What an Agile Coach does (Part 1)
It is a challenge to understand what an Agile Coach does because what they deliver is not simply defined and it is highly variable. I am often asked, with variations of sarcasm, how is it wise to pay someone to do nothing? In place of my sarcastic response, I offer them, and now you, several examples using plain words. At the end you will find a homework challenge to help you take your next step.
1. Ignore buzzwords: Focus on value
The word Agile and its buzzwords are confusing, so let us translate that to useful English. Fundamentally all ‘Agile methods’ describe how to deliberately create high performing teams. These methods are all powered by the philosophy “deliver value earlier and incrementally”. An Agile Coach helps teams to apply this philosophy. Agile Coaches help organizations to get better at delivering value.
2. Organizational Archaeologists: Liberate minds
A person’s mind is like a fortress of rules and routines, built over time. It is a strategy to reduce the energy it takes to think about our complex lives. The penalty is our freedom to think is reduced — new ideas struggle to get out. Fixing this is more than removing barriers, we must also bring back the person compressed beneath. An Agile Coach meticulously excavates the person from the rules and so gives new life to a thinking style time forgot.
3. People, people, people: Make good teams great teams
Ever wonder why coaches in sports are not fired for sitting on the sidelines of every match? What output do they produce if they are not scoring goals or running about? We accept that their activity is behind the scenes. But we also know that the best teams do not always have the best players: teamwork makes the dream work (sorry). If you accept the sports coach, the Agile Coach is not too far away: spotting and resolving team challenges.
4. Outcome focus: Kill the zombie work
There exists only one certainty about the future: it is created by our choices. If we choose to prioritize our efforts on unimportant work, we create a future we did not intend. Being busy is seductive because it makes us look good in the short term. An Agile Coach forces us to confront our future and reflect on how our choices affect our goals.
The Challenge
To go beyond words, I set you a two-step challenge. First, over the next week every few hours stop and reflect on what you are doing, its importance, and your efficiency. Second, when you realize you missed a day get in touch & lets talk about why.
Further Reading Links:
https://agilemania.com/blog/seven-habits-of-a-successful-agile-coach/
Published By
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
