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Agile Coaching

Rachel Davieswww.agilexp.com

About you

Raise your hand if you

Specify software? Write software? Test software? Coach teams?

And are you .. New to Agile? Already trying Agile?

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About me

20032000

Programmer on XP team

Independent Agile Coach

Agile Coachingbook

2009

What does an Agile Coach do?

helps teams grow strong in Agile practice

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Agile Coach works with ..

Individuals

Teams

Organization

Supports rather than leads

Agile Coach

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How does a coach work?

Author: J. Richard Hackman

Many books aboutcoaching individuals.

Hackman’s book coverscoaching teams.

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Hackman Explains

Three kinds of coaching intervention:

Motivational improve effort by minimizing freeriding and building shared commitment

Consultative improve process by reducingthoughtless habits and fostering invention basedon situation

Educational improve knowledge and skill

Sow the seeds

Introduce agile ideas tothe team.

Create an environmentfor the team to grow theirown agile practice.

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Be an example

Pitch in and show how

How to start?

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#1: Build Trust

Get to know the team

Trust Equation

T = (C + R + I ) / SWhere:

T = Trust

C = Credibility

R = Reliability

I = Intimacy

S = Self-orientationBook: “The Trusted Advisor” by Maister, Green, & Galford

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I can trust what you say about ..

Credibility comes fromexpertise

As a coach• Talk from experience

• Admit when you don’t know!

Encourage team to developtheir expertise and ask forhelp

I can trust you to ..Be Reliable

As a coach• Be consistent

• Keep commitments

Agile practices likeDaily Standupmeetings help theteam to meet theircommitments

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Care for needs of other ..As a coach

• Listen to the team

• Demonstrate you heard

• Keep confidences

• You don’t have to get thecredit!

Encourage the team to get toknow each other

#2: Consider Context

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Why do people resist Change?

This team is using old tools

How can you influence them to change?

Measure Up

Being Agile is not usually the real goal

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Force Field Analysis

Remove barriers and amplify forces for change

#3: Work Iteratively

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Make Blockers Visible

Encourage Experiments

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Go with team energy

What do they want to try?

Respect Experience

Sometimes team know better than you!

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Take Time to Reflect

Try to See the Big Picture

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Care about Quality

Change Takes Time

Be patient

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Coaching Hazards

Don’t give all the answers

Don’t push the team toofast

Don’t forget every team is aunique in a differentcontext

Any Questions?

Contact info:Email: rachel@agilexp.com

Twitter: rachelcdavies

Blog: http://agilecoach.typepad.com/

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Introduction toOpen Space

Open Space Technology

Open Space Technology by Harrison Owen

http://www.openspaceworld.org/

Adopted by in agile community:

http://www.agileopen.net/

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ConversationsThe best conversations at conferences are often in

the coffee break!

Open Space enables sessions to be proposed byanyone.

Photo from Open Jam at Agile2008 conference

Four Principles of Open Space

• Whoever comes is theright people

• Whenever it starts isthe right time

• Whatever happens isthe only thing that couldhave

• When it's over, it's over

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If you are in a session where you are not learning or contributing,use your two feet and move on!

Bumble Bees & Butterflies• Bumble bees move from

one session to anothercarrying ideas.

• Butterflies hang outsidesessions and informalconversations gatheraround them.

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Running a Session Show up to lead your

topic Encourage conversation

in the group Take notes and write up

after your session No smoking or sticking

paper to walls!

How to propose a session

Announce your session topic Write a note with your topic

and your name Add to Open Space

marketplace flipchart• Day 1: 16:00-17:00• Day 2: 10:00-11:00• 9th floor or Club floor

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1.Talk about ideas for sessions

2. Stand up to announce your session

3. Add it to the marketplace choosing time andplace

Now We Start