AgileCamp Presents: Personal Agile

2014 Q2 HackathonDan CorbinMay 2014

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Background and Agenda● The Pomodoro Technique● Getting Things Done● Pull it all together with Agile● Goal: Demonstrate ways to be more productive using Agile principles and

techniques while also increasing quality and decreasing stress.

Please feel free to ask questions and share your own productivity tips and tricks.

Getting Things Done

Stress Free Productivity

● Capture ALL that needs to get done.

● Discipline yourself to make front-end decisions so you always have a plan for “next actions”.

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“Mind Like Water”

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Five Stages of Mastering Workflow

1. Collect2. Process3. Organize4. Review5. Do

Four Criteria for Choosing Actions

1. Context2. Time Available3. Energy Available4. Priority

Implementation - Better Organization, More Productivity

● Filing system needs to be fast, functional, and fun● Integrate your calendar for a more comprehensive system● Do it, Delegate it, Defer it● Checklists at all levels/projects/boards● Weekly Review

Tomato Time!“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”

- Not Mark Twain (but helpful nonetheless)

Goals of The Pomodoro Technique

● Enhance Focus● Increase Awareness of Decisions● Boost Motivation● Bolster Determination ● Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Pomodoro Technique: Basic Assumptions

● It allows you a different way of seeing time.

● Greater clarity of thought and sharper focus.

● Easy to use.

● Timeboxing helps maintain sustainable pace.

Items NeededTimer

■ http://e.ggtimer.com/pomodoro■ Strict Workflow Chrome extension■ KanbanFlow.com■ http://tomato-timer.com/

To Do Sheet■ Paper■ Kanban board (Trello, KanbanFlow, etc.)■ Spreadsheet

Activity Inventory Sheet (or Backlog)

Pomodoro Rules● Work 25 minutes and then take five-minute break● After every four Pomodoros take a 15-30 minute break● If a Pomodoro Begins, It Has to Ring● Protect the Pomodoro● If It Lasts More Than 5-7 Pomodoros, Break It Down● If It Lasts Less Than One Pomodoro, Add It Up

Cut Down Distractions

Internal Interruptions● We interrupt ourselves

External Distractions● Inform, Negotiate, Call Back Strategy● Email, Chat, Text, Calls, Walk Ups

Voiding the Pomodoro● A Pomodoro is indivisible

Make the Pomodoro More Effective

Estimate the Effort● Estimate number of Pomodoros each activity will take

Set Up a Timetable● Timeboxing● Track how many Pomodoros you can complete in day.

Take Your Breaks!● Ignoring breaks will ultimately hurt productivity● It’s critical you maintain a sustainable pace

Personal Agile with PomodorosCommon principles of Pomodoro Technique and Agile:

● Backlog/Planning● Sustainable Pace● Break down tasks ● Incremental and Iterative● Timeboxing● Continuous Improvement● Optimizing Your Work

Kanban Boards● Board Basics● Prioritizing● Pulling Tasks● Limit WIP

30 Days of Getting Results● Free time management training at

http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/● Based on the the book Getting Results the Agile Way by J.D.

Meier

Resources● Pomodoro Technique PDF● http://KanbanFlow.com● http://e.ggtimer.com/pomodoro● http://tomato-timer.com/● http://www.30daysofgettingresults.com/

Thank You for attending AgileCamp!