At Agile 2017 I had the chance to sit down with Johanna Rothman and Mike Griffiths to talk about the work they've been doing on the PMI Agile Practice Guide. Their work was part of a joint effort between the Agile Alliance and PMI and is intended to offer guidance for traditional PMs on how to begin applying Agile in their work. The PMI Agile Practice Guide will be released in September 2017.
For more video podcast interviews from Agile 2017, please follow @leadingagile or check out the LeadingAgile on YouTube.
Where I Work
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Monday, August 14, 2017
Making Agile work at Digital Agencies w/ Jack Skeels
TLDR
Jack Skeels is the CEO and Founder of AgencyAgile. There are many organizations devoted to helping companies transform to agile, but AgencyAgile is the only one that is solely focused on helping Digital Agencies adopt Agile. In this interview Jack shares his thoughts on Agile and what makes it succeed or fail in a Digital Agency context.SHOW NOTES
00:10 Interview Begins00:40 Background on Jack and Agency Agile
01:24 How Jack ended up helping Digital Agencies adopt Agile
05:10 Trying out different types of Agile
06:10 Taking a job so you can run experiments in how to manage projects
08:12 You can’t make people trust
09:13 Jack’s initial questions for management: How much pain are you in? How much gain do you want?
09:52 What is the hardest part for a Digital Agency adopting Agile?
11:52 Transforming the agency AND their clients. Training is not enough
13:40 Do we need a new flavor of Agile tailored to Digital Agencies?
17:26 Does Agile actually make things work better? Are there actual business benefits?
18:38 How does AgencyAgile “sell” Agile to companies?
21:32 We need to stop disempower team members. They care as much as we do.
24:39 Can we actually get consistent cross-functional teams in an Agency?
25:22 Designing work stream teams of 25
26:07 Transforming the whole agency at once
27:31 Are there clients who are not ready to transform yet?
31:10 Letting go of learned behavior
32:30 What do we need for Agile to work in a Digital Agency?
33:19 Agile will work when it becomes a management initiative NOT a Project Management Initiative
34:53 How you can learn more about the AgencyAgile approach
36:10 Books about Agile that Jack recommends
37:00 Jack response to “We can’t do Agile because we’re fixed bid.”
38:10 Advice from Jack for those who want to adopt Agile in a digital agency
39:07 Where you can learn more about Jack
40:11 Interview Ends
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST
2017 Digital PM Summit: http://bureauofdigital.com/summits/digital-pm-2017/BOOKS BY BAS VODDE AND CRAIG LARMAN
- Practices for Scaling Lean & Agile Development http://amzn.to/2uCR6AV
- Scaling Lean & Agile Development http://amzn.to/2wXVKWG
CONTACTING JACK
Website https://www.agencyagile.comBlog: https://www.agencyagile.com/insights/
Medium: https://medium.com/@jackskeels
Twitter : https://twitter.com/agencyagile
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackaskeels/
If you are interested in this topic, please stay tuned for more. In preparation for a session I am leading at the 2017 Digital PM Summit, I have been doing lots of interviews about how to make Agile work in a digital environment.
Friday, August 04, 2017
Are Stretch Goals OK? w/ Tim Wise from LeadingAgile
Even if you have formed an opinion about Stretch Goals, I'd encourage you to check this podcast out. I tend to be pretty anti-stretch goals, but during the interview Tim suggested a type of stretch goal that would actually be a very positive thing for a team to commit to.
You can find the podcast here.
Thursday, August 03, 2017
Mission Statements & Developing Cross Functional Teams w/ Celeste Giampetro
SHOW NOTES
00:08 Podcast TLDR01:44 Podcast Begins
02:11 Some background on Pebble Post and Celeste’s role there
03:31 Is having a mission statement or vision statement important?
04:03 What problem is Pebble Post solving and how are they solving it?
09:43 Why marketers need to focus on being more generalized than specialized.
11:49 When are you done being a startup?
12:58 How we ended up with so much specialization in the first place
13:48 How do you determine if your generalist actually has the focused skills you need.
15:09 How to find people who want to grow and then to mentor them
16:03 Leading with vulnerability and transparency
18:10 What value does a manager get from leading with vulnerability
19:42 An example of how leading with vulnerability and transparency backfired
20:31 The benefits of giving up the control and power; and how it can have a very positive impact on the organization
22:00 Making sure everyone knows the Mission and Vision Statement
22:18 Introducing cross-functionality into your team
24:08 Do Gen X and Millennials approach collaboration and cross-functionality differently?
25:18 What is the key to motivating people? “Can you extract from them their best work?”
27:07 The importance of learning about the people on your team before you start trying to direct their behavior.
28:07 On Managing people - “It’s al about relationship building”
28:55 Agile at PebblePost
30:32 Getting in touch with Celeste
CONTACTING CELESTE
Twitter https://twitter.com/stinapessaLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestegiampetro/
Pebble Post http://pebblepost.com
CELESTE'S ARTICLE
Step Aside, Specialist: Return Of The Marketing Generalist
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Agile 2017 Preview - Laura Powers
SHOW NOTES
00:10 Interview Begins01:03 Laura explains her new gig at Radtac US
02:15 Laura’s experience London following the recent attacks
02:56 Laura and Kim Brainard are giving some Training From the Back of the Room classes
05:03 Laura’s participation in the Women in Agile Event at Agile 2017
07:24 Laura’s talks at Agile 2017
07:48 What about The Power of Play?
14:12 The Difference between Culture and Climate
18:02 Laura’s upcoming session at the Scrum Gathering in Dublin and Say Yes to No!
19:50 Improv, the “Yes, and” culture and the Power of No
25:25 Saying YES! to more things than you can possibly do and how to fix that
27:58 Laura’s advice for newcomers attending Agile 2017
31:34 Getting in touch with Laura
CONTACTING LAURA
Radtac https://www.radtac.co.uk/about-us/page/3/Twitter https://twitter.com/laurapowers
LINKS FROM THE PODCAST
- Radtac http://Radtac.com
- Training from the BACK of the Room
Thursday, August 3, Orlando, FL
Kim Brainard and Laura Powers
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/training-from-the-back-of-the-room-tbr-1-day-graphic-facilitation-tickets-31829812827
LAURA’S PODCASTS
Agile Games http://agilegamespodcast.comNLP Your Agile - Link will be updated soon
WOMEN IN AGILE
Women in Agile at Agile 2017Date: Sunday, August 6, 2017
Time: 1-5 PM
Location: Orlando, FL - Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel (Agile2017)
https://www.agilealliance.org/women-in-agile-2017/
LAURA'S SESSIONS AT AGILE 2017
The Power of Play - Coaching Teams to Play at WorkWednesday, August 9, 10:45 AM
http://sched.co/ATXu
It’s Not Just About Culture: Co-creating an Awesome Agile Climate in an Imperfect World
Thursday, August 10, 10:45 AM
http://sched.co/ATWv
Laura's Session at 2017 SCRUM GATHERING - DUBLIN
Say "Yes" to "No": The Power of the "No" in AgileTuesday, October 31, 11:00 AM
https://www.scrumalliance.org/sgdub
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Personal Accountability Teams at Agile 2017
TLDR
Join a new experiment being run at Agile 2017! Get
the most you can out of the biggest Agile event of the year by signing up with
a Personal Accountability Team. Stick around at the end of the First Timer Orientation
if you’d like to get set up with a team that will meet Daily in Orlando.
Personal Accountability Teams at Agile 2017
The Agile Alliance is running an experiment to help
interested First Timers form small teams who will hold Daily Standups each day
in Orlando to get the most value they can out of Agile 2017.
We are just a few weeks away from Agile 2017. With
over 270 sessions throughout the week plus a wide variety of other non-session
activities, sponsor events, random unofficial activities, hallway
conversations, late night "networking" activities, etc. There are
LOTS of options. There are, in fact, more options than you could possibly take
advantage of.
For many years, I attended big multi-day
conferences with the same approach: throw myself headlong into it on Day 1 and
participate in everything I could. This worked.... for most of Day 1. It
started to fade on Day 2 and by Day 3 of whatever conference I was attending, I
hid in my room a lot, I'd sit in the back of a session I was only partly listening
to while I did work and often, and mostly just waited for it to be over so I
could go home to my family. Needless to
say, this was not a very effective approach.
Several years ago, I tried an experiment at SXSW
where I got together with a small group of people each morning for a Daily Standup.
It was my first time at SXSW and I was completely overwhelmed. When I initially
proposed the experiment at the end of a session on Project Management, I was
looking for 2 things:
- I wanted to have a group of people I could meet with each morning who would help ground me and who would listen to my goals for the day. For me, a big motivator on achieving those goals was knowing that I'd be facing the same people again the next morning.
- I was looking for support. I didn't know a single person at SXSW and I wanted to have a small base of people I could sync up with. I hoped that we'd share tip and talk about what we had learned during the previous day, and that the collaboration would help us all get a better experience out of our time in Austin.
It worked pretty well. I have been refining this
practice at every conference I've attended since. More than anything else, this
is what helps me maximize the value I get out of any conference I attend.
In practice, it works just like holding a Daily
Scrum, except the questions are a little different:
- What am I going to do today to get value out of my time here?
- What progress did I make on my goals from yesterday?
- What am I struggling with or what do I need help with here at the conference?
I think it is critical to keep in mind that
"getting value" does not necessarily mean attending every session. Taking
time for yourself, going for a walk, taking a nap before you head out in the
evening, making sure you are eating right and hydrating... these are all as
important as the conversations. With so much going on, it can be hard to give
yourself permission to skip some stuff, but if you don't, you are going to miss
a lot more.
This year at Agile 2017 the Agile Alliance is
supporting an experiment in Personal Accountability Teams. If you would like to
participate, all you need to do is to attend one of the First-Time Attendee
Orientation Sessions being held at the start of the conference. As soon as the orientation
is over we will walk over to the Open Jam, where we will help you find a small
team you can meet with each day throughout the conference to support you and
help you get the most value possible out of your time in Orlando.
If you'd like to know more, just reply to this post
or attend one of the First-Time Attendee Orientation Sessions at Agile 2017.
AGILE 2017 First Time Attendee Orientation Sessions
- Sunday, August 6, 3:15 PM Panzacola F1&F2
- Sunday, August 6, 6:15 PM Panzacola F1&F2
- Monday, August 7 8:15 AM Panzacola F1&F2
Monday, July 24, 2017
Volunteering at Agile 2017
The conference is MASSIVE and it would not be possible without the Purple Shirt People who volunteer at the conference. In exchange for getting to attend the conference, the folks in the purple shirts are the ones who can help you navigate the week. Whether you are a first timer wondering where to go, or a seasoned veteran giving a talk, we all depend on the generosity of the folks who give their time to help make the conference happen.
In this podcast, Becky Hartman and Sarah Klarich share some details about volunteering at the conference, how it works, what you get in exchange for giving your time and how you can get more involved. If you are new to the conference, Becky and Sarah also share some tips on how to make it through the week and what to not miss.
SHOW NOTES
00:10 Podcast Begins
00:47 Background on Sarah and Becky
01:33 Getting involved with volunteering at the Agile Conference
02:58 How many people will be expected at Agile 2017
03:30 How many people are part of the Volunteer Team at Agile 2017
03:52 The time commitment and getting to see sessions at Agile 2017
05:13 The type of work the Purple Shirts are expected to do a the Agile Conference
06:19 The benefits of volunteering at the Agile Conference
10:18 Advice from Becky and Sarah on how to get the most out your week in Orlando
13:15 Tips for volunteers who are extroverts (like Becky)
14:05 Watch the Grandma comments!
14:18 Advice for introverts (like Sarah)
15:05 Get ready for Agile Therapy and some other new events at Agile 2017!
16:36 Dealing with FOMO at Agile 2017 (You can’t see it all - take care of yourself!)
17:40 Finding your conference wingperson
19:44 Sarah and Becky’s must see events at Agile 2017
21:36 How to get on the Agile 2017 Volunteer Wait List (or submit your name for next year)
Monday, June 26, 2017
Is PMP still worth it if I am doing Agile? - w/ Jesse Fewell
In this podcast I got the chance to check in with Jesse Fewell on the value of certification. Jesse and I have been friends since 2008 when we both started working on trying to find ways to get PMI to pay attention to Agile. We both come from a traditional background, have been heavily involved with PMI and now make a living teaching Scrum certification classes.
Jesse and I debate the answer to the PMP certification question and along the way, discuss our differing views on the value of PMI-ACP, CSM and CSPO certifications. These are things we don’t always see eye to eye on, so regardless of your viewpoint, there is sure to be something in here to help you see things from a different perspective.
We also have a brief conversation about what do to about PMO’s in Agile organizations.
Note: You may hear some odd background noise. This time it isn't me slurping coffee … #blamethefidgittoysShow Notes
00:08 Podcast Starts
00:34 An update on Jesse’s recent and upcoming Agile PMO sessions, VirtuallyAgile.com and his Certified Agile Leadership Training classes
07:53 Does PMP Certification still matter? And if you are working in Agile, do you still need it?
09:57 If you are a traditional PM, are you in danger of becoming unemployable if you do not have agile?
11:50 Can a traditional PM avoid the trap of thinking they “get” Agile before they actually do?
14:26 Jesse’s involvement with PMI-ACP, it’s evolution and current relevance
16:20 What can you expect of someone who has PMP or PMI-ACP Certification?
18:10 PMI and Agile Alliance collaboration and what we can expect to see from it
20:10 PMI is working with the Agile Alliance… “It’s like the X-Men and the Justice League tried to plan something together”
21:10 “Everyone has the same mission - improve outcomes and people doing their job well”
21:43 It’s not a “standard”, it’s a “guide”
22:07 How much Agile will be in the new (6th) edition of the PMBOK?
23:00 For the skeptics… there is good on both sides of PMI and the Agile Alliance working together
24:30 Understanding the distinction between the work done by PMI and the Agile Alliance (stabilize and align vs. disrupt)
26:42 Will there be a new Agile certification coming from PMI?
29:26 If you know a PMP trying to decide between taking a CSM or a PMI-ACP course and they need advice on what to take
32:42 Dave and Jesse debate whether getting PMP is still valuable for a CSM or CSPO
36:17 “Most Agile people are punching above their weight…”
39:18 What do we do about the PMO if our organization is adopting Agile?
44:22 Want more Jesse? Here is how to get it….
45:02 Interview Ends
Links references in the podcast:
The Hybrid PMO (part of Seminars World) http://bit.ly/2tbOvM5
Certifications and Agile Organizations Mentioned in the Podcast
PMP Certification http://bit.ly/29NtawC
PMI-ACP Certification https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/agile-acp
CSM Certification http://bit.ly/ZtotC1
CSPO Certification http://bit.ly/1HeXnC5
Certified Agile Leadership Certification https://www.scrumalliance.org/agile-leadership
Agile Alliance: https://www.agilealliance.org
Scrum Alliance: https://www.scrumalliance.org
PMI: https://www.pmi.org/
Contacting Jesse
Website: http://www.jessefewell.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessefewell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessefewell/
Contacting Dave
Website: https://drunkenpm.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsungo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/
Friday, June 23, 2017
WTF is Cost of Delay?
At some point, seems like about 2 summers ago, it seemed like a lot of really smart people in Agile started talking about Cost of Delay as a great way to understand the relative value of work or projects within an organization. The problem I ran into was, whenever I asked about it, the people who explained it to me (who were always way smarter than me) would quickly leave me even more confused than I was when I started asking the question. For awhile I kind of let it go as "another one of those Agile things I just don't totally get" and resigned myself to just nodding my head when people talked about it. That approach was working pretty well, but it started to bug me that I was just kind of universally punting on the whole topic.
I am very fortunate to work at LeadingAgile where I have a lot of really smart colleagues who are open to letting me ask them lots of questions. So, I decided to take advantage of that and finally try to understand exactly WTF Cost of Delay actually is. The result of those questions is 3 podcasts, which, if you listen to in order, should not only help you understand it at a conceptual level but also at a level where you can begin to practically apply it.
Each of these podcasts originally was posted on the LeadingAgile site. Links to the blog posts are listed below each podcast.
Original blogpost
Original blogpost
Original blogpost
I am very fortunate to work at LeadingAgile where I have a lot of really smart colleagues who are open to letting me ask them lots of questions. So, I decided to take advantage of that and finally try to understand exactly WTF Cost of Delay actually is. The result of those questions is 3 podcasts, which, if you listen to in order, should not only help you understand it at a conceptual level but also at a level where you can begin to practically apply it.
Each of these podcasts originally was posted on the LeadingAgile site. Links to the blog posts are listed below each podcast.
An Overview of Cost of Delay with Jim Hayden
Original blogpost
Calculating Cost of Delay with Marty Bradley
"It's not a Math Problem" - Cost of Delay Part 3 with Dean Stevens
Monday, June 19, 2017
Jimi Fosdick at SG2017 on going from PMP to CST
Fearless Agility’s Jimi Fosdick took some time out of during the 2017 Scrum Gathering in San Diego to let me interview him about what it was like to go from being a full on, old school, traditional PMP, to someone who spends his days helping individuals and organizations move to a more Agile way of working.“It should feel counterintuitive awkward uncomfortable and maybe a little bit painful because anything that represents real change feels that way.”
Jimi is not your run of he mill PMP turned Agilist. His outspoken style, views and approach are unique, but the reason I was so psyched to get to do the interview was the fact that despite all that, Jimi still shows a lot of respect and empathy for traditional minded folks and the challenges they face in making the switch… because he went through it himself.
If you are trying to move from a traditional way of working to someone who has adopted and internalized Agile, there is a lot of good advice in this podcast.
SHOW NOTES
01:40 - Interview begins02:00 - Jimi’s work and his background
04:17 - Jimi’s experience of going moving from traditional PM work to Agile
06:35 - Advice from Jimi for those moving from traditional to Agile
07:46 - Knowing what you are arguing against, before you know what you are arguing for
09:30 - Embracing the crisis of faith
10:49 - Hyper-focus and the discipline required to make Scrum work
11:45 - The difference between a Project Manager and a ScrumMaster
14:44 - Why Scrum has no Meetings
16:47 - Jim’s work in the Enterprise
20:10 - Cargo Cult Scrum
20:30 - Advice for the PMO that exists in an organization transitioning to Agile
21:19 - Jimi (See the photo below for the more older and mellower Jimi)
24:44 - It’s more about people and change than governance
25:55 - If you have a time machine and could go back and meet Fredrick Taylor would you stop him?
26:42 - Breaking Gantt’s hands
26:55 - Finding Jimi
LINKS FROM THE PODCAST
Cargo Cults on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cultCargo Cult Video: https://youtu.be/qmlYe2KS0-Y
CONTACTING JIMI
Web: FearlessAgility http://www.fearlessagility.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/fearlessagility
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FearlessAgility/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimifosdick/
Upcoming Events on the Scrum Alliance site: http://bit.ly/2srE7gU
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