The Agile Daily Standup - AgileDad

What Are Sprint Goals & Do They Work? Sprint goal represents what you as Scrum Team want to achieve during the sprint. It must be the focus of the iteration. Years ago, we were doing waterfall project management. We were spending a tremendous amount of time in requirements and trying to reach a state of the art product. The products were lasting longer. With the digital revolution, speed matters. Nowadays, businesses cannot afford to invest in the perfect requirements. Here is where Agile helps teams to deliver quicker and learn quicker. You create better products by getting direct feedback and not by creating the best specifications. 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/⁠

Where Does The Agile Project Manager Fit In? As companies progressively adopt Scrum as the preferred project management framework over traditional waterfall approaches, the subject of ‘role-mapping’ becomes more critical. Perhaps, one of the biggest challenges that organizations face when they move to Scrum is where does a Project Manager fit in Scrum? We are so used to the role of a Project Manager that we often forget that it is merely a role and does not necessarily specify a position in an organizational hierarchy. The term ‘Project Manager’ has become so common that in many organizational constructs people are permanently designated as Project Manager. We have to understand the fact that project manager is not necessarily a permanently held designation in an organization; rather it’s a role that a person plays in a particular project when he or she manages that project. A person may have the necessary skillset to manage a project but is not a project manager in that project until she plays that role. The role of a project manager is defined by the responsibilities performed in that project and a named individual just plays the role. 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/⁠

5 Keys To Relieve Stress Life has a way of piling on demands and expectations, whether you're at home juggling family commitments, or at work grappling with deadlines. In our fast-paced world, stress seems almost inevitable. However, I'm here to share with you that serenity and balance are not only attainable but sustainable. Let's dive into the top 5 keys to relieve stress at home and work that can change your life. The first step toward alleviating stress is to become fully present in the moment. Mindfulness is not just a buzzword; it's a practice that has been proven to reduce stress hormones. You don't have to become a meditation guru; just take a few minutes each day to disconnect from the chaos around you. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and focus on your breathing. This simple act can work wonders to restore balance and clarity to your mind. The saying "A healthy mind in a healthy body" is truer than ever when it comes to stress relief. Physical exercise releases endorphins—your body's natural stress-relievers. Whether it’s a 30-minute jog, a brisk walk, or even a quick set of push-ups, exercise has the incredible ability to reset your mind and body. Make exercise a regular part of your routine, and you'll notice the reduction in your stress levels. One of the biggest stressors in both home and work environments is the feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks and responsibilities. Time management can often feel like a herculean task, but it’s crucial. Start by prioritizing your tasks and breaking them down into smaller, manageable chunks. The mere act of writing down your tasks and scheduling them can offer a sense of control and purpose, making the stress more manageable. Don't underestimate the power of a strong support network. This could be your family, friends, or colleagues—people who can offer a listening ear or a helping hand when you’re overwhelmed. Talk openly about your stressors with this network. Sometimes, merely verbalizing your concerns can bring new perspectives and solutions you hadn't previously considered. In this digital age, we're continually bombarded with information and requests, which can heighten stress. It's imperative to 'unplug' to recharge your mental batteries. Allocate specific times in your day to turn off notifications, and maybe even step away from digital screens entirely. Use this time to engage in activities that genuinely make you happy and relaxed. This could be anything from reading a book to spending quality time with loved ones. 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/⁠

The Top 4 Reasons Why Agile Product Management Is The Cause For Your Failure Just Take The Pill Half-hearted Adoption Slicing Mechanism Forget The Big Picture 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/

The 7 Dysfunctions of Scrum - I disagree with ALL of these! LOL The Myth of Perfect Predictability Good Estimates Take Time Emphasis on ZERO Predictable = A Pretty Burndown Chart Points Aren't Everything Expecting Velocity to Match Calendar Time Ineffective Standup 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/

In Scrum Change is ALWAYS Welcome... Or is it ALWAYS welcome? Join V. Lee Henson as we discuss the 4 Agile project phases and when change should be in the forefront vs when changes should be minimal. Do NOT get caught in the TRAP!! 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/

Agile Timeboxing - Gain The Focus You Need! In the dynamic world of Agile project management, the concept of “timeboxing” has emerged as a crucial technique for fostering efficiency, maintaining focus, and enabling iterative development. Timeboxing is a disciplined approach that sets specific time limits for tasks, activities, or phases within an Agile project. This technique empowers teams to manage their work effectively and deliver valuable results within defined timeframes. Understanding Timeboxing in Agile Timeboxing is a practice that derives from the Agile principle of time management and continuous improvement. It involves breaking down work into manageable chunks, each with a predefined duration. The timeboxes, which can range from hours to weeks, create a sense of urgency and commitment, driving teams to complete tasks within the allotted time. In Agile methodologies like Scrum, timeboxing is utilized in various aspects of the project, including: Sprints: In Scrum, each sprint is a timeboxed iteration typically lasting 1 to 4 weeks. This time constraint encourages teams to focus on delivering a potentially shippable product increment by the end of the sprint. Daily Standup Meetings: Daily standup meetings, also known as daily scrums, are timeboxed to a brief 15 minutes. Team members provide updates on their progress, discuss obstacles, and plan their work for the day. Backlog Refinement: Backlog refinement sessions, where the team reviews and refines the product backlog, are timeboxed to ensure that they don’t become lengthy meetings. Retrospectives: Retrospectives, as discussed in a previous article, are timeboxed meetings where the team reflects on the iteration and identifies areas for improvement. Benefits of Timeboxing Enhanced Focus: Timeboxing creates a sense of urgency and encourages the team to concentrate on the most critical tasks. By setting clear time limits, teams avoid getting sidetracked and ensure that they deliver valuable increments of work. Predictability: Timeboxing improves predictability in project planning. Since tasks and iterations have defined durations, the team can better estimate the amount of work that can be accomplished within a given timeframe. Improved Collaboration: Timeboxing encourages collaboration and helps manage expectations. Knowing that a timebox is limited, team members are more likely to communicate, prioritize, and work together efficiently. Reduced Waste: Timeboxing reduces the likelihood of gold-plating (overengineering) and scope creep (adding features mid-iteration). Teams focus on delivering what’s necessary, reducing waste and optimizing the use of resources. Continuous Improvement: The timeboxing practice feeds into the Agile principle of continuous improvement. By analyzing results at the end of each timebox, teams can identify areas for optimization and implement changes in subsequent iterations. 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/

The Chain Reaction of Kindness Cedarville, a small town nestled in the heart of the Midwest, has recently been making headlines, but not for the reasons one might expect. Amidst the barrage of global news, this heartwarming tale from Cedarville stands as a testament to the power of a simple act of kindness. It began on a chilly Monday morning when Jane Patterson, a retired schoolteacher and a long-time resident of Cedarville, found herself stranded on 5th Avenue with a flat tire. With arthritis plaguing her hands and her cellphone battery dead, the situation looked bleak. Enter Mike Thompson, a teenager known for his tech prowess and his affinity for skateboarding, not necessarily for auto mechanics. However, having seen a YouTube tutorial on tire changing and spotting Jane in distress, he decided to offer a helping hand. Within half an hour, with a bit of struggle and a lot of determination, the tire was changed. Jane, overwhelmed by gratitude and without much money to offer, decided to pay Mike in the only way she could think of at that moment: she offered him three of her homemade apple pies, fresh from the oven. Mike's eyes lit up, not just from the tantalizing promise of pie but from the genuine appreciation in Jane's eyes. But the story doesn't end there. Later that week, Mike shared one of the pies with his neighbor, Mrs. Elaine Rodriguez, a widow living with her two cats. Mrs. Rodriguez, touched by this unexpected gift, decided to pay the kindness forward. Using her skill as a seamstress, she mended torn uniforms for the local youth soccer team, free of charge. Amazed by this gesture, the soccer team decided to offer free training sessions for kids in the community. This initiative not only provided skill training but gave many children a constructive and community-building way to spend their afternoons. One of these kids, Lily Mitchell, used her newfound soccer skills to organize community matches, raising funds for the local animal shelter. The shelter, experiencing this unexpected windfall, started a program allowing school children to read to the animals, fostering a love for reading and providing companionship for the animals. This program caught the attention of the local news and soon Cedarville's chain reaction of kindness was making regional headlines. Townspeople, inspired by these events, began finding their own unique ways to contribute, from free music lessons to community clean-up drives. The acts, some big and some small, created ripples of positive change throughout Cedarville. In a recent town hall meeting, Mayor Allen remarked, "What we've experienced isn't just a series of good deeds. It's a movement. It's the embodiment of community spirit, proving that one act, even as simple as changing a tire, can set off a chain reaction with far-reaching impacts." Today, Cedarville stands as a shining example of how communities can come together, with the "Cedarville Kindness Initiative" now being formally introduced in schools, businesses, and local organizations. The story of Cedarville reminds us all that in a world often dominated by vast challenges and cynicism, hope can be ignited by a single act. It tells us that kindness is not just an act, but a lifestyle, one that has the power to transform an entire community. 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/

Selling Scrum To Leadership & Management Is this really still a thing? We should have enough data to support Agile & Scrum solving many of the problems organizations face. But what happens when people are just not ready to make the jump? 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/

3 Tips to Excel as a Product Owner - Mike Cohn Tip # 1: Hold the InterruptionsWhat do good product owners tell the team once a sprint has been planned? That what they’ve been asked to develop will not change. But that’s a hard promise to keep when customers and stakeholders change their minds or come up with new needs!In rare cases, it’s ok to interrupt. Some changes are very important and worth interrupting a sprint. But most are not.Here are two things to do when you are tempted to bring up a change mid-sprint.First, solicit the help of your Scrum Master. Give them explicit permission to push back against you anytime you want to bring something new into a sprint.Second, try writing the new idea somewhere. You can add it to the product backlog and tag it to come up at the next refinement meeting. Or write the idea in an email to yourself, then schedule it to arrive the day before refinement (or sprint planning, if refinement has already happened). Getting the idea out of your head is often enough to keep you from interrupting.Some teams just have lots of interruptions—most of them not from their product owner. Here are some ways to approach planning with interrupt-driven teams.Tip #2: Remember that Every Yes Holds a Hidden NoAs a product owner, your job is defining products or solutions that make people happy. You probably like saying yes to stakeholder requests.Many product owners do not say no often enough.But here’s why you should: For every request you say yes to, you are saying no to some other request. Put another way, every yes is a no to some future task.Remember, requirements emerge as the team and customers learn more about the product. Customers, users, and others will continue to identify new needs throughout the product’s lifecycle.If you’ve already committed the team’s time to something else, you are implicitly saying no to those as-yet unidentified requests.So be careful about what you say yes to and be careful how far ahead you commit what a team will work on.Six Guidelines to Help You Say No to StakeholdersTip #3: Listen and Act on FeedbackWhat’s one of the toughest things a product owner must do? Listen to—and actually act on—the feedback you receive.As a product owner it’s easy to get overly attached to your own vision for what you’re building. To be successful, you need instead to listen to customers, users, stakeholders, and yes, your developers too!You don’t need to do everything any of them suggest. (Remember the mistake of not saying no often enough) Good products become great, though, when you listen to and act on feedback.Seven Ways to Get and Improve Fast FeedbackAllowing teams to focus, remembering that every yes has a cost, and letting go of your own ideas (just a little) will help you grow as a product owner and succeed with agile, 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/