbo, and explore a five-step plan to exorcise these ghostly tasks. Regularly scheduled 'cemetery sweeps' can help keep focus sharp. Plus, actionable takeaways remind you not to let backlog items linger. Embrace the challenge and keep your workflow agile!