Curious about whether you will be able to coach new scrum masters after doing the ACSM course? John McFadyen explains.   Yes, you can.   In fact, I am hoping that you would already be mentoring and coaching new scrum masters before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course.   A scrum master is a natural coach and will be coaching the scrum team through scrum and each iteration. In some cases, a scrum master will even be coaching people outside of the scrum team to help remove impediments and ensure that each increment contains the seeds of improvement.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course is going to help you improve your coaching and facilitation skills. You will work through simulations in the course that help you embed the theoretical elements of coaching and use the sessions to actively practice the actionable elements of coaching.   A scrum master will already be facilitating scrum events such as the retrospectives and the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course will help you build on that foundation knowledge with more advanced tools, insights and techniques to help you become a more effective facilitator.   Again, you will actively practice these elements on the course and have an opportunity to demonstrate that you have mastered this skillset.   The ACSM course validates as much as it teaches. By that, I mean that the course is designed to validate your skillset as an advanced scrum master and give you the confidence to move forward with your practice as a scrum professional.   In your working career, you will have come across several obstacles and impediments that need to be overcome for the team to progress. You will be discussing those elements in the course and the knowledge you share in the class will help others who may be facing the same issues in their workplace.   Likewise, you will be a part of discussions with scrum masters that have over a decades' worth of experience in the field and will be actively learning from their insights, recommendations and actions.   So, will you be able to coach new scrum masters after attending the ACSM course? Yes, you will. You will also have a greater arsenal of tools, techniques and models that you can coach them through to help them progress in their career and overcome obstacles that may be holding them and their scrum teams back. An advanced scrum master straddles the line of scrum master and agile coach. You will have a minimum of one years' worth of experience as a Scrum Master before attending the ACSM course and the ACSM course will prepare you for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course  a year down the line.   You have the opportunity to actively practice what you have learned in the ACSM course for a minimum of one year before attending the CSP-SM course. A year where you also get to work through the recommended reading list for advanced scrum masters and learn from professionals who have worked at the coalface for decades and shared their knowledge, insights and tools in the form of great books.   The ACSM course gives you the tools, techniques, and insights necessary to actively coach others but you will need to actively practice on a daily basis in order to become better. As you move through the natural apprenticeship of an advanced Scrum Master, you are going to be perfectly positioned to help young scrum masters in their career. If you want to become an Advanced Scrum Master, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ For an idea of progression upon completion of the ACSM course, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

Often, when we enter a new field or explore career opportunities in a specific industry, we look to certification paths to help guide us in the choices we make the training we invest in. Both the Scrum Alliance and Scrum.Org have great certification paths, from practitioner level (scrum master or product owner) through to more advanced professional practitioner levels to coaching certification paths. If you don't have the benefit of an apprenticeship program or a mentor in your life, these certification paths can be invaluable in your career advancement and progression but they don't always need to be the sole guiding light in your personal and professional skills development. In this short video, John McFadyen speaks about the value of his certifications and the thinking behind the acquisition of those specific certifications in his career progression. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

There have been whispers from naysayers that #agile is dead. that #scrum doesn't work. That the fad is over. On the other side of the spectrum, people point out that it took us 25 years before we knew how to leverage electricity effectively. Same for the internet. Same for digitization. So, is #agile dead or is it only beginning to come into it's own? We got a tongue lashing from John on this one, so we hope you enjoy the answer. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

If you've climbed the corporate ladder as a traditional manager, and then as a more senior leader in the organization, it can be hard to grasp #agile or #scrum because you have no frame of reference for those kinds of values, principles, and a lightweight #productdevelopment framework. You know tight management. You know steering the ship. You know #projects. And you know #projectmanagement. What is #scrum and why is it something #leadership teams need to consider? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the kinds of things that may interest leadership teams, possibly even executive teams, when it comes to understanding how #scrum enables effective #productdevelopment. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

It takes years, sometimes a lifetime, to build trust yet you could lose it in a moment of foolishness. All your hard work can come tumbling down with a single or series of mistakes, and it's incredibly hard to regain trust once that has been lost. So, what are the things that we do, consciously and unconciously, that are super destructive in team environments? If you come from a traditional micromanagement and toxic management background, what are the kinds of traits and behaviours that will sabotage great performances? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about one of the things that is proven to destroy morale and allow resentment to fester. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

#scrum is built on #empiricism, also known as empirical process control. The concept of transparency, inspection, and adaptation based on what data and evidence has been gathered throughout the sprint. In other words, we learn through doing and inform what we attempt next using the data and evidence gathered in the experiment. It is widely accepted as the preferred way for dealing with complexity and navigating uncertainty. So, what does the evidence show? What kind of results have #scrummasters and #agilecoaches achieved using #scrum? In this short video, John McFadyen speaks about the most impressive turnarounds he has witnessed using #scrum as an #agileframework for #productdevelopment. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

In 2001, a group of brilliant and experienced software engineers came together to create and articulate what is now known as the #agilemanifesto. 4 #agile values and 12 #agile principles that empowered #productdevelopment teams to create products, features and services that truly delight customers whilst departing from the rigid, waterfall-style of #projectmanagement that preceded their work. There were a number of #agileframeworks that existed prior to 2001, such as #scrum, but the #agile movement is what really brought all of these frameworks and models into the world of creative and knowledge work as a bona-fide style of work, innovation, and collaboration. So, which of these frameworks and models are the best for #productdevelopment ? In this short video, we asked John McFadyen what his preferred product development framework is and why. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

You will often hear experienced #scrummasters and #agilecoaches talk about the need for #agile leaders to champion #agility rather than just 'buy-into' the concept of #agile. Why is it so important? What kind of impact can a great #agileleadership team have on the successful adoption and implementation of #agile? In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the kind of impact a great #agile leader can have, and why their contribution matters so much. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/. If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/. If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/. #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

What is #scrum? Scrum is a lightweight #agileframework that helps #productdevelopment teams solve complex problems and build complex solutions. It helps them navigate complexity and build solutions despite uncertainty. John McFadyen explains.

A #scrummaster is a critical accountability in #scrum, and someone who trains, coaches, and consults / mentors to help the #scrumteam thrive. John McFadyen explains.

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the #projectmanager will work with #project stakeholders, directors and senior managers to scope a project - from start to finish - and then create deadlines and cost constraints for the team to deliver. In an #agile environment, we are dealing with complexity - in essence, we don't know the answer upfront and won't know until we have completed the work - and so we can't guess upfront what the answer might be, how much that will cost, or how long that will take to deliver. Often, people ask why a #scrumteam don't scope the full quarter, year, or 3-years' worth of work upfront and populate the #backlog based on what they have decided is important over the short, medium and long-term. In this short video, John McFadyen explains why #agile teams don't do this, and why an #agileframework is purposefully designed to focus on the short-term, highest value work rather than scoping months or years worth of work upfront. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad.... #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the business analyst plays a critical role in helping product stakeholders and customers communicate their problems, wants, and needs to the production team. In #scrum, the #productowner is generally responsible for initiating discussion and conversations with customers, in collaboration with #developers on the #scrumteam, to identify what matters, why that is important, and how the solution creates value for customers. In a hybrid environment, where you have a traditional #management style organization with pockets of #agile, you will often have #productowners working in conjunction with #businessanalysts, and it can be confusing as to which role creates value for the #scrumteam In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the difference between a product owner and a business analyst, and provides some insight into how each role can create and contribute value to the team. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad.... #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

20th century traditional #management and #projectmanagement is a very defined, rigid and process-driven style of working. It also inherits the culture of command and control thinking, management, and dependencies. If you grew up in a command and control environment, you simply think very differently to someone in an #agile environment and it is very likely that you work in a very different style to them too. Why is that? Does the culture inform the behaviours and tasks necessary to fulfill the role or does the behaviour and process inform the culture? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about how #scrum both changes the way you think as well as how you work.

Traditional #projectmanagement thrives in a simple or complicated environment. For example, if you are transporting bricks from A to B, and you have done this a thousand times before, #projectmanagement is a great answer. You know how to do the work, you know the best way to do the work, you know who is best positioned to do the work, and you know how long it will take and how long it will cost. Complicated environments like civil engineering are similar. You know how to build the bridge, you know who is great at it, you know more or less how much that will cost and how long it will take. #winning When we move into complexity, things become exponentially harder because we don't know the answer upfront. The problem has never been solved before and the solution has never been built before. We don't even know if the people we have can solve the problem or build the problem, we need to move through empirical process control to discover the answer and the best way to build the product or solve the problem. In this short video, John McFadyen explains why Empiricism - aka Empirical Process Control - has become one of the preferred ways to deal with complexity. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Why is scrum so popular in #productdevelopment environments? Why has this lightweight #agileframework proven to be the most widely adopted product development framework in the world? In this short video, John McFadyen explains why Scrum has proven itself to be one of the most reliable, effective product development frameworks in the world. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

#productdevelopment has a strong foundation in manufacturing, specifically #lean manufacturing, that has evolved from the days of #toyota and the subsequent iterations, improvements and evolutions that have contributed to the world of #agile. Whilst the #agilemanifesto was created by a team of brilliant and experienced software engineers, a lot of what informed their thinking and the subsequent evolution of #agile has deep roots in manufacturing and the continuous improvement in #productdevelopment. #kaizen is a word that emerged from those early days, but is often misinterpreted or misunderstood. In this short video, John McFadyen articulates the meaning of kaizen, and provides a simple example of kaizen in practice. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Scrum has the widest application on Earth, with the #scrumframework being deployed in pretty much every industry, application, and country imaginable. That said, it's often personal experience with #scrum that makes the greatest difference to #agilepractitioners. In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the best application of #scrum he has personally witnessed and experienced. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In a traditional #projectmanagement environment, diligence, compliance and obedience are valued. Your job is to do as you are told, within the time and cost constraints provided, and make sure that you deliver the work that has been allocated to you. Simple. Straightforward. Predictable. In an #agile environment, we are asking deeply experienced and competent knowledge workers to solve problems that have never been solved before and build products and features that have never been built before. The focus shifts from obedience, compliance, and diligence to creativity, collaboration, and inspiration. We want teams to stretch and deliver the most valuable products, features and services that they are capable of creating. It starts with a strong sense of purpose and a clear mission for the team. In this short video, John McFadyen explains why purpose is so critical to team development, and how inspiration and mission fuel great work. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

#scrum consists of a small team between 6 and 10 people who are responsible for #productdevelopment that creates, captures and delivers value for customers. The #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping to create an environment where the team can excel and thrive. In many ways, it is a #leadership position, although it's tricky because they don't have authority and instead need to use their influence, coaching and mentoring skills to achieve valuable outcomes. So, how do they do that? How do they lead without #leadership experience? How do they help the team focus on the most valuable items of work yet keep a finger on the pulse of the big picture? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the importance of #agile leaders mentoring #scrummasters and helping them improve in their role as the team's guide, coach, and agile mentor. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the #projectmanager will work with #project stakeholders, directors and senior managers to scope a project - from start to finish - and then create deadlines and cost constraints for the team to deliver. In an #agile environment, we are dealing with complexity - in essence, we don't know the answer upfront and won't know until we have completed the work - and so we can't guess upfront what the answer might be, how much that will cost, or how long that will take to deliver. Often, people ask why a #scrumteam don't scope the full quarter, year, or 3-years' worth of work upfront and populate the #backlog based on what they have decided is important over the short, medium and long-term. In this short video, John McFadyen explains why #agile teams don't do this, and why an #agileframework is purposefully designed to focus on the short-term, highest value work rather than scoping months or years worth of work upfront. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

As an #agilecoach and professional #scrummaster, it is natural to tap into the power of #scrum and use the same format as the #sprintretrospective to reflect on what has happened, what was anticipated, and what can be learned from the experience. Reflection, critical analysis, and problem-solving capability development are incredibly important in all of our lives, not just in the realm of #agilecoaches and #scrummasters. So, what has happened in 2022 and how does that play out in the context of continuous improvement and progression? In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through 3 of the most powerful lessons of 2022 and how those insights have impacted his life. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In an #agile environment, a #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping to create an environment where individuals and teams can thrive. A foundation that promotes excellence and taps into the power of a culture that values continuous improvement. Such an environment promotes collaboration, creativity, and the creation of valuable products, features and services that delight customers. Some things are beyond the control and influence of the #scrumteam or #agile team, and that requires #leadership teams to step in and help solve problems or remove impediments that block progress. #agileleadership is incredibly important in these environments and a great leader can have a significant impact on the effectiveness and satisfaction of an #agile team or team of teams. So, how do you identify and nurture that talent? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the importance of identifying #leadership potential, and how the #scrummaster can help identify, nurture and develop #leadership skills and capabilities. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

As the #scrumguide will tell you, #scrum is relatively straightforward and simple to understand yet incredibly difficult to implement and sustain. Why? Because it involves people, that are complex and intelligent and creative, and it involves complex environments, which are uncertain and volatile and ambiguous. Tough gig. So, what does it take to succeed in this kind of environment, given the complexity of working in a tight knit team? What does it take to succeed at something that is so revolutionary and progressive? In this short video. John McFadyen talks about the 3 non-negotiable elements that must be present for a #scrumteam to succeed. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

The #agilemanifesto was created in 2001 by a team of brilliant software engineers with deep expertise in product development and software engineering. We often forget that #agile, as a movement, was inspired by great work in other areas that informed how we might shift from #projectmanagement into creating products and services that truly delight customers. We often forget that the concept of continuous improvement, excellence, and doing the right thing in the right way has deep roots in lean manufacturing. In this short video, John McFadyen explains how lean manufacturing, and the process of empirical process control has influenced #agile and #scrum. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

The #agile purists sometimes forget that the organizations that dominate markets and win customer hearts and minds have been around for decades. Whilst they are deeply committed to traditional #management and #projectmanagement practices, slowly, they are beginning to embrace the opportunities offered by #agile #productdevelopment. That transition can take time, and whilst #agile is a great answer to 21st century problems, it isn't the answer to everything and many organizations need to have a dual focus on great execution as well as innovation. So, when you're dealing with a traditional #management and #leadership team, how do you get them to understand and embrace the opportunity of #agile whilst honouring and appreciating that they come from a traditional school of thought and deeply value command and control? In this short video, John McFadyen explains what he wishes leadership teams knew about building #scrum and #agile teams. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

When navigating the Scrum and Agile landscape, two roles stand out: the Scrum Master and the Product Owner. Each has a unique focus, impacting not just the product but the very dynamics of the team. 🚀👥 💡 The Product Owner wears the strategic hat – focusing on the ‘what,’ ‘why,’ ‘when,’ and ‘which’ of the product we’re building. A Product Owner is All About: 📝 Understanding what matters to the product🎯 Grasping why it’s important to our customers and stakeholders🤔 Determining when to release the product Deciding the order of product features⚙️ On the other hand, the Scrum Master’s role often goes underappreciated in many companies. Their focus isn’t product delivery alone but the effectiveness of the team. The Scrum Master is all about: 📝 Creating an environment where everyone can excel💡 Communicating with key personnel on team-related issues Championing the team’s ability to deliver, both within the team and to leadership🏆 In essence, while the Product Owner is determined to deliver a fantastic product with developers, the Scrum Master’s mission is to ensure a great environment to achieve that goal. 🌟 If you’ve ever pondered the unique roles of a Scrum Master and Product Owner, consider joining us for one our upcoming Scrum course. Get to the heart of Agile dynamics and master the roles that drive success in Agile environments. 💪📚

#agile is an evolution in #productdevelopment that helped us move from strict, rigid frameworks like traditional #projectmanagement environments into a space where we could focus on delighting customers with products, features and services that they deeply value. One of the foundation principles of #agile is the need for continuous improvement through regular reflection, conversation, and actively seeking out the opportunities to improve. So, if #agile was founded in 2001, how far have we come since then? What has changed and what has remained the same? How will the concept and associated #agileframeworks evolve from here? In this short video, John McFadyen talks about how #agile has proved to be a rock-solid platform for improvement and where he sees it evolving from here. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In an #agile environment such as #scrum, the #scrummaster is often the unsung hero of the #scrumteam and is responsible for helping the team create an environment where others can excel. Because they aren't directly responsible for delivery of a product or service, it can sometimes be difficult to measure their impact in a #scrum team, and how their efforts help the team excel. So, if they are the invisible figures that help us thrive as a team, how do we measure their impact? How do we know if they are doing a great job? How do we articulate the significance of their presence and honour the great work they do? In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the kind of impact that a great #scrummaster can have in an #agile environment. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In the early days of #agile, the founding fathers of the #agilemanifesto were inspired by a number of #agileframeworks, processes, and methodologies. #scrum, for example, had been in practice since 1995 and was continuously proving itself in the toughest applications on earth, whilst the world of #lean manufacturing was making great strides in #productdevelopment and continuous improvement. Since 2001, a few more #agileframeworks have been released, with some of those frameworks focused on #scaling #agile, and many practitioners have evolved in terms of their practice, their thinking and their beliefs. So, what emerged over this period and should have been more widely adopted? What proved itself to be a powerful force in shaping how we build products and solve complex problems. In this short video, John McFadyen talks about something that should have been more popular in the #agile world, but somehow failed to gain the necessary traction to become an #agile phenomenon. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

As a #scrummaster and #agilecoach, you get to witness the very best of #agile in action and see how powerful teams can literally put a ding in the universe when they have a shared purpose, a custom-designed style of working, and observe #agile values and principles. How is that different to a strong #projectmanager leading a strong #projectmanagement team? What do the #agile and #scrum teams do differently, and how is that a remarkable, and observable, difference? In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the difference between agile and traditional project management teams. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

In 2001, a group of brilliant and deeply experienced software engineers came together to create the #agilemanifesto. A radical departure from rigid, process-driven rules into the realm of agility based on values and principles. Since then, many people have built on the great work of the original #agile manifesto and developed theories, hypotheses, and experiments that help grow #businessagility and revolutionise #productdevelopment. In this short video, John McFadyen talks about 2 people who's thought leadership in this space have inspired him and provided much food for thought. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

It is very actionable.    The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course is designed to help you make the transition from apprentice Scrum Master to advanced Scrum Master by providing you with the insights, tools, techniques, and actionable practices required to practice successfully within a working environment.   To become an Advanced Certified Scrum Master, you need to have a Certified Scrum Master credential and at least a years’ worth of working experience in the field.   The working experience is essential because it provides a context for the conversations, practices, and simulations that you will be a part of in the ACSM course.   You need to have experienced the challenges of being a scrum master in a working environment to fully grasp the concepts that are presented in the ACSM course and you need to have worked with teams to fully understand how the team dynamics, coaching, and facilitation elements work.   As a Scrum Master, you will find that you have been incorporating elements of coaching and facilitation in your daily role but may not have the formal coaching and facilitation tools, techniques and practices to help you.   The ACSM course focuses on helping you bridge the gap between Scrum Master and Agile coach by dedicating a full section to coaching and facilitation. A section where you will explore coaching and facilitation tools, techniques, theory, and practices that will actively help you become more effective as both a Scrum Master and a coach.   The ACSM course attracts people with a wide variety of experience as Scrum Masters. Some may have a years’ worth of experience whilst others may have a decades’ experience practicing as a Scrum Master.   In the conversations, simulations and group exercises, many of these delegates will raise questions around the challenges they face or will share experiences that helped them overcome those specific challenges in the field.   These stories and questions are absolute gold for apprenticing Scrum Masters.  Your Certified Scrum Trainer is an expert in the field of Scrum Mastery and likely has over a decade of experience working in the trenches as a Scrum Master and Agile coach.   They will be answering questions from the perspective of a master practitioner and will provide you with insights, theory and recommendations on how to actively overcome the challenges you face.   These insights, recommendations and practices are immediately actionable.   Many people come back to us after a day or two of attending the ACSM course to let us know that they have actioned much of the learning in the course and are starting to see positive results. We also provide delegates with a recommended reading list of books and resources that are appropriate for an advanced Scrum Master. In those books and resources you will find knowledge, tools, techniques and resources that will actively help you in your journey.   In applying everything that you have learned from the course, you will also start to learn what does and doesn’t work for you. Some elements may need a tweak here and there whilst in other situations, you may actively want to make them your own through trial and error.   In short, you will find all of the content in the ACSM course is relevant and actionable.   It is designed to help you become a more effective practitioner and to progress within your career as a professional Scrum Master.   If you are interested in taking your career to the next level, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/

Curious about how the ACSM course will impact your #scrum career journey? John McFadyen walks us through what you'll be able to do after attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course.   In order to attend the course, you first need to be a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) with approximately a years' worth of experience working as a scrum master.   The thinking is that the ACSM will build on your foundation knowledge and skillset with more advanced insights, tools, and techniques to help you make the next evolution in your career.   So, in theory, you will be able to do everything that you were capable of doing before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and then you will also have a new, upgraded set of tools and techniques that you can begin to implement in your working environment.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course also provides greater insight into Agile theory, helping you place the specific frameworks and concepts into the right context so you'll be better positioned to articulate why Agile is a great way of working for your organisation and in what specific applications the frameworks will yield the best results.   As a Scrum Master, you will already be in the position of coaching others through Scrum events and artefacts but the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course contains a dedicated section for coaching and facilitation.   You will find that you will have new coaching and facilitation tools, techniques and insights that will help you coach your team and new scrum masters. You will also find that you are better able to facilitate scrum events like retrospectives using your updated skills and techniques.   The ACSM helps you to straddle the line between scrum master and agile coach within your organisation so you'll find that your coaching skills, both within your team as well as with individuals outside of your team will be greatly enhanced. You'll be able to help others discover the right answer and best solutions for the challenges they face.   Ultimately, you'll be able to lead more effectively too.   You'll be learning from the experience of others on the course and also picking up on what your Certified Scrum Trainer is addressing when it comes to overcoming challenges within a working environment. Many people bring live, real-world challenges to the classroom and our role as a trainer is to provide them with actionable advice and tools that will help them solve those challenges.  You will find that you are equipped with new tools, insights and creative approaches that will help you address some of the challenges that may be tripping you up in your practice as a Scrum Master.   The ACSM course will give you the confidence to try new tools, techniques and approaches within your working environment and empower you to master more advanced practices within our industry.   The time and effort you invest in applying the knowledge, tools and insights you gained on the ACSM is going to pay huge dividends in terms of your career progression and effectiveness as both a scrum master and agile coach.   You will also be better positioned to coach and mentor new scrum masters. Coaching and mentoring is an important part of your career development so it's just as important that you have a coach and mentor to help you as it is for you to be actively coaching and mentoring junior Scrum Masters through their apprenticeship.  The ACSM course will also validate your skills as an Advanced Scrum Master, giving you the confidence to attempt more complex problems and play a greater role in helping your team develop products and services that truly delight customers. 

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification from the Scrum Alliance is fairly young compared to the Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master certifications.   It was designed to be a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   After a year of experience as a scrum master in a working environment, you would be able to attend the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and level up on your scrum master skills as well as learn new skills like coaching and facilitation.   The thinking behind this credential is that it serves to empower scrum masters in their career as practitioners to progress to the next level and help teams thrive in complex environments. It also empowers them to work with new scrum masters and help them grow their skills in the industry.   So, how well recognised and respected is the credential? It's pretty well respected by companies and recruitment agencies alike but it isn't as well known as the Certified Scrum Professional (CSM) certification.   It is an internationally certified and recognised certification from the Scrum Alliance, so a short check or bit of research on the part of a recruiter or potential employer would inform them of the value and credibility of the certification.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master certification also acts as a validation of your skillset as an advanced Scrum Master.   The Certified Scrum Master course has a very high pass rate, in the region of 98% per course, but the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course does often have to invite people back to the course once they have attained more experience in a working environment to validate their skills.   It isn't simply a matter of attending the course and being automatically certified as an A-CSM.  As more people progress down the Scrum Alliance certification pathways to the more advanced certifications like ACSM and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master, the certification gains wider recognition and appeal from recruiters and potential employers.   If you want to invest in the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ page.  Also visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of growing your coaching skills, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-agile-beginner-courses/on-demand-introduction-to-agile-scrum/  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #csm #acsm #certifiedscrumprofessional #csp-sm #agilecoach #coaching #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.

What is John McFadyen's favourite #scrumcourse to teach? As a #CST or #certifiedscrumtrainer, John delivers a multitude of #scrumtraining with official certification from #scrumalliance. In this short video, John explains which of the courses are his favourite to teach. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures.

Allow me to ask you an important question “Have you ever purchased a product solely because its documentation was immaculate, not caring about its functionality or value? I bet you’re struggling to recall such an instance. I cannot imagine a single example in my many years of leading Scrum and Agile teams. If you can think of such an occasion, I’d love to hear it! So, this brings me to ask a second question, ‘Have you ever been left scratching your head about the Agile Manifesto’s assertion for “Working Software Over Comprehensive Documentation”? 🤔 It’s a phrase that I’ve been asked to explain countless times, and it’s a value that can sometimes feel counter-intuitive. So, let’s take a moment to delve into it. 📚🖥️ What we’re talking about in working software over comprehensive documentation is certainly not getting rid of documentation. As such, it’s striking the balance of having enough documentation to run your product and your organisation responsibly. In truth, “Working Software Over Comprehensive Documentation” doesn’t mean discarding documentation altogether. It’s about achieving a balance 🧘‍♀️ It’s about having just enough documentation to operate your product and run your organisation responsibly. But here’s the key insight 💡: Customers are not buying your product for its detailed documentation. They care about the outcome, the benefits, and the needs your product meets – the working software. Now let’s look at the documentation from this perspective: It’s a tool that helps users achieve what they need from the product. But the documentation should never overshadow the primary goal – delivering a product that works, provides value, and meets user needs. So let’s not lose sight of the core focus in our agile endeavours – delivering working, valuable software while using documentation as a supportive tool. Keep your product at the forefront, your user’s needs paramount, and let’s build software that speaks for itself! If you’ve enjoyed my insights and want to dive deeper into Agile principles, look at some of the courses available to shape your Agile future! Thank you for being part of our Agile journey! 💪💼💡 If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page. If you are inspired by the idea of an online apprenticeship for a scrum master, visit https://www.agilesuccess.academy/courses/growing-scrum-masters-advanced If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page. Breaking Down the Myths: Documentation in AgileA New Perspective: Documentation as an Aid, Not the Star

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what the #agilemanifesto means by the #agilevalue of Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what the #agilemanifesto means by the #agilevalue of Responding to change over following a plan. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master or A-CSM course is an official certification for advanced scrum masters from Scrum Alliance. The course is intended to elevate your foundation scrum master skills to more advanced, professional scrum master levels. In this short video, John McFadyen talks about what you will learn on the A-CSM or Advanced Certified Scrum Master course. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Scrum Alliance was formed by the cocreators of Scrum, Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber, and later the Scrum.Org was founded by Ken Schwaber. Both are internationally recognized certification bodies and both do a great job at creating courses that prepare people for the world of #scrum. In this short video, John McFadyen addresses the question about whether you should choose the Scrum Alliance or Scrum.Org certification path. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

The CSM or Certified Scrum Master course is an internationally recognized course for aspiring or novice scrum masters. It aims to prepare them for the #scrummaster accountability and teach them the basics necessary to succeed in the role. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what you will learn on the CSM course. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Why is scrum so popular in #productdevelopment environments? Why has this lightweight #agileframework proven to be the most widely adopted product development framework in the world? In this short video, John McFadyen explains why Scrum has proven itself to be one of the most reliable, effective product development frameworks in the world. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Why is scrum so popular in #productdevelopment environments? Why has this lightweight #agileframework proven to be the most widely adopted product development framework in the world? In this short video, John McFadyen explains why Scrum has proven itself to be one of the most reliable, effective product development frameworks in the world. About John McFadyen If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s.... If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s... For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....

Curious about the impact an Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course will have on your earning potential? John McFadyen takes some time out to explain how the course will benefit you.   Very few companies will increase your salary based on your attendance of a course, regardless of how long that course takes.   What companies do reward is increased competence, capability and creativity within the working environment. In other words, the greater the impact you have on your organisation the greater the rewards you will receive.   We are absolutely in love with the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and believe it offers a host of benefits to each delegate but it will take time for you to integrate the new tools, techniques, and learning from the course into your daily practice.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course was designed by the Scrum Alliance to act as a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course.   The thinking behind the course is that as you pass through your apprenticeship as a Scrum Master, you would need an assist after about a year of working in the field to help you upskill in a number of areas relevant to a professional Scrum Master.   One of those areas is coaching and facilitation.   As you progress in your career as a Scrum Master, you will naturally find that you are coaching more people, within and outside of your scrum team, in Scrum.   You will be actively helping people to find great answers to complex problems and you will be helping a team of professionals to create products, services and features that truly delight customers.   To do that effectively, you need to be coaching and facilitating at a professional level.   The Certified Scrum Master course does not teach you how to do that, you would actively need to invest in a coaching and facilitation course or the Advanced Certified Scrum Master to upskill at the next level. The ACSM also validates your skillset as an advanced Scrum Master and then provides you with the tools, models, techniques and insights you will need to continue your journey as a professional Scrum Master.   These include service to the team, service to the product owner, and service beyond the team. It also includes understanding organisational change and scaling Scrum.   As you master these elements, and actively practice what you have learned in the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, you are naturally going to be creating and adding more value to the Scrum Team as well as the organisation.   As you master the coaching and facilitation elements, you are naturally going to have a greater impact on the organisation as well as on the teams you directly work with.   That impact translates into better products and services being created in less time than it would ordinarily take. In some cases, it translates into competitive advantage for the team and organisation.   At this point, you will be earmarked for promotion or salary increases due to the impact you are having on the team and the organisation.   So, in summary, the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course will not earn you a promotion in and of itself, but it does play a significant role in how you grow as a scrum master and the kind of impact you can have within your organisation, which in turn will lead to promotions and increases.   If you are looking to advance your career, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ To get an idea of career progression, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

It depends on your current skills, experience and mindset.   If you find that you have mastered the basics of Scrum and are actively looking for more advanced knowledge, tools, and techniques to overcome the challenges you face within a working environment then you're going to find the course challenging but enjoyable.   If you have little to no experience as a Scrum Master and you are attending the course because you want the certification or because you need the certification, then you are going to find the course incredibly difficult.   In the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course, you are taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer and your primary goal is to learn about scrum, the role of a scrum master in a scrum team, and how to be a scrum master.   There are discussions and simulations but for the most part, you are being taught and all you need to do to pass the examination is learn.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course validates your skills and capabilities in addition to teaching you new skills, tools and techniques.   In the A-CSM, you are required to participate and lead. You are required to demonstrate that you are a competent and capable Scrum Master.   There are a lot of discussions and simulations around the more advanced elements of scrum and you will be sharing your challenges and war stories with others. You will also be learning from others and gaining insights into how they have overcome challenges.   That's why it is important that you have experience as a Scrum Master working in a scrum team.   If you don't have that experience, you won't have a context for what you are learning nor will you be able to participate in these discussions.   The ACSM digs deeper into Agile theory and provides a context for why these lightweight frameworks have proven so popular over the past two decades. It also provides insights into which kind of applications best work for Agile and Scrum.   Agile is a great answer but it isn't the answer to every question. That's why you need to understand the context and best case application.  You will also learn more about coaching and facilitation. Two very important parts of a Scrum Master's arsenal. As you progress in your career, you are naturally going to facilitate events and coach members of your team. The ACSM course will teach you how to do that more effectively and provide you with tools, techniques, and models that will help you become a great Agile coach and facilitator. You will also practice some of these techniques and tools in simulations throughout the course to help embed the knowledge and start your journey as an Agile coach.   Scrum Masters coach people across the organisation to find compelling answers to the problems we face. Advanced Scrum Masters will use coaching as a tool to help people within the scrum team and outside of the scrum team to overcome obstacles and create the most valuable products, services and features they are capable of.   These concepts and skillsets aren't difficult, they simply require that you are invested and make an effort to practice. For most people, these elements are immediately actionable and once you start the habit of practicing these skills, they become easier over time.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course also works through service to the Scrum Team, service to the Product Owner, Scaling scrum and organisational change.   Again, these are difficult concepts that will challenge you. If you have battled with any of these elements in your working environment, you are going to be super pleased to discover the answers to your challenges and will find the experience relatively straightforward to understand and adopt.

Part 8 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers common interview questions that we found on the web.   So, you're about to be hired as an in-house #agilecoach or as an external consultant and you are asked why the organisation should consider #agile as their preferred method of #productdevelopment. What do you say?   Why should organisations adopt #agile or #scrum when there are heaps of #projectmanagement frameworks they could consider?  In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how he would approach this question in an interview and how best to answer it?   If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you like the idea of becoming a #scrummaster, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

Part 7 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common interview questions for #agile #coaches that we found on the web.   So, you're an #agilecoach and you are working with several teams across the organisation. Each stage of #productdevelopment may be different for each of the teams you serve, so how do you manage that?   How do you stay on top of what each team are doing and when they deliver their #increment? It is kind of a trick question because an #agilecoach is not responsible for delivery, they are responsible for creating an environment where #scrum or #agile teams can excel.   If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  If you like the idea of becoming a #scrummaster, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

Part 6 in our series of #agilecoach #interviewquestions. John McFadyen takes some time out to walk you through how he would answer these questions as an experienced #agile #coach.   So, in this scenario, you are asked how you would help an individual who recently joined the team. As a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, it is your responsibility to create an environment where individuals and teams can excel.   How do you help them integrate into the #agile team and become a creative, collaborative and productive member of that team?  How would you help them find their feet, especially if they have never worked on a #scrum team or within an #agile team environment?   Here's some pointers from John on how you can approach the problem and how you can proactively help that new team member.  If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section of https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/   #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilemethodology #scrum #scrummaster #scrumteam #certifiedscrummaster #scrumalliance

Part 5 in our series of #agilecoach #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of aspiring agile coaches in an #interview.   Sometimes, as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, you walk into an environment where everyone embraces #scrum and actively lives the #agile values and principles.   If that's you, great, you will love your working environment and quickly embed yourself as a powerful #coach and #facilitator that helps create an #agile environment where the team can succeed.   At other times, you walk into a company that is just beginning their journey with #scrum and #agileframeworks, and you find that individuals on the team or within the organisation fiercely resist the #scrumframework or #agileframework you are going to be working with.   What do you do? How does an #agilecoach or #scrummaster deal with a team who resist the #agilemethodology?  In this short video, John McFadyen answers that question for you.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about teams that resist change.   If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section of https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/  #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilemethodology #scrum #scrummaster #scrumteam #certifiedscrummaster #scrumalliance

Part 4 of our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common #interview questions asked of aspiring agile coaches.   John is not a fan of the concept of #agiletransformation because it implies some kind of off-the-shelf #agile solution that companies simply adopt overnight.  There are pre-packaged #agileframeworks that promise #agility in a box but it is very rare that these kinds of transformations succeed.   Nevertheless, you're in an #interview and you need to answer the question. Fret not, we've got your back, in this short video John McFadyen answers the question 'what is the hardest part of managing an #agile transformation?'   If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you like the idea of becoming a #scrummaster, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

Part 3 of our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers #agile coach interview questions we found on the internet.   This question drew a bit of scorn from John as #agilecoaches and #scrummasters are not responsible for managing changing requirements in the middle of #productdevelopment.   That is on the #productowner and #developers.   That said, the #scrummaster or #agilecoach can play a powerful role in helping the #scrumteam navigate troubled waters through a combination of #teaching, #facilitating and #coaching.   In this short video, John answers the question 'how does an agile coach manage changing requirements in the middle of product development?'  We think you'll love his answer and maybe even use it as your own in your next #agilecoach interview.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and would value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com to explore the Growing Agile Coaches mentorship and coaching program.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, certify and validate your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/ Connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement #agiledevelopment #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #scrum #scrumalliance #agilecoachacademy #coaching #onlinelearning

Part 2 of our series answering common #agilecoach interview questions.   John had a bit of a laugh at this question but dutifully answered as best he could. One thing that we are starting to notice through this #interviewquestions series is that many of the questions asked don't really resonate with an experienced #scrummaster or #agile coach.   Processes are something that you create, as a team and as an organisation, they aren't something you buy off the shelf and adopt. It needs to be created and owned by the #scrumteam for it to resonate and have impact.   John would think of this question in terms of which #agileframeworks he has experience with and in which application they have succeeded but he wouldn't think to bring packaged processes into the equation. At best, he might describe a process that has proved effective or productive in the past and invite the team to explore what that might look like for them.   So, what do you do when you are asked this question in an #interview? Our advice is that, like John, you improvise and frame your answer in a way that demonstrates your expertise yet stays true to the #agile values and principles.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   If you like the idea of becoming an Agile coach and value a mentored, coach-driven path to certification and skills development, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com and explore how John can mentor and coach you to success.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, certify and validate your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/  Connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement #agility #agiletraining #scrum #scrummaster #scrumalliance #coaching #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoachacademy

#agile has a reputation for putting people first and creating working environments where people can excel.   It doesn't mean that teams don't have conflicts though and often as the #coach and #facilitator, the #scrummaster is responsible for ensuring that conflict is healthy and respectful.   So, how does a scrum master manage conflict within a #scrumteam?   John McFadyen walks us through his thinking on managing conflict within #scrum and provides us with some recommendations to help you get the most out of your team interactions.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has worked as a scrum master, #agilecoach and #executivecoach on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in Europe and the UK.   As far as conflicts go, John has worked through heaps of potential roadblocks and helped teams work through the process of discovering great answers to compelling problems.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilescrumtraining #managingconflict #conflictmanagement #scrumteam #scrumenvironments #scrummethodology

We've decided to look at some common #agilecoach interview questions we found on the internet and have John McFadyen answer them for you.   In this short video, John answers the question, 'how does an agile coach go about choosing the length of a #sprint?'   A #sprint is a short, sharp burst of effort that the #scrumteam work toward with the goal of achieving a #sprintgoal or predetermined backlog of items that they have committed to completing.   The amount of work taken onboard for the sprint is decided by the #scrum team during the #sprintplanning phase, in conjunction with a #productowner and #scrummaster.   But who decides how long the sprint is going to be? How does a scrum master or agile coach help the team determine what length a sprint should be?   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach.  He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   If you are curious about becoming an agile coach and would value a mentored, coach-driven skills development path, visit our Growing Agile Coaches training at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill or validate your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master courses at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/  #agilecoach #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoachinterview #interviewquestions

The #sprintreview is a great opportunity for the #scrumteam to get together with the #productowner, #stakeholders and customers to review the product or feature that has just been built during the #sprint.   Ideally, the team walk away with insights into what elements of the product are doing well and which elements need work, whilst the customers walk away with insights into what is holding the team back, what the team managed to achieve and where the team are going next.   So, how do you get the most out of a sprint review? What can a #scrummaster or #agilecoach do to help create an environment that fosters great communication, interaction and engagement?   In this short video, we asked John McFadyen what exercises an #agilecoach can run to get the most out of a sprint review. His answer may surprise you.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and would value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/coaching-and-mentoring/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agiledevelopment #scrum #scrummaster #scrumalliance #sprintreview #sprint

The #sprintreview is an opportunity for the #developers, #scrummaster, #productowner, #productstakeholders and customers to come together and review what has happened in the #sprint and understand where the team are headed next.   Whilst the scrum master will facilitate this #scrum event, it's the developers that take centre stage and directly engage the customers and stakeholders.   It's their time to shine and have discussions around the problems they encountered during the sprint, the challenges they overcame, and where their focus will be dedicated in future sprints.   So, where does the #agilecoach fit in? How much of a role should an #agile coach play in a sprint review?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the role #agilecoaches play in sprint reviews and how they can best serve the team and scrum master.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations    For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and would value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agilecoach #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agility #scrum #scrummaster #scrummastertraining #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

As an #agilecoach and #scrummaster, you will facilitate a #sprintreview at the end of each #sprint to introduce customers, #productstakeholders and the #productowner to the new product, feature or service that has been created.   Ideally, the #sprintreview is an open, honest and productive conversation about what the team anticipated would happen, what actually happened and why, and where the #scrumteam are headed next.   It is  super valuable #scrum event because it provides the team with insights into where the product can be improved and it provides customers and product stakeholders with insights into what potential roadblocks and obstacles the team are facing and how that may be impacting their performance.  As the team mature, the #sprintreview becomes more productive, creative and collaborative but it can trip the team up in the early days.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most common mistakes he witnesses in sprint reviews and provides some insights into how teams can host sprint reviews that rock.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrum #scrummaster #sprintreview #sprint #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #scrumcoach

A #sprintreview is generally a great time for the #scrumteam.   The #productowner, #productstakeholders, customers and #developers all come together to review what has been built over the #sprint and how well that serves customers and stakeholders.   In a perfect world, there is high-5's and backslapping taking place the moment your review is over but sometimes, we get it wrong and the #review can be a tough place to be.   A great #sprintreview consists of open, honest conversations about what the team attempted, what was actually delivered and where the team are going next.   So, what do you do as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach when the #sprintreview contains negative feedback from customers, stakeholders and the #productowner?   How do you move forward from there?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through a negative sprint review and how a great scrum master or agile coach will guide the team following negative feedback.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about sitting through tough reviews.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and valued mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #sprintreview #productstakeholders

A #sprintreview is an awesome opportunity for the #productowner, #scrummaster, #developers and #stakeholders to come together and review what has been attempted, what has been achieved, and what the future will look like.   It is a big deal. It gives the team great insights into what customers and #productstakeholders love about the product and what still needs to happen for them to consider the #product iteration a great success.   So, how do you ensure that the #sprintreview is a success? How do #agilecoaches prepare for a #sprintreview and how do they approach the presentation of updates and the discussions around the work that has been done?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the thinking and preparation an #agilecoach undertakes before a sprint review.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's been in heaps of sprint reviews and knows how to guide them well.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIN at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #sprintreview #sprintreviewplanning #scrumcoach #agileproductdevelopment

John McFadyen is one of the most positive, optimistic yet grounded people I know. He somehow manages to balance all the variable that come with working in uncertain, volatile and complex environments with a positive outlook that views every setback as an opportunity.   We tried to stump him with this question and his early hesitation in the video made us think that we had achieved our goal, but he quickly bounced back with such a great answer to this question that we continue to admire his spirit and be inspired by the decisions he makes.   In this short video, John briefly examines what could be his greatest regret as an #agilecoach and delivers a great piece of insight into how his positive mindset prevents him from having regrets.   If you work as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, you'll find his answer refreshing and inspiring. We know we did.  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement

In an #agile environment, there are multiple teams and multiple individuals working in specialist roles. Often, those #scrum teams integrate with traditional #projectmanagement teams that work in other departments of the organisation.   Combined with this, are a blend of #agile leaders and traditional managers who make decisions, set strategy, and manage elements of the product development process.   There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of things that can go wrong.   As an #agilecoach or #scrummaster, you work predominantly with the #scrumteam but you do work with other teams across the organisation as well as individuals, managers and leaders in the organisation to get things done.  So, what are the things that are going to trip you up?  What are the things that you need to be aware of and develop a strategy around?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the two things that generally trip him up as an #agile coach.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a great deal about working in complex environments.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development then visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #agilecoach #scrummaster #scrumteam #agileprojectmanagement

If you're an #agilecoach, people are looking to you to provide deep insights, actionable recommendations and practical advice that can help them create an environment for the team to succeed.   As an #agile #coach, you will be playing a number of roles through the course of the day. At times, you will be actively teaching and at other times, you'll be #coaching. You will also be facilitating, consulting and at times, just pointing the team in the right direction based on something you know to be true.   It takes a lot of skill and practice.  It also means that you acquire a great deal of trust in the organisation and you are often the 'go to' person when a new concept or idea needs to be pitched to the team or the leadership or the client.   So, how do you consistently get that right? How do you effectively pitch your ideas and sell concepts, recommendations and opportunities to the people who matter most?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how an agile coach can effectively pitch their ideas and concepts to teams, leadership teams and their clients.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about motivating ideas and promoting concepts.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development then visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #sellingagile #agileconcepts #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #agilecenter

Congratulations, you've made the transition from #scrummaster or #agilepractitioner to #agilecoach. Perhaps you've gone out on your own and are consulting to new clients or instead, you've been hired as a contract #agile coach and are going to start your new gig filled with confidence and enthusiasm.   Either way, take a moment to celebrate your transition and then think about what it is you must do to make a positive impression on both the client and the team.  There are a lot of things you're going to be enthusiastic about starting and you're going to find a lot of elements competing for your attention. But, what is the one thing you need to do first?  What is the first thing you should be focused on as you begin your client or team engagement?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most important place to start when you first engage with a client or a team.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's walked your path and has great advice for you to follow.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentoring and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #coach #coaching #scrumcoach #scrumteam #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment

Traditional waterfall-style #projectmanagement has a deep focus on metrics, deadlines and deliverables. Some people think that #agile frameworks don't measure metrics or take performance-based measurements seriously but that isn't true.   #scrum and #agile are all about delivering products, features and services that truly delight customers. Frequently and consistently. Doing so requires you to have a finger on the pulse of #productdevelopment and to know what must be communicated to the #productowner and #productstakeholders.   Making sure that the team are consistently achieving #sprintgoals and delivering working products to customers is a priority for both #scrummasters and #agilecoaches.   So, what metrics would be important for an agile coach to measure? Also, how are those metrics different to what the #scrummaster will be measuring?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most important metrics for an agile coach to consider and provides some insights into why those specific metrics matter.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a great deal about reporting on metrics to all levels of the organisation.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to master, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoach #scrummaster #scrumteam

An #agilecoach is many things.   A great communicator, a great facilitator, a great teacher and a great #coach.   Mastering those 4 disciplines takes a great deal of time, effort and will. As you work through the ranks from #scrummaster to agile coach, you will find that you naturally develop these skills.   As you progress and begin to work with more people in the organisation, outside of the #scrumteam, you will also begin to develop your business acumen. Your ability to understand business challenges and how problems impact the organisation's performance.   You are going to be working with senior #leaders within the organisation to remove impediments, actively propose new solutions and ideas, and work with them to integrate #agile into their processes and decision-making.   At times, you may even be the one that pitches a pilot #scrum or #agile project to demonstrate the value of the #productdevelopment process and unique #agilecapabilities these methodologies deliver.   So, how do you do that? How do you gain buy-in from #leadership within the organisation to run a pilot project? How do you craft a compelling pitch that gives you the green light to set up a new #scrumteam and start working with #agileframeworks?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how an agile coach can work towards getting leadership to buy into a pilot for #scrum.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both an agile coach and a scrum master. He has also worked as an enterprise and executive coach on some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about winning opportunities from senior leaders in organisations.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #certifiedscrummaster #certifiedagilecoach #agilecoachacademy #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

#sprintplanning is one of the first events in the #scrum process and it involves the #scrummaster, #productowner and #developmentteam actively planning which #backlogitems will be included in the upcoming #sprint.   It is a great opportunity for the team to decide what they are going to work on and how they are going to solve the problem or create the #product increment that is needed.  #scrummasters play a crucial role in #facilitating this event and sometimes, it is also an opportunity for an experienced #agilecoach to participate and support the #scrumteam in their planning.   In many circles, a #scrummaster is an #agilecoach but in this instance, we are speaking about an experienced #agilecoach who has experience and expertise in #coaching, facilitating and teaching #agile frameworks, events and methodologies.   So, how does an agile coach go about facilitating #sprintplanning compared to a #scrummaster?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how professional #agile coaches facilitate sprint planning and in what capacity they are able to support #agile teams in their planning events.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's witnessed thousands of #sprintplanning events and played a crucial role in helping teams plan effectively.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilecoach #scrumcoach #sprint #sprintplanning #scrumevents

Working as an #agilecoach means working with people. You need a great deal of people skills and you need to be both adaptive and responsive in your work to help your team generate the best results.   #scrummasters generally develop these skills over time, and as they work with more people across the organisation, they polish their communication, facilitation and coaching skills continuously.   So, what does it take to be a great #agile coach? What is one of the most important traits necessary to succeed in this industry?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what he considers to be the most important trait for a successful agile coach.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams as both a scrum master and an agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about agile coaching along the way.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoach #scrummaster #coaching #scrumcoach

Most of us start out at the team level working as a #scrummaster dedicated to a single #scrumteam. We're there as the guardians of #scrum but also to learn from the team and to help them become as effective as possible.   You're instilling #agilevalues and #agileprinciples and helping the team to get the most out of the #scrumevents and #scrumartefacts. As your team improve, so do you as a scrum master.   It's sometimes hard to tell just how far we have come, but over time, you grow and evolve to a point where you are more than a single team #scrummaster and instead, have evolved into an #agilecoach that works with multiple teams and senior leaders within the organisation.   In this short video, John McFadyen describes how his transition from scrum master to #agilecoach arrived. There is no one shining moment or victory parade marking the event, it is instead just a result of continuous improvement, over time, and greater exposure to more people and opportunities within the organisation and industry.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's experienced everything from scrum master to enterprise level executive agile coach.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

So, you've earned your Agile stripes and are set to enter the workforce as a newly minted #agilecoach. Kudos.   It's time to implement all you have learned as a #scrummaster or #agilepractitioner and you're chomping at the bit to lead your very own #agile team to victory.  It is a super exciting time for a new agile coach and whilst your enthusiasm for the job will win you many fans, it can also lead you down the garden path if you aren't careful.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through some of the most common mistakes made by newbie Agile coaches.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrumteams as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows heaps about working in #agile environments and how easily things can go wrong.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #agileproductdevelopment #agileteams #agileprinciples #agilevalues

Most #agilecoaches start at the team level as a #scrummaster and slowly progress to a point where they are working with senior #leadership throughout the organisation.   A process that takes years and countless evolutions in your path to mastery.   For many people, it happens organically but for some, it is a result of deliberate and specific practice that enabled them to escalate their sphere of influence from the #scrum team to the #leadership team.   There are great certification pathways to help you move from #agilecoach to a #certifiedteamcoach or #certifiedenterprisecoach, such as the #scrumalliance certification pathways, but you are going to need to earn your stripes along the way by actively practicing in that environment and growing your #coaching skills at both the individual and the team level.   So, what do you if you have identified leadership coaching as an opportunity for you to flex your #agile coaching fingers? How do you go about learning how to deal with the c-suite and senior leadership team?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his journey from #scrummaster to enterprise and executive level coach.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's dealt with line managers all the way through to powerful CEOs in the largest organisations on earth.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you value mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #executivecoach #executiveagilecoach #certifiedteamcoach #certifiedenterprisecoach

So, you're a #scrummaster and have recognised the opportunity to grow in your career as an #agilecoach. Kudos. We love the journey you're on and look forward to working with you in growing your #agile capabilities.  A great way to grow your skills and capabilities, outside of formal training and courses, is to read books.   I am a fan of reading as much as you can, gathering as much information and perspective as you possibly can, to inform how you grow and practice as an #agilecoach.   But, where do you start? What is the one book that could give you the insights and recommendations you need to get going as an #agile coach?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks you through the one book you should read as an aspiring agile coach.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an agile coach. John has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about #coaching great scrum teams.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #agilebooks

As a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, a great deal of your work requires you to actively #coach both individuals and teams.   You're looking to help the team, as well as the individual, achieve clarity around what good looks like, what needs doing, and how they can best go about achieving their goals.   Sometimes you're facilitating conversations at the team level and at other times, it is a one-on-one discussion with the individual.   Your goal is to help create an environment where the #scrumteam can excel, but how do you do prioritise individual coaching versus team coaching?   How do you know where your time and effort investment is going to deliver the highest returns on investment for both you and the team you serve?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his thinking around how an #agilecoach prioritises #agilecoaching the individual versus the team.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows about #coaching teams and individuals to achieve high performance.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #scrumcoach #teamcoaching #individualcoaching

As a #scrummaster, you act as an #agilecoach for the team by facilitating conversations and events, and actively #coaching the #scrumteam through #scrum.   You are helping the team create an environment where each person can excel, technically, professionally and personally. It is your role to help people clarify their thinking and identify how best they can contribute to the team and the creation of a product or service that delights customers.   You aren't personally involved in the product delivery at all, it is more a case of being behind the scenes and working with the team, as well as with key stakeholders in the organisation, to create an environment for the team to thrive.   There are many ways that you can trip and fall, and many hard lessons that need to be learned and earned along the way.   In this short video, we asked John what the toughest lesson he learned as an  agile coach was and his answer is pretty surprising.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a lesson or two along the way.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilecoach #scrummaster

In an ideal #agile world, people understand the value of teamwork and actively work together to ensure that both individuals and teams are getting better through a solid commitment to continuous improvement.   The #agilemanifesto outlines a set of values and principles, as does the #scrum guide, to help people get the most out of the #scrumframework or whatever #agileframework they are using.   #agile is built on the foundation of people doing great work for other people, in environments that empower individuals to thrive and contribute.   But, it doesn't always work that way.   Because we are working with people, things are a lot more complex. The 'state of Agile' report surveys thousands of people around the world to ascertain where they are on the engagement and satisfaction scale.   Consistently, 13% to 15% are 'actively disengaged'. This means that they aren't simply dissatisfied, they are actively working against the team and the organisation. You could go as far as to say that they are actively sabotaging efforts and team initiatives because they are so unhappy.   Think about that.   Disengaged means that they aren't contributing nor do they feel like their time, effort and contribution matter. They aren't giving their best but they aren't getting in the way either.   You can deal with that.  But how do you deal with an individual that is actively sabotaging your efforts and the team's efforts? How do you, as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach work with someone that is working against you?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how you can deal with sabotage from an individual in the #scrumteam.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's worked with people that have dug their heels in and resisted any kind of transformation or progression.   For more on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master, and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrumteam #scrumcoach #agilecoach #scrummaster #teamwork #agileprinciples #agilevalues

#agile values and principles are built on the concept that people are incredibly value. More valuable than processes and tools. Be it a customer, a developer or people in the organisation outside of the #scrumteam, the emphasis is always on creating environments where people can excel and unleash their full potential.   As a #scrummaster, your role is incredibly people-centric. From designing and facilitating #scrumevents like #sprintretrospectives and #sprintreviews to #coaching the team, you're going to be focused on helping your team in every area of their personal and professional development.   Communication plays a vital role in getting your message across and helping others to communicate their vision, wants, needs, and ambitions. You simply need to be a great communicator to succeed as a scrum master or #agilecoach.   We could spend years discussing communication and all of the elements that are necessary to improve your communication, but we decided to focus on just one tip for this video.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through one of the most valuable communication tips for a scrum master and why it is so important.   John has worked on some of the most high performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked on some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about effective communication.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #communication #teamcommunication #coaching

As a #scrummaster, you are often working with people outside of the #scrumteam to create an environment where your team can excel.   Sometimes, that's Human Resources to develop policies and contracts that help your team and at other times, you're working with senior leaders to help remove impediments that are blocking your team.   As with any organisation, you often must create a report or proposal that outlines your idea or position, and actively pitches what the new solution might look and feel like.   So, what do you do if senior leadership are not buying into your proposals? What do you do if you can't seem to get your ideas and proposals to land with the people who have the most power and authority to make those ideas a reality?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what you, as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, can do if you are finding that your proposals are not being received or acted upon.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformation so he knows all about pitching senior leadership teams and helping his team move through organisational impediments.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #pitchingideas #scrumteam

Congratulations, you've been given the green light to run a pilot project with #scrum to test how the adoption of #agile frameworks can improve your product development.   There's a lot at stake with these kinds of initiatives and as a #scrummaster, you have a lot invested in making the trial a success.   So, what do you do? How do you ensure that the #scrum adoption is a success and opens the door for #scaling scrum across the organisation?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through why you need to think about what your control for this adoption is going to be and why it is important that you run the trial project correctly.   Neglecting to ensure that the pilot project overcomes obstacles organically and sets the tone for future adoptions is setting future projects up to fail and can backfire on your best intentions.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and an #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the most progressive, complex #agiletransformations in the UK and Europe so he's learned a thing or two about adopting #scrum in complex environments.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrummaster #scrumpilot #scrumproject #agilecoach #coach

Part 18 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of a #scrummaster or #agilecoach in an interview.   What is a spike?   The concept comes from the restaurant industry where food orders are placed on a spike for review and assessment at the end of the shift. It tells the chef and restaurant owners which orders were delivered throughout the shift and provides insight into the kitchen's performance for the evening.   In the world of #softwaredevelopment this concept of a spike with items attached to it has been amended to fit the challenges of #productdevelopment.  In this short video, John McFadyen explains what a 'spike' is in #agile environments, how it came about, and how it is relevant to #softwareengineer and #softwaredeveloper teams.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 17 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen provides answers to common questions asked of an #agilecoach or #scrummaster in an interview.   #scrum is an #agileframework that is intentionally open-ended and flexible to allow for experimentation, evolution and progression.   It provides a framework for #productdevelopment and solving complex problems but doesn't tell you exactly what to do and when to do it, like waterfall-style #projectmanagement frameworks.   It gives teams a great starting point and contains the bare minimum necessary for a team to get going and make improvements with each #iteration. Slowly, over time, the #scrumteam learn what works for them, what needs work and what they can do to become more effective.   Sometimes, weird elements creep into the mix and although it isn't a part of the #scrumframework, people will conjure up new ideas and concepts to help the team move forward. Some are effective, some aren't. Sprint 0 is a prime example of something that isn't effective nor worth investing in.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what Sprint 0 means and why he isn't a fan of the concept.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 16 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of a #scrummaster or #agilecoach in an interview.   #scrum is a flexible framework for #productdevelopment that consists of three (3) roles. A #scrummaster, a #productowner and #developers.   The #agile framework consists of artefacts and events that are designed to help a #scrumteam navigate the complexity of product development and to solve complex problems.   For some teams, that works great, for other teams, they may find that they want to experiment to find the style of working and framework that best works for their unique application.   #kanban is a popular option for people because it is provides a great way of visualising work. It also allows people to see exactly where the team are, at any given moment, and know what items are prioritised for the team to tackle next.   Kanban is an incredibly powerful and popular methodology for approaching complex product development and has many people who swear by it's effectiveness. As such, teams may want to experiment and will alternate between #scrum and #kanban until they find the right balance.   For some teams, that falls somewhere in the middle of scrum and kanban, hence the name #scrumban, and provides the team with a great way to move forward, especially if they have been stuck in quicksand for a while.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what Scrumban is and why it is a popular option for teams.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 14 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common interview questions for a #scrummaster and #agilecoach.   This is a great interview question because it gives you an opportunity to discuss how you would approach each of these 2 key elements. There is a fairly significant difference between #coaching and #mentoring people and your answer provides insight into how you would decide which of these two options is appropriate and why.   As an #agile coach or scrum master, you will alternate between teaching, facilitating, coaching and mentoring a great deal. You will be working with people within the #scrumteam but also people within the organisation who aren't familiar with #scrum or #agile at all.   Both groups require coaching, mentoring and teaching.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks you through the difference between coaching and mentoring, and provides insights into why and how they are different.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 13 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed to #agile coaches in interviews and engagements.   What is Agile coaching? That's a broad question that accommodates a broad range of responses, unique to the person being interviewed and their own specific personal and professional experiences.   In some ways, it's a great question for an interviewer to ask because it provides them with insights into how you view the role of #agilecoach and what you aim to contribute in your role as an agile coach to the organisation.   Some interviewers may have a clear idea of what #agilecoaching is and are simply looking for insights into what you know and value about the role whilst others may not have any experience with agile coaching and are looking to you for clarity on what the role is and how it can serve the organisation.   In this short video, John McFadyen provides insights into what he believes a great answer to this question would be and how you can establish yourself as a knowledgeable and credible agile coach in your next interview.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 12 of our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #agile coaches in interviews. This is a tricky one because the interviewer may have their own preconceived ideas about what #agilecoaching is and what value it adds to the team and organisation or they may genuinely be trying to understand why they need an agile coach. In this short video, John walks us through his thinking around agile coaching and how it benefits teams and organisations. If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/. If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.  If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/. For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 11 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common interview questions posed to a potential #scrummaster and #agilecoach hire.   This is an interesting one because #agile speaks to #leadership rather than line management, however, many organisations that you work with will have deeply embedded line management structures and you will work closely with junior managers all the way through to senior managers so you need to have an idea of how they can support the transition and help the team be as effective as possible.   Managers play a critical role in the success of any organisation. A Gallup Organisation study from a decade ago found that almost 90% of all business case failure stemmed from 1st line management failure so managers do have the power to make or break any kind of pilot or initiative if they aren't included and consulted throughout the process.   So, how do you do that? What role do management play during the transition to #agile and how can you bring them onboard to support the new style of working?   In this short video, John McFadyen provides some insight into what role managers play during an agile transition and how you can win their support and commitment.   If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  If you like the idea of becoming a #scrummaster, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/  #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

Sometimes, an organisation will invest months investigating and understanding the value of #scrum before adopting the framework.   It often involves acquiring buy-in from everyone on the ground as well as the senior leadership team and it often also includes a trial period or pilot project to demonstrate that #scrum is the best #agileframework for the organisation.   In an ideal world, that would mean that everyone on your team is chomping at the bit to get started with scrum and everyone buys into the #agile values and principles.   However, we work with people and often that means there is a great deal of complexity involved and not everybody will buy into the team vision from the word go.   Sometimes it takes work, finesse, time and effort before you have everyone on board.   So, what do you do if you find that you have people on your team who aren't invested in making #scrum a success in the organisation and how do you, as a #scrummaster, go about acquiring buy-in from critical players on the team?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how a scrum master can help the team move forward regardless of whether everyone on board supports the decision to use scrum.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #agile teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's met resistance in the past and knows how to overcome those challenges.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumframework #scrumteam #agileteam

#agile teams, especially #scrum teams, are committed to self-organising and solving complex problems without the need to go into the organisation for assistance.   It doesn't always work that way because organisations are complex and often have a number of different protocols, procedures, and processes to deal with specific issues.   But, self-organisation and autonomy are the goal and that is what every #scrummaster and #scrumteam strive for.   So, what do you do when the team are battling to self-organise? How do you as a #scrummaster help your team become more autonomous and better at solving complex problems?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how scrum masters can help their team self-organise and become more autonomous.   John has worked with some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformation so he knows a thing or two about high performing teams that operate autonomously.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #self-organisingteam #scrumteam #team

In traditional waterfall-style #projectmanagement environments, a #projectmanager manages all elements of the #project and communicates with #projectstakeholders on behalf of the people who are actually doing the work.   In many project management environments, the customers are often the last to know what is happening and have to wait until the very end of the project before they see what has been built and whether it meets their needs.   The #agilemanifesto values customers over contracts and seeks to bring the #productowner, #developers and #customers together as frequently as possible to ensure that the team are delighting customers frequently and consistently.   Bringing customers into the same room as the people who are solving their problem or creating the product they need ensures that the experts in the organisation are receiving feedback directly from the people they serve.   It also helps build trust between customers and organisations because they are included in the process, from start to finish, and are able to see valuable outcomes at the end of each sprint.   So, in an ideal world, people would get on like a house on fire and organisations would not fear bringing customers into the same room as developers but often, companies are reluctant to do this and prefer having intermediaries such as project managers, product owners, sales people, etc. meet with customers instead of the developers.   It's simply a matter of old habits dying hard.   So, how do you as a #scrummaster work with the organisation and the team to bring customers and developers together? How do you facilitate those interactions and help grow engagement from product stakeholders and customers?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how scrum masters can help bring developers and customers closer together.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #agileprojectmanagement #scrum #projectmanagement #customers #developers #scrumframework #agilecoach #scrummaster

A #productowner, #scrummaster and #developmentteam will come together, form a strong team, and produce great work that inspires leadership teams to think about how they can scale that success in other parts of the organisation.   As that process unfolds, management teams will often look to hire an experienced #agilecoach to help the team improve as well as help the organisation scale #scrum in other departments.   So, what do you do as a #scrummaster when the organisation hire an agile coach to help improve the environment and scale scrum across multiple teams?   How do you work with that agile coach and what should you be looking to do?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how scrum masters can work with Agile coaches to achieve team and organisation objectives.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about integrating scrum and #agile in complex environments.   For more on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #teamcoach #businessagility

Part 1 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   This is an interesting question because it doesn't just test your knowledge of #scrum events, it asks you to provide a considered response to which of the #scrum events you consider to be the most important.   The #scrumframework consists of a few events. The #sprintplanning, #sprint, #sprintreview, #dailyscrum and #sprintretrospectives. Each of these events are important and have been designed with a specific purpose.   Knowing the purpose of these events and how to get the most out of them is incredibly important for a #scrummaster, but we all have our favourite events and this question is a great way for you to articulate why you think your chosen event is the most important.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what he considers to be the most important #scrum event and why. It also happens to be his favourite scrum event so there are no surprises for anyone who knows him well.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

If you're fortunate, you get to start your #scrummaster career in a mature #scrum team that have been working together and operating as a tight-knit #agile team for years.   It gives you an opportunity to ease into the environment, witness how the team work and slowly grow your capability and expertise as a #scrummaster in alignment with the team's progression.   But what do you do if your company have decided to use #scrum as their preferred #agileframework for the first time and you've just completed your #certifiedscrummaster course?   #scrum is new for everyone and you're expected to lead and coach the scrum team from the word go. What do you do?   How do you help your team embrace #scrum and become a powerful champion for #scrum and create an environment where others can excel?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what new #scrummasters can do from day one to find their feet and begin to help their team achieve their full potential.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformationns so he knows a thing or two about high-pressure environments and integrating with high-performing teams.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on Linked in at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumteam #certifiedscrummaster

#scrum is built on the value proposition of getting twice the work done in half the time. It is an #agile framework that is designed to help teams collaborate creatively and hyper productively.   That said, we are dealing with people and things don't always go to plan.  Sometimes, the team are working on elements that are incredibly difficult to create or problems that are incredibly difficult to solve.   In a complex world, the team are often working with unknown variables and in environments that are volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. It makes it tough to consistently deliver the goods and predictably achieve goals and objectives.   So, what does a Scrum Master do when the team simply can't get the job done? What does a #scrummaster do when the team are consistently failing to achieve their #sprint goals and objectives?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what a Scrum Master can do to help the team get back on track and consistently achieve their goals and objectives.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformation so he knows about working in pioneering environments where teams are taking on incredibly complex problems.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrumteam #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional #scrumframework

In an ideal #agile world, our #scrum team would arrive at work inspired, motivated and chomping at the bit to create products and services that delighted customers and stakeholders.   Because #agile and #scrum are such people-centric frameworks for creativity and collaboration, we sometimes imagine that it means we won't be dealing with toxic environments or working with teams where morale is low and frustration is high.   But, we are working with people and so there are bound to be both times and circumstances where you are working with a team of individuals who are demoralised, actively looking for new jobs, and burnt out from unrealistic expectations.   These are the areas where a #scrummaster and can make a deep impact on team morale and performance by working with the team and the organisation to create an environment where people are inspired, motivated and collaborative.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what motivation is and how a scrum master can help a team of individuals find their feet and build a great team environment where individuals can thrive and excel.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations which has provided him great insights into how to transition teams from an old management-driven style of working to more #agile and #businessagility oriented teams.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #motivation #inspiration #teamwork #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #coachingteams #scrumcoach

The #scrumframework consists of five (5) scrum events. They are the #sprint, #sprintplanning, #dailyscrum, #sprintreview and #sprintretrospective.   Each of these events plays a critical role in helping the #scrumteam create an environment where people can thrive and excel. Each of them serves a specific purpose and when leveraged correctly, can really help move the needle on high-performance.   As a #scrummaster, each of these events are opportunities to create awareness, engagement and conversations that help the team identify opportunities to improve.   There is always one of these events that tends to be a favourite for a scrum master or #agilecoach, and in this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his favourite scrum event - the sprint retrospective - and why it is such a powerful opportunity to help the team improve.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's witnessed some truly great sprint retrospectives.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #sprintretrospective #scrumevents

In traditional #projectmanagement, a #projectmanager and team will work to define the scope of the #project upfront and then plan a sequence of events or milestones to deliver the project.   Usually, the plan is cast in stone once approved by senior management and it is up to the #projectmanager to ensure that each step happens within the predetermined deadline and within the predetermined budget.   Given the complexity of the world that we live in, that is a big ask.   In theory, once the project is approved by senior management, the project manager and those who are assigned work have a responsibility to deliver on that work, regardless of whether circumstances change or not.   They could be halfway through a 5-year project and be aware that what they are building is becoming obsolete before it is even completed. They could be aware that what they are building will not actually solve the problem it was intended to solve, but that won't matter.   Delivering against the project plan is all that matters.  In #agile, things work very differently.   In the #agilemanifesto, the 2nd principle of #agile is 'welcome changing requirements, even late in the project' and intends to embed the importance of delivering products and services that truly delight customers.   It embraces the concept of welcoming feedback and making sure that the #scrumteam are always building the most valuable product, in the right way, at the right time.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the 2nd principle in the #agilemanifesto and explains why it is so important for a #scrum team to welcome changes late in the day.   John has worked with some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and an #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about adaptive and responsive team environments.   For more about John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #projectmanager #scrummaster #agilecoach #agileprinciple #agilemanifesto #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

In the ideal #agile world, people come together under a shared purpose and inspired vision to form creative, collaborative and high-performance teams that create products and services that truly delight customers.   From a #scrum perspective, we work continuously to create environments where people can excel, and have #scrummasters to act as the #agilecoach, #coach and #facilitator that helps form strong teams.   But things don't always go according to plan.   Sometimes, you find yourself in a toxic environment where there is plenty of backstabbing, blame and narcissistic behaviour. Sometimes, a team may not embrace #scrum values and principles but rather feel that they are being forced to work in a way that they don't agree with.   How do you deal with that as a scrum master?   How do you embrace #agile values and principles in an environment where people aren't working together, don't respect each other, and don't behave in a professional manner?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks you through what you can do to heal a toxic environment, regardless of whether you are a scrum master or not.   Whilst it isn't the scrum master's responsibility to fix toxic environments, it definitely could use their people skills, coaching skills and facilitation skills to start the process of rehabilitation.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrumteams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.  He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's worked in some pretty tough environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #team #agilecoach

This is kind of a tricky question because assessing skills capabilities and actively pursuing a skills development path for the #developmentteam or #productowner is not part of the core responsibilities of a #scrummaster.   It is, however, something which the #scrummaster can address through conversations, #sprintreviews and #sprintretrospectives if it becomes obvious that there is a skills gap in the team and the team are not consistently achieving their #sprintgoal as a result.   The scrum master and/or #agilecoach can facilitate the conversation or initiate a discussion about skills but it is up to the development team to decide which skills are needed and how to go about acquiring those skills.   As a scrum master, it is your responsibility to create an environment where others can thrive and excel. That does include helping to identify opportunities for growth and facilitating conversations with the necessary people around capturing those opportunities so the scrum master does straddle a line when it comes to addressing skills in the team.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his thoughts on how a scrum master can help identify what skills are needed in the #scrum team and how to facilitate the conversation around that opportunity.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrumteams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about cultivating and nurturing high-performance skills and capabilities in team environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #agilecoach #skillsdevelopment #scrumteam #sprint

In the #agile world, we focus on customers and interactions over processes and tools, which has led some people to believe that #scrum doesn't value processes or metrics.   That isn't true. Scrum is built on #empiricism and the 3 pillars of transparency, inspection and adaptation.   Empiricism means that we work with evidence rather than guesswork. We learn as we move forward and based on what we have learned and observed to be true, we inform our decisions and actions based on what is true.   So, metrics and measurements matter a great deal in #agile environments.   The entire #sprintretrospective in the #scrumframework focuses exclusively on process and how the team can get better. It is the last event in the #sprint and brings the team together to assess what we anticipated would happen, what did happen, and why there was a difference between the two.   So, process matters a great deal too. We simply value customer interactions and feedback to inform progression OVER the necessity of having tools and processes.  So, what is an increment and how do you measure its success?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what #scrum refers to when they use the term 'increment' and how #scrumteams measure their success in each sprint.   John has worked with some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and an #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest #agiletransformations so he knows a great deal about delivering products and services that truly delight customers.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #sprint #sprintretrospective #increment #scrumteam #scrumframework #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional

In a #scrum environment, the #scrummaster works closely with the #productowner to ensure that the #developmentteam have everything they need to create products, features and services that truly delight customers.   From a great #productbacklog to #userstories that capture how the end-user will derive value from the problem that is being solved or the product feature that is being created.   A #scrummaster is incredibly active during the #sprint and works closely with the #scrumteam as well as other members of the organisation to help remove impediments or solve problems that the team aren't able to solve on their own.   They also invest a great deal of time #facilitating events and #coaching individuals in the organisation to create an environment where the team can excel.   Many people have asked what the #scrummaster actively does during the sprint and in this short video, John McFadyen explains what a scrum master will be busy with as the team work through the #sprint.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's got some great insights into how a scrum master operates in an #agile environment.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #sprint #scrumsprint #agilecoach #scrumcoach #scrumframework

Part 2 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews.   This question is designed to test whether you have experience working with teams who aren't achieving their #sprint goals on a consistent basis and whether you know how to correct that.   Some interviewers will understand that organizational impediments stand in the way of a #scrumteam achieving their goals and are testing how you would respond to that, whilst other interviewers may genuinely be curious as to what causes to teams to underperform based on your experience.   There are a lot of ways to answer this question and each of those answers will differ based on your own unique experience as a scrum master or agile coach.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most common reasons why a #scrum team may fail to meet their commitments and why that is.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Over the past one hundred years, organisations have mostly followed the management and leadership style of early pioneers like Frederick Winslow Taylor.   The philosophy was that managers are smart and valuable to the organisation whilst workers simply needed to follow instructions and were easily replaceable.   In this style of working, a senior manager made all the decisions, assigned work to designated workers, and then placed supervisors above those workers to ensure compliance, diligence, and obedience.   Waterfall style project management follows this same pattern. A #projectdirector or #projectmanager does all the thinking and research around a project, defines a scope, assigns a budget and deadline, and then assigns work to various people.   The project manager then 'drives' the #project and frequently 'pushes' those who have been assigned work to complete their tasks within the specific period allocated and within the budget specified.   This process rinses and repeats throughout the project phases until the project is 'completed' and everyone has done the work they were assigned to do.   If the project is a success, the project manager gets a pat on the back. If the project fails, the project manager takes a bullet.  As you can imagine, the stakes are super high and project managers operate under great pressure and stress.   So why is Scrum different? Why don't #agile environments require a single person to head up the product development process and assign work, tell people how to do the work, and then 'drive' them, daily, to do the work?   In complex environments where we are creating a product, feature or service for the first time or solving a problem that has never been solved before, things work a lot differently.   In this short video, John McFadyen discusses why there is no project manager in #scrum and touches on how #projectmanagement is different to #agile and #scrum #productdevelopment.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrumteams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's worked with both project directors and #agileleaders in high stakes environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #projectmanager #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumframework #certifiedscrummaster #csm #acsm #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #projects #productdevelopment

#agile and #scrum values and principles primarily focus on how to create environments where people can thrive and excel.   The philosophy and style of work is incredibly people centric, from the customer through to the #productowner and #developmentteam. As a #scrummaster, you are working with people all day, every day.   You aren't just working with people, a scrum master and #agilecoach is focused on how to create high-performing teams that create products and services that truly delight customers.   Helping individuals on #scrumteams develop better and deeper relationships that enable #psychologicalsafety and empower the team to have the kind of conversations that lead to meritocracy.   In other words, an environment where the best ideas, concepts and recommendations are decided based on the merit of those elements.   So, how do you pull this off as a scrum master? What soft skills do you need to succeed in the role?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through some of the most important soft skills a scrum master needs to be effective in a scrum and team environment.   John has worked on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about working with a wide and diverse group of people.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrummaster #softskills #advancedscrummaster #scrumprofessional #team #scrumteam #agilecoach #coach

OKRs or Objectives and Key Results is a goal setting framework developed at Intel to help executives and technical staff align themselves on high-level objectives yet measure their progress on a weekly or monthly basis based on whether key results were being achieved.   It's a great framework for ensuring that you are always aligned with your 'north star' yet have a firm finger on the pulse of the daily work you are doing.   #agile and #scrum environments have a reputation for not being as metric focused and performance-driven as traditional #projectmanagement environments but that simply isn't true.   In truth, data and regular inspection of what has been achieved is a central pillar of the #scrumframework. Without keeping a close eye on what is being attempted, produced and shipped, there is no way a #developmentteam and #productowner could know whether they are creating products and features that truly delight customers.   The difference is simply that people in #agile environments don't guess up front and follow a rigid, detailed plan regardless of whether that plan is working or not. Instead, they make informed decisions based on the data and evidence they gather throughout the short, sharp period of work known as a #sprint.   Working with evidence and building from a perspective of knowledge and learning is precisely what #empiricism is based upon. And #scrum is an empirical process with transparency, inspection and adaptation on a regular basis.   So, what does a #scrumteam measure? What are good #OKRs for a #scrummaster to measure and evaluate?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through some valuable OKRs for a Scrum Master to measure and explains how these measures provide insights and ideas for improvement.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrumteams in the world as both a Scrum Master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a great deal about OKRs and aligning a team's efforts to achieve business and organisational objectives.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a Scrum Master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https:///www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #okr #OKRs #agilecoach #scrumteam #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen

As a #scrummaster, you will be initiating and facilitating #scrum events for the #developmentteam and #productowner.   These events are designed to help the team review performance, product updates, and what has been achieved. They also help the team understand where improvements can be made and how best to proceed moving forward.   As a scrum master, you are a key player in these events and responsible for crafting something that actively engages the team, challenges them, and promotes understanding of why and how things have turned out the way they have.   Two of the most productive events are the #sprintreview and the #sprintretrospective.   The sprint review often includes the #productowner, #productstakeholders and the development team whilst the sprint retrospective tends to be reserved exclusively for the developers.   So, what is the difference between a sprint review and a sprint retrospective?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains the difference between the sprint review and the sprint retrospective, and provides some insights into how you can host a great event of your own.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most comple #agiletransformations so he's led high-performance sprint reviews and sprint retrospectives.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn by visiting https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #sprint #sprintreview #sprintretrospective #scrummaster #productowner #agilecoach #coaching

The #sprintretrospective is the final event in the #scrum Sprint. It's a great opportunity for the #developmentteam to reflect on everything that has happened in the Sprint, what worked, what didn't work, and why.   As the #scrummaster, you have an opportunity to help the #scrumteam focus on the areas that are going to lead to the most significant improvement.   A skilled Scrum Master uses the retrospective as a vehicle for discussion that helps the team focus on what they feel needs to improve and what they can do better in the next #sprint.   It's often a favourite event for most Scrum Masters as well as the development team and there are many ways that you can craft a retrospective to get the most out of the event for everyone.   In this short video, John McFadyen gives us some of his top tips for facilitating a great Sprint Retrospective and explains how they will help you in facilitating your own.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about high-performance sprint retrospectives that lead to excellence.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn on https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #agilecoach #coach #scrumcoach #certifiedscrumprofessional #scrumprofessional #sprint #sprintretrospective #developmentteam

#agile and #scrum environments are well known for their flat structure and direct reporting lines. Hierarchy isn't described within the #scrumguide nor is it encouraged within the #agile canon.   That said, as we transition from waterfall-style #projectmanagement and 20th-century style organisations to newer, more #agile organisations, the old structures remain and are slowly looking for ways to integrate themselves into the 21st-century style organisation.   Hierarchy and the structure of traditional organisations aren't going away anytime soon and so #scrum teams, including #scrummasters, need to fit into the equation somewhere?   Where is that somewhere? Who does a Scrum Master usually report into and what would be considered their 'home' within a traditional or legacy style organisation?  In this short video, John McFadyen describes where scrum masters usually report into in his experience working with organisations and he also provides some insights and recommendations into where he would place them in a traditional organisation instead of the two domains they are generally found.   John has worked on some of the highest-performing #scrumteams in the world as both a Scrum Master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformation in the UK and Europe so he knows a thing or two about large organisations and how they are traditionally structured.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified ScrumMaster course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified ScrumMaster course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https:///www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilecoach #scrummaster #agileorganisations #agileteams #scrumteams #scrumcoach #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional

Part 3 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews.   This is an interesting question designed to test your knowledge of process and what trips a #scrumteam up.   Newbie scrum masters and agile coaches tend to be pretty dogmatic and lean heavily on theory and 'best practice', whilst more experienced scrum masters and agile coaches tend to have the deep expertise and experience necessary to understand that every situation is unique and the answer depends on many variables.   As with all great consultant answers, the answer to this question is 'it depends'. There are several reasons why this is perfectly acceptable, even great whilst there are several reasons why having 200 items in a product #backlog is a bad idea.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his answer to the question of whether 200 items in a product backlog is acceptable.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Congratulations, it's your first day on the job as a #scrummaster and you're probably super excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of you.   Your #productowner and #developmentteam have probably been working together for some time before you arrived and they should have an established way of getting things done so don't worry about walking in day one and having to change the entire organisation.   You can take your time, embed yourself in the team, and start to develop your influence and credibility within the organisation.   So, what do seasoned and experienced Scrum Masters do differently to newbie scrum masters and how can you learn from them?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the difference between experienced Scrum Masters and those who have just set out on their apprenticeship journey.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams as both a Scrum Master and #agilecoach. He has also worked on the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about high-performing scrum masters and agile coaches in high-pressure #agile environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a Scrum Master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  To connect with John on LinkedIn, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #professionalscrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach

In #agile environments, #scrum teams are often seen as being too warm and fuzzy and not strong enough with data to guide their performance and decision-making.   Nothing could be further from the truth.  Scrum is built on the pillars of transparency, inspection and adaptation.  Things need to be frequently inspected and that includes data and metrics.   Regular scrum events such as #sprint planning, #sprintreviews and #sprintretrospectives ensure that there is a lot of data being measured and a lot of feedback circulating amongst the #productowner, #scrummaster and #development team.   The team also regularly interact with #productstakeholders with and via the product owner to ensure that they are building the right product, feature or service in the right way.   So, what are some of the most useful metrics for a scrum master to measure?   Turns out there are a few valuable metrics to keep an eye on, and one of those metrics isn't 'velocity', although it can be useful to measure velocity over time and compare whether the team are progressing and improving.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through some of the most useful metrics for a scrum master to measure and explains why those metrics matter.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about high performance metrics and how to measure them effectively.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #scrumprofessional #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #agilecoach #scrumcoach #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional #agilemetrics #scrummetrics

#scrum is built on #kaizen or continuous improvement as a value proposition.   The concept is that with each iteration, the #scrumteam learn from the previous sprint and use the knowledge that they have acquired during the previous sprints to improve on their processes and technical capability.   The team are aiming for continuous excellence in all aspects of their work, from team interaction and engagement to technical excellence in the work that they produce.  So, how does a #scrummaster help the team achieve that goal?   A scrum master carries no authority in a team environment nor are they able to tell the scrum team what needs doing and how to do it?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how a scrum master helps scrum teams achieve continuous excellence and demonstrates how their role is critical in helping the team to focus on improving with each iteration.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's learned a thing or two about high-performing scrum masters.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' exprience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #developmentteam #agilescrumtraining #advancedscrummaster #certifiedscrummaster

In 2001, the #agilemanifesto was created by 17 of the world's brightest, most respected software engineers.   The purpose of the manifesto was to articulate the #agile values and principles that governed their proposed methodology for product development.   Traditional waterfall style #projectmanagement simply didn't work effectively when it came to complex environments and complex product development, so they invented a new way of creating products, features and services based on their research and experiments that had been conducted over the past 10 years or more.   One of the #agile frameworks that had informed a great deal of their thinking was #scrum, co created by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the late 80s and early 90s.   Scrum had been developed in a multitude of applications and proven itself as a resilient, reliable and proven #agileframework for creating products, features, and services in complex environments.   Scrum was built on the foundation of inspection and adaption, with 5 core values that governed how #scrumteams worked.  Courage Commitment Focus Openness Respect   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through each of these scrum values and provides some context as to why these values exist and why they are so important in creating environments where scrum teams can excel.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations, which has given him a great deal of experience and expertise in high-performing scrum environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumteam #agilescrumteam #agilescrumtraining

As a #scrummaster, you're going to have the opportunity to work with a variety of #scrumteams in a variety of different applications.   As an #agilecoach, mentor and facilitator, it's your job to help create an environment where a team can excel. An environment where the team take ownership of the work they are doing and the purpose of the work they are doing.   Sometimes you get lucky and you walk into a great team environment where everything flows smoothly and the team are deeply invested in continuous improvement and innovation.   Sometimes, you're not so lucky. Sometimes, you need to start from scratch and help your team become the high-performing, creative and collaborative team they could be.   So, how do you differentiate between a high-performing team and a poorly performing team? How do you recognise the telltale signs of a poorly performing #scrumteam and set about developing a remedy?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through an example of a poorly performing team and why those factors determine their level of performance.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world but he's also had his work cut out for him on a few client engagements.   He's worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations and has worked with a variety of teams, from software engineering teams to senior leadership teams.   It's given him a great insight into how teams perform and what a great performing team looks and operates like.    If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #agileproductdevelopment #scrummaster #agilecoach #certifiedscrummaster #teamwork #teamperformance

John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and an #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations, including #coaching work with senior management and leadership teams.   John has earned his stripes as an #agile practitioner, a #softwaredeveloper, #professionalcoach, #agilecoach, and #entrepreneur.   A professional career going back almost 2 decades has provided some amazing and rewarding moments. Moments where he has witnessed teams produce amazing work and collaborate in hyper productive ways.   We asked John what his most rewarding day as a scrum master was and why. His answer provides great insights into the kind of man he is and what he truly values in his profession.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more about John and the opportunity to work with John, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumframework #productdevelopment #agilecoach #coach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #professionalscrummaster

If you've never worked on a high-performance team that is creative and collaborative, it's really hard to know what great looks and feels like.   Most of us don't get to work in great teams. Instead, we tend to work in places where groups of people are paid a salary to work together as best as they can.   Often, these 'teams' roll along with little to no coaching or mentoring, and there is very little in the way of 'continuous improvement' as a North Star for the team to invest in finding ways to improve with each iteration.   A group of individuals doing the best they can and occasionally asking one another for help if and when needed.  So, what does a great team look like and what sets them apart from the average team?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what great teams look and feel like, and differentiates high-performing teams from average teams.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's seen great teams in action, from leadership teams to software development teams.   If you're interested in becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoach #teamcoach #teams #high-performanceteams #teamcoaching #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster

As a scrum master, it's your role and responsibility to help create environments where your team can excel. To create a high-performance team that collaborate effectively, you need them to be inspired, motivated and engaged.   So, how do you do that?  Vision.   A strong vision for the product and a compelling purpose that inspires the team is vital to high-performance and strong collaboration.   The team need to believe there's a really good reason for the product to exist and they need to have their purpose clearly articulated and expressed for them to believe in that purpose.   So, what do you do if your product owner hasn't crafted a product vision and hasn't articulated why the product matters to customers and stakeholders?  Easy. You need to get involved and coach the product owner.   Easier said than done.  In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through why a product vision is so important for teams and how you can help the product owner craft one.   John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He's also worked with heaps of #productowners and executive leadership at some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about vision and purpose.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #productowner #productvision #developmentteam #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #agilecoach #agilecoaching #coaching #marketing #softwaredevelopment

As a #scrummaster, you're often going to work with a #productowner that has very little to no training as a product owner.   Often, they are #projectmanagers or other individuals within the organisation who get promoted to the role and they simply carry on operating in the same way they always have.  In their minds, what got them there should keep them there.   The problem is that a #productowner role is highly specialised and they act as the CEO of the product. There are heaps of things that need to happen for them to be an effective product owner and communicate effectively to the #developmentteam.   So, as a scrum master, you have a responsibility to serve the product owner and help them do a great job so that your team can excel.   Doing so means that you need to know the role and all the tools, frameworks, models, and resources necessary to perform the job well.   So, how do you do that if you've never been trained as a product owner yourself?   Truth is, you're going to need to read a great deal and you're going to need to put yourself through courses, seminars, webinars and more to make sure you have a solid understanding of the role and the tools necessary to do the job well.   In this short video, John McFadyen recommends 3 books for you to read that will help you grasp the Product Owner role and improve your understanding of some of the tools and frameworks that help product owners make great choices.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about working with product owners to create environments where the developers can thrive.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagment #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #productowner #scrumteam

A #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping the #scrumteam create an environment where people can excel.   In essence, they are the glue that binds the #scrum team together.   In addition to servicing the #productowner, #developmentteam and organisation, the #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping the team discover the best answers to the most compelling questions and problems they face.   To do so, they need to be a great #coach in addition to being a #scrummaster.   As an #agilecoach, a #scrummaster uses a blend of #coaching, #mentoring and #teaching to help the team achieve their goals and objectives.   But how do you nurture and develop #coaching skills in the first place?   It isn't something we're taught in school nor is it something we are taught in the #certifiedscrummaster course.   We asked John McFadyen how a scrum master could nurture and develop their coaching skills, on the job, to help the team get the most out of their scrum events and artefacts.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about coaching teams to achieve great performances.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction To Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #coach #agilecoach #coaching #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #scrumalliance

In a perfect world, your entire company embraces #agile values and principles, and each department seamlessly integrates with #businessagility to produce a great working place that dominates the market with innovation and exciting new products.   In reality, there is often a bridge that needs to be built between the old style of waterfall style #projectmanagement and the newer #scrum and #agile way of working.   This means you're going to work with #projectmanagers as well as senior management and leadership who still embrace the old way of working.   For many people, change is incredibly hard and you will find that individuals and teams cling to the way things have always been done in the past.   That can create problems for a #scrummaster who is trying to instill #agile values and principles into a working #scrumteam and integrate that team's work with other parts of the organisation who still operate in a traditional waterfall style of #projectmanagement.   So, what do you do? What are some of the challenges you will face as a scrum master when you are working with a project manager?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through some of the challenges you will experience when working with a project manager and how to overcome those challenges.   John has worked on some of the highest-performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   He's learned a thing or two about working in large organisations that straddle traditional styles of working with more #agile styles of working. His insight and recommendations are invaluable to new scrum masters trying to work their way around common roadblocks in legacy-driven organisations.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #projectmanager #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #agilecoach #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

In a #projectmanagement environment, a #projectmanager will drive #projects using their authority and assigning work to people with a deadline for delivery.   In a #scrum environment, a #scrummaster doesn't have the same kind of authority. Instead, they must develop influence and use that influence to help the team create an environment where everyone can excel.   Influence is based on trust.   Without trust, you can't develop and grow your influence in an environment at all.  If you don't have the respect and trust of your team, you're going to achieve very little as a scrum master and find yourself out in the cold sooner rather than later.   So, how do you earn the #developmentteam's trust?   How do you grow relationships in the #scrumteam with the objective of helping the team become more effective, creative, and collaborative?   It can be a tough gig but it is also a very rewarding journey.   It simply takes time.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the trust equation and how you can earn the respect and trust of your development team.  John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about earning trust and using influence to achieve valuable outcomes.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #developmentteam #softwareengineering #creativework #webdevelopment #design

For newbie #scrummasters, #facilitation is a tough one to get right mainly because many of them have never seen a great facilitation of a meeting.   They just don't know what good looks like.   That said, mastering #facilitation is super important for a #scrummaster because doing it right creates an environment where your team can excel and optimise their returns on time and effort invested.   There is a reason why so many people hate meetings and feel that they are super unproductive ways to get things done. Most meetings are places where great ideas and enthusiasm for getting things done go to die.   But why?  Why aren't they what they are intended to be? Events where talented and intelligent people come together to contribute in a meaningful and creative way to the organisation and team's success.   They should and could be exactly that.   Being a #scrummaster gives you a great opportunity to facilitate meetings that matter. Meetings that deliver value to everyone present and generate opportunities for the team to excel.   So what are some of the challenges you will face in achieving that and how do you overcome them?   In this short video, John McFadyen answers those questions.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest-performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's seen great meetings in action and he's also witnessed the soul destroying ones.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #meeting facilitation #facilitation #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #agilecoach #meetings #managingprojects #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen

Part 4 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   The #agile world came up with velocity as an important metric to measure the effectiveness of teams because it focuses on direction of travel as well as speed of travel.   Many companies abuse this metric and misunderstand the correct application of velocity - as it relates to teams - and why it can be a double-edged sword for measuring productivity.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the concept of velocity, productivity and why this metric is both a good and bad way to measure your team performance.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Congratulations, you landed the gig and you're now the #scrummaster for your scrum team. It may be your first day ever or it may just be your first day on your new job. Either way, we asked John McFadyen to provide us with some recommendations to make your first day rock.   Start by getting to know how things work around your #scrumteam.  It may be your first day on the job but they have been working together for a while. There are some things which work pretty well as they are and there are some areas that could use your energy and enthusiasm to improve.   Take the time to discover which is which. Invest time and energy into learning how the organisation works and who the rainmakers are. Get to know the #productowner and understand how the team are currently winning versus where obvious opportunities for improvement lie.   Step 2.   Build your network.   Start having conversations with people in the environment and begin to develop relationships. Start with the most important person you need to meet first and work your way through the chain of command from there.   John likes to end a meeting by asking who that person feels he should be talking to next. Who they recommend and whether they would be good enough to introduce them to him.  A warm introduction in a new environment goes a long way and you'll find your job becoming heaps easier and you slowly grow your influence and reach within the organisation.   Step 3.   Plan a great retrospective.   A retrospective is one of the more important events in the #scrumframework so you're going to want to prepare something awesome for the team.   Not only will the #sprintretrospective provide you with great insights, it is also going to allow you to walk away from your first team meeting with actionable steps.   One great action is more than enough. More is even better.   Use the opportunity to position yourself as a great #scrummaster and someone who makes work both interesting and entertaining. Allow the team to have some fun in the retrospective and craft it in such a way that you make a memorable first impression.   There are some great books, blogs, videos with great ideas for retrospectives so take a little time to research some options or dig back into your arsenal and pull out a retrospective that has been a firm favourite with teams in the past.   Do these three things in your first week as a scrum master and you'll be well on your way to nurturing a successful working environment for the future.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction To Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #sprintretrospective #scrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #scrumcoach #agilecoach #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

In traditional waterfall style #projectmanagement, a #projectmanager will invest a great deal of time attempting to work out the scope of a #project as well as the anticipated timelines for delivery.   It works well in complicated environments like civil engineering because both civil engineers and project managers have built heaps of roads and bridges and have a fairly accurate idea of how long something will take.   In complex environments, it's a great deal more difficult to estimate time because often, what is being built has never been built before. The problem that needs to be solved has never been encountered before and it's incredibly difficult to estimate a time for delivery because of that.   So, how do the #developmentteam estimate time in a #productdevelopment environment? How do they estimate how long something will take to deliver if they have never encountered the problem before?   The truth is, they don't estimate time at all. They estimate the amount of work and effort that is required to deliver the backlog item.   The team will discuss each item with the #productowner and based on their expertise and experience, make an educated guess of how difficult something is to complete and use a number to estimate the size of the task.   For some teams, that could be shirt sizes such as Xtra Small or Large whilst other teams use planning poker and a fibonnacci sequence to demonstrate how much effort is required in relation to something else.   Turns out we are relatively good and accurate at estimating the size of the problem or task at hand whilst we aren't great at estimating how much time it will take.   In an #agile environment, teams also use #sprint #burndowncharts to track progress of work versus time taken to completed and over time, the data from those charts can help form a reasonable estimate of how much work can be completed in a given #sprint.   A #burnup chart does the same thing. It provides insights into how much work has been completed in a given period of time and will enable the team to reliably estimate how many points they can deliver within an average sprint.   So, why is it so difficult to estimate time in a product development environment?  We asked John McFadyen for his perspective and his answers are contained in this short video.   John McFadyen has worked in some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #developmentteam #productowner #estimation #estimatingwork

In a #scrum team, we're always looking toward continuous improvement in every aspect of the team.   From the #scrummaster to the #productowner and #developmentteam.   In theory, the longer the team work together, the better the opportunity we have for achieving an environment where collaboration, creativity and productivity combine to produce excellence.   But, sometimes, teams can stagnate.   Sometimes, teams can reach a point where they feel like there is nothing new to learn and nothing more that can be achieved.  In some cases, we might even end up with groupthink.   A condition where everybody thinks the same things and imagines that the first answer that appears is the best answer to the problem or opportunity.  In these circumstances, it can be useful to shake things up a bit and swap scrum masters with different teams.   In this short video, John McFadyen speaks about the value of occasionally swapping scrum masters with development teams and how that can give rise to innovation, improvement, and better outcomes.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about working in high performance environments.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrummaster and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #csm #a-csm #scrumalliance #scrumtraining #agilecoach #scrumcertification

Success looks and feels very different to different people.   For some, it's material validation that represents a job well done, for others, it's more complex than that.   It may involve the satisfaction and rewards that comes with helping others to thrive. It may involve knowing that you are making a significant contribution to your team and helping them create an environment where they are able to excel.   We asked John McFadyen what his definition of success was as a #scrummaster and his answer acknowledges how his personal definition of success changed over the years.   In the beginning, it was focused on ensuring that the team were happy and productive. Over time, that focus changed into something that encapsulated personal and professional success.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both an #agilecoach and scrum master.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in the UK and Europe.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction To Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #scrumteam #scrumroles #scrumframework

Any craftsman needs a great set of tools, resources and frameworks to get the job done well.   A #scrummaster is no different.   It's a complex job that requires a blend of coaching, facilitation and agile practitioner skills to connect with the #scrumteam and help create an environment where others can excel.   In this short video, we asked John McFadyen which 3 tools he recommends for scrum masters and why.   As you would anticipate, John recommended 2 coaching tools and 1 #sprint related burnup chart to help with estimation and forecasting moving forward.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumcoach #agilecoach #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #coaching #coachingskills #agilecoachingskills

In a mature #scrum team, a #scrummaster wouldn't be involved in #backlog refinement at all. It would be an event that includes the #productowner and the #developmentteam exclusively.   That said, in newbie scrum teams that are still learning how to work together, a scrum master can play a valuable role in facilitating an event that helps the team decide which items are best served in the upcoming #sprint and which items need to be further refined before they are ready.   As a #facilitator, the scrum master would be asking a great deal of questions to help the team think through the problems that need to be resolved and to understand the work that needs doing.   They would also invest a great deal of time in understanding why the items on the backlog are both valuable and important to customers.   A great #scrummaster would ensure that the right conversations were taking place and that each of the individuals on the development team had a voice in the meeting. Helping them to accurately estimate how much work needs doing and helping facilitate the conversations around how the work will be done.   Sometimes there will be differences of opinions regarding how much effort is required to complete a backlog item and the scrum master will be working with the team to bring all those opinions and professional expertise to the table.   As the team progress, the #scrummaster would play less of a role in each of the #backlogrefinement meetings and ensure that the product owner and development team had a great relationship.   A relationship strong enough and healthy enough to ensure that they were able to work through these meetings on their own at some point in the future.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the role of a scrum master in facilitating backlog refinement meetings and gives some pragmatic and actionable advice for scrum masters.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world and has worked at the coalface of some of Europe and the UK's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   He knows a thing or two about working with diverse teams from around the world and his perspective on this issue is valuable. We know you'll enjoy.   If you would like to become a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #productowner #scrummaster #backlogrefinement #backlogitems #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #scrumteam #agilecoach #scrumcoach #scrumevents

#agile and #scrum environments have a reputation for being warm and fuzzy. Because the #agilemanifesto values people above processes and the #scrumframework focuses on scrum values, we automatically assume that working as a #scrummaster in these environments is filled with magic and rainbows.   The truth is that many organisations are still making the transition from the old style of working to more #agile and people-oriented styles of working.   Sometimes, in that hybrid state, you are going to come up against old school style of managers who have very different agendas, values and principles to those as defined in the Agile Manifesto.   In the #scrumframework, the #productowner, scrum master, and #developmentteam are focused on creating the highest value product, in the best way, with the objective of truly delighting customers.   In addition to that objective, the team are focused on continuous improvement, also known as #kaizen, and as such, it is easy to think that everybody in the organisation is focused on continuous improvement and customer delight.   That isn't always the case though. It can be incredibly heartbreaking for a dedicated scrum master to come up against the old school style of dictatorial management and leadership which values promotion, elitism and autocracy above all else.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through his worst day as a Scrum Master and explains how a collision between the old and the new styles of working resulted in his being fired as a contractor.   It's an insightful video that demonstrates just how dangerous it can be if you don't balance the old style of working environment with the ideals and optimism of #agile principles and values.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the largest, most complex Agile transformations in the UK and Europe.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #scrumframework #scrumcoach #agilecoach

A #scrum team consists of 3 primary roles. The #scrummaster, the #productowner and the #developmentteam.   Each of these roles have clear responsibilities, as defined by the #scrumguide, and each are critical to the team's success.   So, what are the 3 key responsibilities of a scrum master?   1. Service to the organisation  2. Service to the product owner  3. Service to the development team   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through what each of the 3 key responsibilities are and why they are so important.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of Europe and the UK's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   In that time, John has learned how critical a great scrum master is in helping teams to create environments where individuals can excel. He has lived and breathed those responsibilities of a scrum master and takes time out to give us some insight into those responsibilities.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skillset to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumteam #sprint #agilescrumtraining #agilecertifications #agilecourses #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumcourses

The #scrummaster is the glue that binds the #scrumteam together.   They work with the #productowner as well as the #developmentteam to create an environment where others can excel and where the right product can be built in the right way.   Scrum Masters use a variety of tools, frameworks, coaching, and facilitation to achieve this objective.   Coaching is by far the most powerful tool in the arsenal of a scrum master to help the scrum team consistenty achieve their goals and objectives.   But who coaches the scrum master and #agilecoach?   In John McFadyen's experience, unfortunately, nobody does.   It's ironic because coaching is such a powerful methodology for discovering new opportunities and executing on great ideas.   The great scrum masters and agile coaches do invest in coaching, mentoring and contiuous practice in their journey to mastery but it isn't as widespread a practice as it is in professional #coaching.   People who sign up for a career in coaching, especially through certification bodies like the International Coaching Federation, tend to invest in a personal coach, a professional coach and a few mentors as the standard practice for their skills development and career progression.   It's a pity that the same philosophy doesn't apply in the #agile industry.   But that is something we are looking to change. John McFadyen has worked in some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in Europe and the UK.   A deep love for the coaching element of scrum mastery and the benefits of being an #agile coach with deep expertise in agile environments as well as professional coaching is what led to the creation of the Agile Coaching Academy.   An academy that provides coaching, mentoring, teaching and practice for aspiring scrum masters and agile coaches.  Every scrum master should have both a scrum master as well as a mentor.   A mentor is someone who has walked the path successfully and helps an aspiring scrum master or agile coach master their craft.   They do so by offering advice, insights, recommendations and helping their mentee work through their line of reasoning and thinking.   They often challenge ideas and help their mentee consider all the options available to them, and based on the context and opportunity, select the option that best serves the team and organisation.   Invaluable.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and agile coach, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumprofessional #agilecoach #scrumcoach #agilescrumtraining

A #scrum team consists of 3 roles. The scrum master, the product owner, and the development team. It is generally a small group of people between 5 and 9 at most.   It is a small, hyper productive team of individuals who work together to create products and features that truly delight customers.   A #scrummaster generally works within the scrum team to help create an environment where others can excel. They facilitate events and coach the team to ensure that the team can thrive.   But not all problems that arise come from within the scrum team. Sometimes, its a company policy or organisational impediment that prevents the scrum team from progressing toward their goals and objectives.   At these times, the scrum master needs to work with people outside of the scrum team. They need to work with managers and directors within the organisation to help remove impediments that may be blocking the team's ability to thrive or achieve their #sprint goals.   So, how do they do that?  How does a scrum master develop influence within the organisation and have the kind of impact that is necessary for those impediments to be removed?   John McFadyen walks us through his recommendations in this short video.   John McFadyen has worked with some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an #agilecoach.   He has worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations and knows a thing or two about developing influence and having an impact outside of the team.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill set to develop and nurture, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #coaching #agilecoach #scrummaster #johnmcfadyen #agileprojectmanagement #agilescrumtraining #certifiedscrummaster #certifiedscrumprofessional

#scrum is built on the value proposition of achieving twice the work in half the time. Teams are able to achieve this kind of performance because they are deeply invested in the concept of continuous improvement.   As a #scrummaster, you need to embody the same #agile values and principles, and invest in your own continuous improvement.   How?   By attending courses, seminars, events and by reading a great deal.   Reading books from subject matter experts exposes you to new lines of reasoning, thinking, and gives you insights into how these individuals solved problems that you are very likely to encounter in your own working environment.   In fact, at the end of each of my #scrum courses, I provide each delegate with a recommended reading list that will help them grow as scrummasters and develop a practice of practices that leads to excellence.   But how do you choose where to begin or which books are worth investing in if you aren't lucky enough to have someone provide a recommended reading list for you in your career?   We asked John McFadyen to provide us with his 3 most recommended books for scrum masters and this is the list that he provided.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an #agilecoach.   He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.  He has walked the walk and talked the talk.   We hope you find the books he has recommended useful in your development as a scrum master.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as an important skill to develop, visit our on-demand introduction to coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumbooks #scrumreading #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #productdevelopment

A #scrumteam consists of a #scrummaster, a #productowner, and the #developmentteam.   The scrum master is the facilitator and coach. The product owner is like the CEO of the product. And the development team consists of the individuals and experts who actively build the product or feature in each #sprint.   The 3 roles are clearly defined in the #scrumguide and each plays a critical role in ensuring that the organisation is building products and features that truly delight customers.   In a perfect world, each individual would have the required training and a deep understanding of the #scrumframework as well as the value contributed by each role.   However, it is very common to find people in roles and positions that don't have formal training and as such, don't have an understanding of each of the roles and the contributions they make to the team.   So, do product owners generally understand the value of a scrum master in a scrum environment?   We asked John McFadyen this question and his answer is pretty insightful.   John McFadyen has worked as a scrum master and #agilecoach in some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest #agiletransformations.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years of experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill set to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #productdevelopment #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #productowner #agilescrumtraining

In #agile environments that practice #scrum, a #dailyscrum is a 15 minute meeting held daily that generally involves the #developmentteam, the #productowner and when necessary, the #scrummaster.   The concept of the #dailyscrum is to have each of the members of the development team voice what they are working on and whether there are any impediments to their progress or success.   In theory, each member of the team briefly highlights what they are working on, what they anticipate achieving in the day, and if necessary, requests an assist from someone within the #scrumteam to achieve their daily goal.   Meetings have a habit of going wrong without great facilitation and the daily scrum is no different.   I've seen daily scrum meetings become 45 minute to 1 hour affairs where every detail is reported as if the scrum master is a project manager and the team members are all responsible for updating the scrum master on their progress.   There are a lot of ways that a meeting can go wrong and in this short video, John McFadyen highlights some of the ways in which these meetings tend to go south.   John McFadyen has worked as a scrum master and #agilecoach on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex agile transformations.   He's seen great performances and he has also witnessed some of the worst performing teams in action. His perspective is insightful, pragmatic and actionable.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skillset to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #dailyscrum #scrummeetings #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #agileprojectmanagement #agilescrumtraining #agilecoach #scrumcoach #sprintplanning #sprint #dailystandup

#agile has a reputation for putting people first and creating working environments where people can excel.   It doesn't mean that teams don't have conflicts though and often as the #coach and #facilitator, the #scrummaster is responsible for ensuring that conflict is healthy and respectful.   So, how does a scrum master manage conflict within a #scrumteam?   John McFadyen walks us through his thinking on managing conflict within #scrum and provides us with some recommendations to help you get the most out of your team interactions.   John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has worked as a scrum master, #agilecoach and #executivecoach on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in Europe and the UK.   As far as conflicts go, John has worked through heaps of potential roadblocks and helped teams work through the process of discovering great answers to compelling problems.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilescrumtraining #managingconflict #conflictmanagement #scrumteam #scrumenvironments #scrummethodology

In a given #sprint, the #developmentteam will meet at the beginning of the #sprintplanning session to determine what work will be taken into the #sprintbacklog and estimate how many points that work is worth.   In #scrum, the development team do not try an estimate how long it will take to complete a given #backlogitem, they will instead determine how much work is required to complete the task and assign a value to that work in the form of points.   Doing so empowers the team to work out how much work they can complete in a given sprint, determine a sprint goal, and create a record of how much work they are completing in each sprint to help inform future sprint goals and objectives.   As the experts, the development team are best equipped to make decisions around which work is ready for the upcoming sprint and also to decide how the specific backlog items are going to be completed.   The #scrummaster, however, is in a unique position to help the team make great decisions about the backlog items they take on and helps facilitate conversation and discussion around each backlog item to make sure the team have a great understanding of what work is being taken on, why it matters, and how they aim to accomplish the work.   So how does a scrum master do that effectively?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how a scrum master can help a development team effectively estimate backlog items.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the most high-performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agile transformations so he knows a thing or two about working with teams effectively.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #sprintplanning #sprintreview #sprintretrospective #estimating #backlogitems #agilecoach #scrumcoach #scrumteam #projectmanagement #backlogrefinement

A #scrum team consists of a #scrummaster, a #productowner and a #developmentteam.   A product owner is very much like the CEO of the product. They determine the product vision, they work with product stakeholders, and they work with the scrum team to create products and features that truly delight customers.   It is a critical role within the #scrumframework.   A scrum master is like the glue that binds the scrum team together. They work with both the product owner as well as the development team to create an environment where others can excel.   In many ways, they are the coach that helps the team perform and thrive.   But what do you do if you come up against a product owner that doesn't realise or recognise the value of a scrum master? What do you do when you are working with a product owner that has no real training for the role?   John McFadyen has worked with some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has served as both a scrum master and an Agile coach on some of the largest, most complex #agile transformations in the UK and Europe.   In this short video, John walks us through some of the most common challenges a scrum master faces with regards to product owners.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as an important skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #productowner #certifiedscrummaster #projectmanagement #scrumprojectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement

It's important to first understand what we mean by performance when we are going to evaluate the #scrumteam in each #sprint.   A #scrummaster needs to look at data to establish a baseline of performance rather than simply look at what the team said they would accomplish in the sprint versus what was actually achieved.   The #developmentteam may be taking on 100 points into each #sprint out of sheer enthusiasm or because of pressure from #productowners yet a quick analysis of the past 3 sprints demonstrates that they average 20 points per sprint.   In this case, 20 points a sprint is the benchmark performance and anything over that number is overperforming rather than underperforming.   As a Scrum Master, you don't have the authority to tell the #scrum team what is right or what is wrong, all you can do is question the data and have serious conversations with the team about performance.   You may ask why they are confident of achieving 100 points in the next sprint when the sprint average is 20 points. You may ask what has changed that will empower them to increase performance 5-fold or you may ask them to think deeper about the work they are taking on.   If there is pressure from a product owner to include all of these points in the sprint, you may want to have the same conversation with the product owner and help them to understand what the team's current velocity is and what would need to change for them to increase that velocity.   There may be systemic issues that prevent the team from getting through the work they assign to the #sprintbacklog and it may be worth investigating how you, as the scrum master, are able to help remove impediments to progress by taking it up with people inside or outside of the scrum team.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the largest, most complex #agile transformations in Europe and the UK. He has worked as a scrum master, agile coach and enterprise coach on some of the highest-performing scrum teams in the world.   In this short video, John McFadyen gives us some insights into how a Scrum Master can address issues of performance and what his recommendation would be.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have identified coaching as an important skillset to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #agilecoach #scrum #scrumcoach #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #projectmanagement

A #scrummaster is often defined as a servant leader.    Someone who serves the #scrumteam and plays a leading role in how successfully the team are able to adopt and deploy #scrum.   They also serve the organisation by helping the scrum team develop or create products and features that truly delight customers.   A scrum master works to create an environment where the team can excel. They also work to create teams that are self-organising and autonomous rather than the old project manager driven structure of project management.   It can be tough to achieve because a Scrum Master operates with a lot of influence but very little in the way of authority.   Because of that, Scrum Masters must earn respect in the environment and act as powerful servant leaders that use coaching, facilitation and a host of people-oriented techniques to achieve the goals and objectives of both the scrum team as well as the organisation.   It's a tough gig.   John McFadyen has worked as a scrum master and #agilecoach on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has also played a critical role in leading some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.   In this short video he defines what servant leadership is and walks us through how you can do it effectively.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to certify and validate your skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill to acquire and develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #leadership #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #agilescrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumcourses #agilecourses

Identifying whether a scrum master is doing their job well is an interesting and tough question to answer.  Scrum Masters are not directly responsible for delivery nor are there too many metrics available to measure their success directly.   As the coach of the team, they can invariably only move as slowly as the weakest member of the team. If they are having difficulties in getting the team to work together effectively, they could still be doing a great job as a scrum master but not seeing the positive outcomes of a cohesive and mature team.   The nature of the job also requires that a great deal of time and effort is invested in helping the team create an environment where people can excel.   These things take time.   We asked John McFadyen to walk us through how he would identify whether a scrum master was doing a great job or not and his answer is contained in this short video.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the largest, most complex Agile transformations in Europe and the UK. He has worked as a scrum master and agile coach on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world.   He is currently the managing partner of Agile Centre and facilitates the Agile Coach Academy to help grow the next generation of Agile Coaches and professional Scrum Masters.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are a Scrum Master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to certify and validate your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a valuable skill set to deliver, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  #agile #scrum #agilescrumtraining #agilecertifications #scrumtraining #scrumcourses #scrumcertifications #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #scrumalliance #agilecoach #scrumcoach

In #agile #scrum environments, the #scrummaster is the glue that binds the #scrumteam together.   They act as the guardian of scrum and coaches who help create environments where the #team can excel. They play a critical role in ensuring that the #developmentteam and #productowner can collaborate toward creating a product, feature, or service that truly delights customers.   Scrum is built on the value proposition of achieving twice the work in half the time so a Scrum Master is also responsible for ensuring that the team are working at optimal velocity and rapidly iterating on each #increment that is delivered at the end of a #sprint.   It's a tough role that is often filled with heaps of challenges, especially as you get better at the role and succeed in creating self-organising, autonomous teams that effectively make decisions and remove impediments to progress in their working environment.   John McFadyen has worked as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in Europe and the UK. He has actively worked at the coalface within some of the world's highest performing Scrum teams.   We asked him to walk us through some of the challenges a scrum master faces and his answers are contained in this short video.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as a critical skill to develop in your scrum master journey, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #scrumcoach #agilecoach #agilecertification #scrumcourse #agilescrumtraining #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster

Although being a #scrummaster is all about servant leadership, a lot of people are curious about how to stand out as a scrum master and make a positive impression on both the team as well as the organisation.   It isn't easy to do.   First, any successes achieved by the team are going to make the team shine rather than the scrum master.   In #scrum, you are focused on creating an environment where the team can excel rather than specific individuals within the #scrumteam.   That isn't to say that you can't be great at your job. Being great at your job is one of your primary responsibilities as a scrum master.   So how do you do a great job for your team and receive the recognition that you are due for investing so much time and effort in becoming the best version of yourself that you can be?   John McFadyen has worked as both a Scrum Master and an #agilecoach on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in both the UK and Europe.   He has worked in some of the highest performing #agile and #scrumteams in the world.   We caught with him and asked him how you could stand out as a scrum master within your own organisation. In this short video, John explains how you can do just that.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to certify and validate your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as an important part of your skills development requirements as a Scrum Master, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #agilecoach #scrumcoach #scrumteam #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #csm #a-csm #certifiedscrumprofessional #scrumcertification #agilescrumtraining #scrummastertraining

Many people think that removing impediments is the primary responsibility of a #scrummaster but that isn't the case. Teaching the team to rely on the scrum master to remove impediments creates a dependency which is the opposite of what a scrum master aims to achieve.   Instead, the scrum master is looking to create an environment where the team can excel in a creative and collaborative manner. They are responsible for building autonomous, self-managing teams that are hyper-productive.   John McFadyen has worked with some of the most high-performing #scrum teams in the world. He has worked on some of the UK and Europe's largest, most compex #agile transformations.   In this short video, John walks us through the primary responsibility of a scrum master and dispels the myth that scrum masters are simply there to remove impediments to the #scrumteam.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are currently a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you are an experienced scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching skills as a necessary part of your career development, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-agile-scrum-free  For more on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumskills #scrumcoach #agilecoach #agilecourses #agilescrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumprojectmanagement #projectmanagement

#scrum is built on the value proposition of achieving twice the work in half the time. The focus, however, is on producing great work that truly delights customers and product stakeholders.   So, how to do you increase velocity in a #scrumteam whilst ensuring that you are making the right decisions, in the right way, at the right time?   That's where #scrummasters and #agilecoaches come into their own.   They play a critical role in coaching the #scrumteam to make continous improvements and deliver the best product and feature updates possible.   They are the glue that binds the scrum team together and help the #productowners and #developmentteam to make the kind of decisions that ensures the most valuable product or feature is being built at the right time.   John McFadyen has spent over a decade working on some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agile transformations. He has worked as both a scrum master and an agile coach in some of the most high-performing Scrum teams in the world.   In this short video, John walks us through how Scrum Masters play an active role in improving decision making capability for both individuals as well as the team.   If you like the idea of becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are already a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have several years' experience as a Scrum Master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified coaching as an important skill to develop in your career, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #scrumcertification #scrumtraining #agilescrumtraining #agilecourses #sprintdecisions #decisionmaking

WIP is an acronym for 'work in progress' and it's a measure of how much work the #scrumteam are working on at any given time.   A #scrummaster will review the work in progress to understand whether the #developmentteam have taken on too much work in a given sprint or to understand whether there are impediments to progress that prevent the work in progress from being completed within the #sprint.   Sometimes, a team will need to abandon work because of an impediment to completion of that work, for example, a company policy or a lack of skills necessary to complete the task, and the #scrummaster will track what happens to the work in progress as a result of the disruption.   In some cases, the work will move back into the #backlog but in other cases, it will simply stand in the blocked column of the Agile board the team are using to track work in progress.   The #wip or work in progress data will help scrum masters facilitate conversations with the team to understand why the work in progress is not being completed and what can be done or should be done to remove those impediments.   John McFadyen has a great deal of experience working with some of the most complex, largest #agile transformations in the UK and Europe. He has worked with some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world and brings his experience and knowledge to answer some of the most compelling questions our students have in classes.   In this short video, John explains what WIP is and how effective Scrum Masters deal with it.  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and would like to progress in your field, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to validate your skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you have recognised a need to grow your #coaching skills, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrumcoach #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #scrumcertification #agilescrumtraining #scrumtraining #scrumcourses #scrumalliance

#scrum burndown charts are a tool created to help teams track how much work is being conducted and completed in each #sprint.   They help track the productivity of the #scrumteam and make work visible to everyone in the team, as well as the #productstakeholders.   Over time, they can also be used to help the team forecast how much work they will be able to complete over an average sprint.   Some people feel that it's the #scrummaster role to update the burndown chart but it's often best for the #developers to take responsibility for updating the burndown chart as they progress through each sprint.   John McFadyen has a great deal of experience working in #agile teams as both a #scrummaster as well as an #agilecoach and in this short video, he gives us his perspective on the burndown chart and who facilitates it.   Visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are a scrum master with a year or more's experience, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you are a scrum master with several years' experience and would like to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #scrumcoach #agilecoach #burndowncharts #scrummasters #productivity #sprintvelocity #sprintgoals #sprints #scrumresponsibilities

A #scrum #team consists of the #scrummaster, #productowner, and the developers or development team.   Each of these roles are critical to the success of the scrum team and for successful product development but it's sometimes harder to understand why the Scrum Master plays such a critical role since they aren't responsible for delivery in any way.   In much the same way that a coach plays a critical role in the development and success of a professional, elite athlete, a Scrum Master acts as the team coach and works toward creating an environment where others can succeed and continously improve.   They are the glue that binds the scrum team together and often work outside of the scrum team to remove impediments within the organisation as a whole.   John McFadyen has worked on some of the largest, most complex Agile transformations in the world. He has also actively coached thousands of scrum teams in a capacity of scrum master and Agile coach.   We took some time out to get his perspective on why a Scrum Master is such a critical element of the Scrum Team and loved his answer. We have no doubt you will too.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to progress in the role to a more advanced level, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have several years experience as a Scrum Master and want to validate your skills as a professional Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you are finding that you need to brush up on your coaching skills to become a more effective #scrummaster, visit our Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement #projectmanagement #scrumteam #scrumcoach

It's that time of year where we reflect on how the year has progressed and how that compares with our projections and estimates.   Often, what we set out to achieve in our #scrum environment doesn't match up with what we anticipated. Sometimes, it's something as drastic as a global pandemic with national lockdowns around the world.   At other times, it's simply that we didn't know how to solve the problem or create the product and it took on a life of it's own under development.   #productdevelopment can be like that. Especially if you work in an environment where the vast number of variables are unknown.   So how do you conduct an annual review? What should be the areas you focus on? How can you conduct the #review in a way that empowers you to learn from the experience and hit the ground running in the new year?   John McFadyen walks us through his process for an #annualreview and provides some insights into what has worked for him personally as well as how he would recommend you proceed with reviews in the future.   John is a managing partner at Agile Centre and has extensive experience as an #agilecoach and #scrum professional. He has worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's most complex, largest #agiletransformations and brings his knowledge and expertise into this series.   The goal of these videos is to help you deploy and improve #scrum far more effectively to achieve your personal and organisational objectives.   For more on John McFadyen, visit https:///www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you would like to become a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a #scrummaster with a year or more's experience, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have significant experience as a Scrum Master and want to take your career to the next level, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   #agile #scrum #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #professionalscrummaster #csm #a-csm #csp-sm #scrumalliance #scrumcourses #agilescrumtraining #agilecourses #agilecoachacademy #scrumcoach #scrumcertifications #agilecertifications

It's that time of the year where we come to review and reflect on the year that has passed and what has been achieved.   In #scrum, we do a #sprintreview at the end of every sprint, usually every 1 to 2 weeks depending on the length of the sprint cycle that has been decided.   #agile values and principles call on us to really dig deep and find answers to compelling problems. They call on us to avoid simply going through the motions and instead focus on really identifying what is working, what needs work, and where we can improve in the next sprint cycle.   So how do you do that correctly?   How do lead a sprint review with your team that delivers the kinds of insights and answers that will help your team grow and evolve? Where do you focus your attention through these reviews and how do you get the most out of the time you invest with your #scrumteam?   John McFadyen takes time out to walks us through the 3 key elements of a great sprint review.   John is an #agilecoach and #certifiedscrumtrainer that has worked on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in the UK and Europe.   He's learned a great deal at the coal face and brings that knowledge, experience and expertise together to help you deploy and improve #scrum in your working environment.   If you're thinking of becoming a #scrummaster or upskilling as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you have a year or more's experience as a scrum master and are looking to level up as a professional, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  If you have 2 or more years' worth of experience as a Scrum Master and want to validate your skills as a professional scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development and career progression, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you have identified that coaching and facilitation skills are important to your progression as a Scrum Master, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  If you have received value from this content and would like to connect with more of John McFadyen's insights, visit his website on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com

Part 5 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   This is either a trick question or it is a great sign that all is not well within the #scrumteam and working environment you are interviewing for.   Definition of ready is largely a made up term that is used by teams who are looking to find ways of avoiding responsibility for delivery. It may be that the team are being hammered for not delivering quickly enough and have used this as a defense mechanism or it may be that the organization are still in the process of evolving from waterfall-style #projectmanagement to #agile.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what a 'definition of ready' is, why it is a poor idea, and what you should instead be aiming for as a scrum master in a productive working environment.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 29 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This question is designed to inform the interviewer how you will approach the daily stand up for multiple #scrum teams in distributed environments. It's your first que that this is a problem that they are currently experiencing and want to understand how you will approach the problem.   It may also be an indicator that they intend to experiment with distributed teams and want to understand how you will approach that problem.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how he would approach the #dailyscrum for multiple teams in distributed environments.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 30 of our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   Kanban is a popular tool to help #agile teams visualize and track their work.  It integrates well with #agile and #scrum teams and empowers them to understand how value is created within the organization and identify bottlenecks and impediments to progress.   Traditionally, it has been an offline tool using post it notes and blue tape but over the past decade or so, digital tools such as kanbanize have launched and empower the team to achieve the same objective as the #kanban in an analog environment.   In this short video, John McFadyen answers the interview question of what to include on an offline kanban and why it is important to be included.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 31 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   The #sprintretrospective is one of the most valuable and interesting #scrum events. It allows the #scrummaster to help the team identify what is working, what needs working, and how they can improve based on what they have learned in the previous sprint.   Kaizen, also known as continuous improvement, is critical for a #scrumteam and the #sprintretrospective is one of the most valuable vehicles to help the team achieve exactly that, consistently.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what a 'health check' is and how he would go about checking whether the team are happy and satisfied during the sprint retrospective.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 32 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is a tricky one because it implies that a #scrummaster acts like a traditional #projectmanager in a #projectmanagement environment rather than as an agile coach, mentor and teacher.   The interviewer either doesn't understand the role of a scrum master or they are actively looking for someone who will 'drive' results within the #scrumteam so it's a tough one to get right.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how a scrum master can work with the #scrumteam to ensure that items are actioned and completed within reasonable or agreed time frames.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 33 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum master and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is a great question that explores how you, as the scrum master or agile coach, will balance the organization's desire and intention to adopt and/or implement #scrum with the need for #scrummasters to respect the team's preferred processes and ways of working.   As a scrum master, you invite not impose. Your job isn't to enforce anything, instead you need to lead opportunities through invitation, experimentation and through gathering evidence to support the case for #agile or #scrum within the environment.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how he would address the question of enforcing scrum versus honouring agile values and principles described and defined in the #agilemanifesto    If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 34 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and agile coaches in interviews and client engagements.   In an #agile #productdevelopment environment, such as #scrum, the #scrumteam focus on solving the most compelling problems or creating the most valuable product for customers and end users.   How do they do this?   By working closely with customers and product stakeholders to understand the jobs they are trying to do, the problems they are trying to solve, and developing a keen understanding of why that matters in the context of the customer or end user.   The #productowner will create a #productbacklog and work closely with customers and product stakeholders to prioritize the backlog in alignment with customer needs and requirements.   So, how do the developers decide which backlog items are the most valuable to bring into the upcoming #sprint? How do they know which items will deliver the most valuable outcomes or solve the most compelling problems?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the backlog item selection process for scrum teams, and how you can ensure that developers are accurately able to assess the value of a user story.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 38 of our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agile coaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is a trick question. If you're being asked this by someone who has no knowledge of #scrum or #productdevelopment then you need to explain why doing the right work trumps output in a product development environment.   If you're being asked this question by an experienced #agile practitioner, they are testing whether you view delivery as a measure of productivity or whether you are going to be focused on helping the team create products and features that truly delight customers.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why productivity isn't a great objective for #scrumteams and what the team should be focused on instead.    If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 37 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   The #scrumguide describes a scrum master as a role, not a position nor a job description. A role.   Something which can be confusing to people who come from traditional organizations with a strong hierarchy and organizational chart detailing who does what, what their title is, and what their specific job responsibility is.   In this interview scenario, the person asking you this question may not have a great understanding of #scrum and as such, you need to walk them through the difference between traditional line management and roles within an #agile environment such as #scrum.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why a scrum master is not a line management position and why the concept of management is foreign in an #agile environment.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 36 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   When organizations explore an #agiletransformation, it very seldom happens at once. It starts with pilots and slowly but surely grows from a single #scrum team to teams of teams.   Some people like to take a cut and paste approach to rolling out #scrum but experienced #agile coaches and #scrum coaches prefer to treat each team adoption of #scrum as a unique adoption that needs it's own context and own unique problems to be solved.   So, how do you do that? What do you do when a #scrumteam are going well but the rest of the organization don't understand what is happening, why it is happening and how it works?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how a scrum master or #agilecoach can help teach, coach and mentor other teams within the organization supported by data and evidence from the pilot.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

It's that time of year where we reflect on how the year has progressed and how that compares with our projections and estimates.   Often, what we set out to achieve in our #scrum environment doesn't match up with what we anticipated. Sometimes, it's something as drastic as a global pandemic with national lockdowns around the world.   At other times, it's simply that we didn't know how to solve the problem or create the product and it took on a life of it's own under development.  #productdevelopment can be like that. Especially if you work in an environment where the vast number of variables are unknown.   So how do you conduct an annual review? What should be the areas you focus on? How can you conduct the #review in a way that empowers you to learn from the experience and hit the ground running in the new year?   John McFadyen walks us through his process for an #annualreview and provides some insights into what has worked for him personally as well as how he would recommend you proceed with reviews in the future.   John is a managing partner at Agile Centre and has extensive experience as an #agilecoach and #scrum professional. He has worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's most complex, largest #agiletransformations and brings his knowledge and expertise into this series.   The goal of these videos is to help you deploy and improve #scrum far more effectively to achieve your personal and organisational objectives.  For more on John McFadyen, visit https:///www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you would like to become a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a #scrummaster with a year or more's experience, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   If you have significant experience as a Scrum Master and want to take your career to the next level, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   #agile #scrum #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #professionalscrummaster #csm #a-csm #csp-sm #scrumalliance #scrumcourses #agilescrumtraining #agilecourses #agilecoachacademy #scrumcoach #scrumcertifications #agilecertifications

It’s important to distinguish between what you mean by coaching certifications.   Let’s start with Agile coaching certifications.   The answer is yes, the Agile Coach Academy will absolutely help you to achieve Agile coaching certifications such as the Scrum Alliance’s Certified Team Coach and Certified Enterprise Agile Coach certifications.   Both certifications are an application process where you need to validate your skills and demonstrate capabilities as an Agile coach at either the team or the enterprise level.   The Agile Coach Academy will help develop your skills, capabilities and competence as an Agile coach and will also help you with the application process. As you work through the questions in the application process, we will discuss those answers with you on a one-to-one and group basis.   In addition to helping you discover the right answers, we are going to help you develop your line of reasoning and explore the thinking behind the answers you are providing. In some cases, you will be able to raise elements within the group and receive group feedback on what may best serve you. I am a Certified Team Coach as well as a Certified Enterprise Coach. I also play an active role in helping the Scrum Alliance grade new coaches and review their applications so I will be able to provide you with insights into what the Scrum Alliance is actively looking for in an Agile coach.   An Agile coach is expected to coach, teach, and mentor teams. A coach is not. Therein lies the difference between the two.   As a certified coach, you would simply be coaching others and helping them to discover and explore the best opportunities available to them.   As an Agile coach, you would be able to provide insights, teaching and mentoring to help your coachees overcome the challenges they face and explore new opportunities for growth and self-development.   When it comes to the IC Agile coaching certifications, the Agile Coach Academy would also be able to help you embed the knowledge you gain from those courses and provide you with a platform to actively practice what you have learned from both a coaching and a facilitation perspective.   When it comes to the International Coaching Federation certifications, the Agile Coach Academy would also be able to help you with your coaching skills development and provide you with a platform to actively practice what you are learning in those certification programmes.   At Agile Centre, we are coaches as well as Agile coaches and so we would definitely be able to help you develop your coaching skills.   Coaching is a critical role for scrum masters and agile practitioners and you need to develop that skillset independently of the Agile component. Helping your team excel and create an environment where others can succeed is a huge responsibility for a Scrum Master and so you would need to develop those capabilities.   Like with the Scrum Alliance certifications, you could bring elements of your International Coaching Federation course into the Agile Coach Academy for discussion, mentoring and coaching where necessary.  The Academy aims to grow the next generation of great scrum masters and agile coaches. We would love to help you grow your capabilities and develop your skillset to the point where you can validate those skills and competencies with international coaching credentials.   If you require more advanced training, Agile Centre provide a 50% discount on any course we provide to members of our Agile Coach Academy so you could sign up for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master or Advanced Certified Scrum Master programs.

Although career development is an important part of a scrum master’s journey, I would urge you to focus on the personal development element of the academy.   Over the years I have seen people achieve promotions and secure new opportunities as a result of the work they have done in the Agile Coach Academy, but these opportunities and promotions are a consequence of the work you do in the academy and as such I would urge you to focus on that.   The Academy provides you with mentoring from Agile coaches and Scrum Masters who have worked at some of the largest, most complex agile transformations in the UK and Europe. People who have worked in the trenches and mastered their craft over decades of hard, focused work.   We view your journey through the Agile Coach Academy as an apprenticeship in agile coaching and walk you through the challenges you will face as an agile coach. We also help you develop your line of reasoning and questioning to help you develop as a coach.   In essence, we’ve walked the path you are walking, and we will actively be helping you with your real-world challenges as part of your personal development.   In the academy, you will also develop a network of individuals with varying degrees of experience and expertise as agile practitioners and agile coaches. You will be exposed to their challenges and learn through the process how to address these same challenges in your own workplace.   A community of like-minded individuals who are investing in their skills development and personal growth as both practitioners and coaches.   We offer a blend of teaching, coaching, and mentoring to help our apprentices develop their agile capabilities as well as their coaching capabilities. You need to master both elements to be truly effective as an agile coach.   In agile environments, everybody turns to the scrum master and agile coach for help when they face challenges but who do you turn to when things go south? The Agile Coach Academy is your support group and mentoring experience that helps you through some of the toughest challenges you will face in your working career. Resolving issues and helping your team create an environment where others can excel is going to accelerate your career growth and provide you with opportunities down the line.   Knowing that you can bring your working challenges into the group and create compelling solutions to those challenges will help grow your competence and effectiveness as a coach.   The Academy provides you with a safe place to practice your coaching and facilitation skills, tools, and practices. It also provides you with immediate feedback from fellow participants along with recommendations and insights into how you can improve.   So, in summary, the Agile Coach Academy provides you with plenty of opportunities to grow your career as both a practitioner as well as a coach. It will also help you with continuous improvement throughout your apprenticeship, leading to more desirable results in your working environment.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoachacademy #agileacademy #scrum #scrumcoach #scrumcoachcourses #agilecoachcourses #agilecoachcertification #agilecertification #agilescrumtraining #scrumcoachcertification

Part 40 of our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   A #scrumteam consists of 3 roles. The developers, the scrum master and the #productowner. Each role is designed to help the team create products and features that truly delight customers.   The product owner thinks about the strategic elements of the product, the future roadmap for that product, and the commercial implications of releasing the product into the market at the correct time.   The developers build the product whilst the scrum master helps create an environment where the team can excel in building the product or solving the most compelling problems.   So, why can't a developer also be the product owner?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why a developer can be a product owner but also stresses why the team need consider whether the developer is the best person for that role.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 44 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is a bit tricky. The person interviewing you either has no real understanding of the role of a #scrummaster or they do but are assessing how you perceive the role, your degree of influence within the team, and your decision-making capability.   A scrum master does not intervene in a decision which the developers have made. They are the experts and if they have determined that something is critical enough to require the team to swarm to resolve the issue, it isn't on you to interfere or prevent that from happening.   In this short video, John McFadyen emphasizes the role scrum masters play in a #scrumteam and explains why it is super important to support the developers when they make a decision within their sphere of expertise.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 43 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is all too common in traditional organizations where people feel like a business analyst, consultant, or product manager should be the only people to have access to customers and product stakeholders.   John wrote a great article on exactly this phenomenon, read 'customers and developers in the same room? WTF on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/deploy-improve-scrum/customers-and-developers-in-the-same-room-wtf/  In this short video John McFadyen explains why it is a great idea for customers and products stakeholders to speak directly to developers and grow a strong working relationship with them. John also explains what he would do, as a scrum master, to help make this a reality.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 42 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This question produced a bit of a laugh. Although John understands that the marketing team would love to see some kind of a demonstration or exhibition of how the team produce software, his first instinct is to dodge that role and work behind the scenes rather than a stage.   If you're asked this question in an interview, you're on your own :) John would rather help the team organizing roadshows become better at it and grow their #agile capabilities than perform for the masses.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 41 of our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   In #scrum, the founders of the framework wanted a #productowner, or person best suited to analyze the use case of the work to be done, to create what is known as a user story to inform developers of what needs to be done, how it solves a specific problem or allows a customer to get a specific job done, and why it is an important element of customer satisfaction.   This is a critical element of the product owner role according to Agile purists yet isn't considered that important amongst agile practitioners and agile coaches who work with teams to find the best way of working in the context of their environment and application.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why user stories are great to have but aren't necessarily the only way to communicate what is needed, why it is needed, and how the value created will be consumed by the customer or end user.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Yes, you can attend the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course without attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course first but you won't be able to be certified as a #CSP-SM.   Why? Because the #ScrumAlliance want to see progression in your field from Certified #ScrumMaster through each evolution of your career progression.   The courses are structured for you to attend approximately one year apart from one another to give you time to implement what you have learned and build on that foundation knowledge and skillset with expertise in your field.   In order to benefit from the more advanced #scrum courses, you need the context of a working environment to truly embed the necessary skills and learning.  You need to have practiced the subject material and be familiar with some of the more frequent challenges that are associated with product development and working in an #agile environment.   Each of the Scrum Alliance's courses are designed to meet you at a specific stage in your journey as a #scrummaster and help you overcome the challenges you experience at that specific stage of your journey.   If you have been fortunate enough to be mentored by an #agilecoach within a working environment, you will have a lot of great insights and stories to share within the courses you attend but you will also have a great set of questions for your Certified Scrum Trainer that will give you the insights and assistance you need to progress.   So, ideally, you would attend the #CSM course, practice for a year in your field, and then attend the #A-CSM course before practicing for another year in your field so that by the time you arrive for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course, you are fully prepared for the course and the subject material you will encounter on the course.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why you need to do the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course before attending the Certified Scrum Professional course.   Visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more articles and insights from John McFadyen.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum professional, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ and be sure to follow up with a visit to our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, check out our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you want to fast track your Agile coaching career, check out our IC Agile Certified Agile Team Coaching course on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/certified-agile-team-coaching/  As a Scrum Master, you're going to need to organically grow your coaching and facilitation skills as you move along your journey.  Check out our on-demand Introduction to coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching #agile #scrum #acsm #a-csm #csm #csp-sm #certifiedscrumprofessional #agiletraining #agilecourses #agilecoach #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #professionalscrummaster

A lot of people are curious about what they should do following the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course. John McFadyen walks us through some of his recommendations in this short video.   Many people think that a new certification and course is the best next step after the course but I would advise differently.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course was designed as a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course.   It serves as a stepping stone in your skills development as a Scrum Master and marks the transition from #scrum practitioner to #scrum professional and #agilecoach.   There is a lot of new information that is delivered via the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course as well as new skills, tools, and techniques in the spheres of coaching and facilitation.   You would be best served by actively practicing these new skills, tools, and techniques for at least a year before looking to upskill and continue on your certification path.   Context matters a great deal in the #scrumalliance certification pathways and it's important that you embed the knowledge and spend a great deal of time actively practicing your craft before looking to progress to the next level.   For this reason, the Scrum Alliance actively recommend that you have at least one years' experience as a Certified Scrum Master before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and a further one year experience as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master course before attending the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   An Advanced Scrum Master straddles the line between Scrum Master and Agile coach and you will need to develop your coaching skills before having an opportunity to have your skills validated as a Certified Scrum Professional.   I would actively recommend that you work on your coaching and facilitation skills a great deal before attending the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   We provide a recommended reading list for graduates from the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and you will want to invest in learning new techniques, insights, and tools from the books we recommend.   Getting great at anything takes time and if you use your time wisely, you are going to be perfectly positioned to thrive as both a power Scrum Master as well as an Agile Coach.  If you are interested in attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ and please also have a look through our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, please check out our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/.   If you're thinking of practicing your coaching skills, check out our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  For more information on Agile Centre, visit https://www.agilecentre.com and for more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #scrum #agile #certifiedscrummaster #csm #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #a-csm #scrumalliance #agilecourses #certifiedscrumprofessional #csp-sm #certifiedscrumtraining #agilecoach #agiletraining #scrumtraining

Curious about what promotion opportunities advanced training will offer you? John McFadyen explains in this short video.   It is very seldom that a company will award a promotion exclusively because of a certification achieved. Instead, promotion is awarded on the basis of being great at your job and demonstrating competence and growth within the role.   In my opinion, you should approach something like the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course with the objective of growing your current skillset and learning new tools, techniques, and knowledge that will help you get better at your current job.   The A-CSM course is perfect for that. Many of the delegates who attend the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course have a significant amount of experience in the field and the challenges they bring to the table empower you to learn from other people's experiences.   In the ACSM course, we aren't simply looking to teach you new skills. We are also looking to validate your current capabilities as a Scrum Master and make a decision as to whether you have progressed enough in your career to be certified as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master.   In some ways this does help you within your current job because the course and certification validate that you have progressed from Scrum Master to an Advanced and Certified Scrum Master.   The validation proves that you have mastered the foundation skillset of being a Scrum Master and now are capable of mentoring and coaching new Scrum Masters as well as straddle the role of Scrum Master and Agile coach within your organisation.   We sometimes find that people look at the Scrum Alliance certification pathways with the objective of obtaining as many certifications as they can in the shortest amount of time.  We would actively discourage you from taking this approach.   The Scrum Alliance advise that you have at least one years' experience as a Certified Scrum Master before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and a further one years' experience as an Advanced Scrum Master before attending the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   The thinking behind this is that it takes almost a year for you to fully integrate everything you have learned in the course and offers you 12 months opportunity to practice new tools, techniques and skillsets that you acquire in the course.   The ACSM course features a lot of conversation around challenges that Scrum Masters face and you will be better equipped to contribute to those conversations as well as play a role in facilitating the simulations if you have deep experience as a Scrum Master within a working environment.   So, in my opinion, becoming great at your job earmarks you for promotion rather than a 2-day certification program. What you learn in the ACSM course will almost certainly help you become great at your job and excel within your working environment but it's the work you put in during and after the course that makes all the difference.   Agile Centre provide you with a recommended reading list after the course and it's also important that you move through that curriculum to better integrate new skills, insights, and tools into your working environment.   Investing in your education and following a certification journey over the 3 year period, from start to Professional Scrum Master will almost certainly open doors for you both within and outside of your organisation.   The certifications are also great for validating your capabilities and demonstrating competence within your role as a professional Scrum Master so make the investment in your education and skills development with the primary objective of becoming great at your job.   That will always lead to pay increases, promotions and opportunities.

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification from the Scrum Alliance is fairly young compared to the Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master certifications.   It was designed to be a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   After a year of experience as a scrum master in a working environment, you would be able to attend the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and level up on your scrum master skills as well as learn new skills like coaching and facilitation.   The thinking behind this credential is that it serves to empower scrum masters in their career as practitioners to progress to the next level and help teams thrive in complex environments. It also empowers them to work with new scrum masters and help them grow their skills in the industry.   So, how well recognised and respected is the credential? It's pretty well respected by companies and recruitment agencies alike but it isn't as well known as the Certified Scrum Professional (CSM) certification.   It is an internationally certified and recognised certification from the Scrum Alliance, so a short check or bit of research on the part of a recruiter or potential employer would inform them of the value and credibility of the certification.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master certification also acts as a validation of your skillset as an advanced Scrum Master.   The Certified Scrum Master course has a very high pass rate, in the region of 98% per course, but the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course does often have to invite people back to the course once they have attained more experience in a working environment to validate their skills.   It isn't simply a matter of attending the course and being automatically certified as an A-CSM.   As more people progress down the Scrum Alliance certification pathways to the more advanced certifications like ACSM and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master, the certification gains wider recognition and appeal from recruiters and potential employers.   If you want to invest in the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ page.   Also visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you like the idea of growing your coaching skills, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-agile-beginner-courses/on-demand-introduction-to-agile-scrum/   #agile #scrum #scrummaster #advancedscrummaster #csm #acsm #certifiedscrumprofessional #csp-sm #agilecoach #coaching #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.

Curious about how the ACSM course will impact your #scrum career journey? John McFadyen walks us through what you'll be able to do after attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course.   In order to attend the course, you first need to be a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) with approximately a years' worth of experience working as a scrum master.   The thinking is that the ACSM will build on your foundation knowledge and skillset with more advanced insights, tools, and techniques to help you make the next evolution in your career.   So, in theory, you will be able to do everything that you were capable of doing before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and then you will also have a new, upgraded set of tools and techniques that you can begin to implement in your working environment.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course also provides greater insight into Agile theory, helping you place the specific frameworks and concepts into the right context so you'll be better positioned to articulate why Agile is a great way of working for your organisation and in what specific applications the frameworks will yield the best results. As a Scrum Master, you will already be in the position of coaching others through Scrum events and artefacts but the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course contains a dedicated section for coaching and facilitation.   You will find that you will have new coaching and facilitation tools, techniques and insights that will help you coach your team and new scrum masters. You will also find that you are better able to facilitate scrum events like retrospectives using your updated skills and techniques.   The ACSM helps you to straddle the line between scrum master and agile coach within your organisation so you'll find that your coaching skills, both within your team as well as with individuals outside of your team will be greatly enhanced. You'll be able to help others discover the right answer and best solutions for the challenges they face.  Ultimately, you'll be able to lead more effectively too.   You'll be learning from the experience of others on the course and also picking up on what your Certified Scrum Trainer is addressing when it comes to overcoming challenges within a working environment. Many people bring live, real-world challenges to the classroom and our role as a trainer is to provide them with actionable advice and tools that will help them solve those challenges. You will find that you are equipped with new tools, insights and creative approaches that will help you address some of the challenges that may be tripping you up in your practice as a Scrum Master.   The ACSM course will give you the confidence to try new tools, techniques and approaches within your working environment and empower you to master more advanced practices within our industry. The time and effort you invest in applying the knowledge, tools and insights you gained on the ACSM is going to pay huge dividends in terms of your career progression and effectiveness as both a scrum master and agile coach.   You will also be better positioned to coach and mentor new scrum masters. Coaching and mentoring is an important part of your career development so it's just as important that you have a coach and mentor to help you as it is for you to be actively coaching and mentoring junior Scrum Masters through their apprenticeship.   The ACSM course will also validate your skills as an Advanced Scrum Master, giving you the confidence to attempt more complex problems and play a greater role in helping your team develop products and services that truly delight customers.

It is very actionable.    The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course is designed to help you make the transition from apprentice Scrum Master to advanced Scrum Master by providing you with the insights, tools, techniques, and actionable practices required to practice successfully within a working environment.   To become an Advanced Certified Scrum Master, you need to have a Certified Scrum Master credential and at least a years’ worth of working experience in the field.   The working experience is essential because it provides a context for the conversations, practices, and simulations that you will be a part of in the ACSM course.   You need to have experienced the challenges of being a scrum master in a working environment to fully grasp the concepts that are presented in the ACSM course and you need to have worked with teams to fully understand how the team dynamics, coaching, and facilitation elements work.   As a Scrum Master, you will find that you have been incorporating elements of coaching and facilitation in your daily role but may not have the formal coaching and facilitation tools, techniques and practices to help you.   The ACSM course focuses on helping you bridge the gap between Scrum Master and Agile coach by dedicating a full section to coaching and facilitation. A section where you will explore coaching and facilitation tools, techniques, theory, and practices that will actively help you become more effective as both a Scrum Master and a coach. The ACSM course attracts people with a wide variety of experience as Scrum Masters. Some may have a years’ worth of experience whilst others may have a decades’ experience practicing as a Scrum Master.   In the conversations, simulations and group exercises, many of these delegates will raise questions around the challenges they face or will share experiences that helped them overcome those specific challenges in the field.   These stories and questions are absolute gold for apprenticing Scrum Masters.  Your Certified Scrum Trainer is an expert in the field of Scrum Mastery and likely has over a decade of experience working in the trenches as a Scrum Master and Agile coach.   They will be answering questions from the perspective of a master practitioner and will provide you with insights, theory and recommendations on how to actively overcome the challenges you face. These insights, recommendations and practices are immediately actionable.

You need experience.   You need actual working experience and practice as a Scrum Master in a working environment.   The Agile Coach Academy is designed to help you overcome the challenges you currently face and teach you how to think as an Agile coach.   We don’t cover basic concepts of Scrum at all. You are expected to know the Scrum Guide and have achieved a certification such as the Certified Scrum Master course.   The idea behind the Agile Coach Academy is that it is designed to help you through your apprenticeship as both a coach and an Agile coach.   That means that we will be working on more advanced scrum concepts, techniques, tools, models and frameworks throughout the programmes.   You will be bringing your challenges to the workshops and we will actively be helping you to think through those challenges, providing context and learning where necessary, and coaching you through those challenges.   We need you to be actively engaged in the material and have a working environment where you can actively practice what you learn in the Academy. As you deploy and implement what you have learned in your working environment, we will be exploring the impact of those decisions and how they help you advance in your practice as a scrum master and agile coach.   You will also be learning from the experiences of others. As they share their war stories and speak about how they have overcome challenges in their working environments, you will be actively learning from them and their experiences.   We do teach on the Agile Coach Academy where it makes sense to do so but it is more of a coaching and mentoring environment.  Our coaches have worked on some of the largest and most complex agile transformations in the UK and Europe and will be bringing their own war stories, learning and recommendations to the academy.   As you explore more advanced Scrum and Agile concepts, you will have a greater understanding of how Agile values and principles work in the context of complex environments.   Whilst this course is designed for beginners, you do need to be actively working as a Scrum Master or Agile coach for you to derive value from the experience.   The Agile Coach Academy will also give you an opportunity to practice some of the tools, models and frameworks within the cohort. Everybody is there to learn and gain from the experience so it is a safe place for you to have a crack at coaching and facilitation.   We do provide a 50% discount on any Agile Centre course if you are a member of the Agile Coach Academy so if you want to attend an Advanced Certified Scrum Master course or Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course, you’re going to have an opportunity to do just that. We believe certification is a great way to validate your skills and demonstrate that you have the necessary capabilities to potential clients and recruiters and we love the Scrum Alliance certification tracks for that so feel free to visit those course pages. The most important thing you need to sign up for the Agile Coach Academy is an open mindset and a hunger to learn new concepts, tools, and techniques that will empower you as both a scrum master and an Agile Coach.   We have people on the Academy programs that have over a decades’ worth of experience in the field and you will find that you are growing your network of like-minded individuals. People who embrace learning and growing in their field.   It takes roughly 18 months for you to graduate from the Agile Coach Academy as a professional Agile coach but you are welcome to continue in the Academy as your actively practice in the field as both a professional scrum master and agile coach.

Curious about whether you will be able to coach new scrum masters after doing the ACSM course? John McFadyen explains.   Yes, you can.  In fact, I am hoping that you would already be mentoring and coaching new scrum masters before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course.   A scrum master is a natural coach and will be coaching the scrum team through scrum and each iteration. In some cases, a scrum master will even be coaching people outside of the scrum team to help remove impediments and ensure that each increment contains the seeds of improvement.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course is going to help you improve your coaching and facilitation skills. You will work through simulations in the course that help you embed the theoretical elements of coaching and use the sessions to actively practice the actionable elements of coaching.   A scrum master will already be facilitating scrum events such as the retrospectives and the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course will help you build on that foundation knowledge with more advanced tools, insights and techniques to help you become a more effective facilitator.   Again, you will actively practice these elements on the course and have an opportunity to demonstrate that you have mastered this skillset.   The ACSM course validates as much as it teaches. By that, I mean that the course is designed to validate your skillset as an advanced scrum master and give you the confidence to move forward with your practice as a scrum professional.   In your working career, you will have come across several obstacles and impediments that need to be overcome for the team to progress. You will be discussing those elements in the course and the knowledge you share in the class will help others who may be facing the same issues in their workplace.   Likewise, you will be a part of discussions with scrum masters that have over a decades' worth of experience in the field and will be actively learning from their insights, recommendations and actions. So, will you be able to coach new scrum masters after attending the ACSM course? Yes, you will. You will also have a greater arsenal of tools, techniques and models that you can coach them through to help them progress in their career and overcome obstacles that may be holding them and their scrum teams back.   An advanced scrum master straddles the line of scrum master and agile coach. You will have a minimum of one years' worth of experience as a Scrum Master before attending the ACSM course and the ACSM course will prepare you for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course  a year down the line.   You have the opportunity to actively practice what you have learned in the ACSM course for a minimum of one year before attending the CSP-SM course. A year where you also get to work through the recommended reading list for advanced scrum masters and learn from professionals who have worked at the coalface for decades and shared their knowledge, insights and tools in the form of great books. The ACSM course gives you the tools, techniques, and insights necessary to actively coach others but you will need to actively practice on a daily basis in order to become better.   As you move through the natural apprenticeship of an advanced Scrum Master, you are going to be perfectly positioned to help young scrum masters in their career.   If you want to become an Advanced Scrum Master, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  For an idea of progression upon completion of the ACSM course, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

Curious about the impact an Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course will have on your earning potential? John McFadyen takes some time out to explain how the course will benefit you.   Very few companies will increase your salary based on your attendance of a course, regardless of how long that course takes.   What companies do reward is increased competence, capability and creativity within the working environment. In other words, the greater the impact you have on your organisation the greater the rewards you will receive.   We are absolutely in love with the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and believe it offers a host of benefits to each delegate but it will take time for you to integrate the new tools, techniques, and learning from the course into your daily practice.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course was designed by the Scrum Alliance to act as a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course.   The thinking behind the course is that as you pass through your apprenticeship as a Scrum Master, you would need an assist after about a year of working in the field to help you upskill in a number of areas relevant to a professional Scrum Master.   One of those areas is coaching and facilitation.  As you progress in your career as a Scrum Master, you will naturally find that you are coaching more people, within and outside of your scrum team, in Scrum.   You will be actively helping people to find great answers to complex problems and you will be helping a team of professionals to create products, services and features that truly delight customers.   To do that effectively, you need to be coaching and facilitating at a professional level.   The Certified Scrum Master course does not teach you how to do that, you would actively need to invest in a coaching and facilitation course or the Advanced Certified Scrum Master to upskill at the next level.   The ACSM also validates your skillset as an advanced Scrum Master and then provides you with the tools, models, techniques and insights you will need to continue your journey as a professional Scrum Master. These include service to the team, service to the product owner, and service beyond the team. It also includes understanding organisational change and scaling Scrum.   As you master these elements, and actively practice what you have learned in the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, you are naturally going to be creating and adding more value to the Scrum Team as well as the organisation.   As you master the coaching and facilitation elements, you are naturally going to have a greater impact on the organisation as well as on the teams you directly work with.   That impact translates into better products and services being created in less time than it would ordinarily take. In some cases, it translates into competitive advantage for the team and organisation. At this point, you will be earmarked for promotion or salary increases due to the impact you are having on the team and the organisation. So, in summary, the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course will not earn you a promotion in and of itself, but it does play a significant role in how you grow as a scrum master and the kind of impact you can have within your organisation, which in turn will lead to promotions and increases.   If you are looking to advance your career, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  To get an idea of career progression, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

Yes, it does.  The idea for the Agile Coach Academy was born out of conversations that Karim and I had about how there were so few resources available to help us when we first set out on our journey as an Agile coach.   We invested thousands of pounds in courses, workshops, books, etc. only to find that very few of those investments delivered exactly what we needed and exactly what we were looking for.  It was a process of trial and error that required countless hours of effort, time, and energy in exchange for very little reward.   So, yes, the Agile Coach Academy does actively coach and mentor you. We are there to help you explore your thinking, develop sound lines of reasoning and to grow your critical analysis capabilities.   Where it makes sense to do so, we also teach as part of the Agile Coach Academy.   We have walked the path of Agile coaches in some of the largest, most complex agile transformations in the UK and Europe. It gave us incredible insights into what works and what doesn’t work. It sharpened our skills and gave us effective tools, models, and frameworks to ensure that we were effective as Agile practitioners and coaches.   That experience empowers us to mentor young Agile coaches and help them through the challenges they face within their working environments. As an Agile coach, you need to be an effective coach and you also need to be an effective, practiced Agile practitioner to get the job done. You need to develop your coaching capabilities and you need to be strong as a standalone coach in many circumstances. We help you develop those coaching capabilities, and we also provide a platform for you to actively practice amongst your peers.   A large opportunity that the Agile Coach Academy presents is the opportunity to practice in a safe space and receive immediate feedback on how effective your coaching and facilitation skills are.   We also provide you with new coaching tools, techniques, models, and frameworks to strengthen your arsenal as a coach.  At the same time, we are developing your Agile capabilities to ensure that you are an effective Agile coach.   A coach will not train, educate, or mentor their clients. They simply coach. An Agile coach, however, does train, teach, mentor and coach their clients and teams so you need to be able to deliver across the board, depending on the circumstances and requirements.   Having a deep knowledge of Agile and Scrum and knowing the context and applications of Agile really helps with your credibility as an Agile coach. Knowing how to facilitate scrum events and other events as part of your daily practice is also incredibly important. As a cohort, you will learn from each other’s experiences, questions and challenges.   Some of the people in the Agile Coach Academy have over a decades’ worth of experience in the field and will bring heaps of value to each session as we explore their challenges, and help them to develop solutions and opportunities to overcome those challenges.   The same goes for you.  As you bring your own working challenges into the environment, others will learn from you and your experiences and as a group we will work through different opportunities available to you and actively practice how to overcome those challenges.   A large part of the Agile Coach Academy deals with exploring your thinking and developing solutions to the challenges you face. Coaching. So, in addition to being mentored, you will also receive world-class coaching as part of your experience.    In some cases, formal training may be the best prescription for where you are at in your coaching journey.

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course was designed to act as a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course.   The Scrum Alliance identified that the gap between the two courses was too great and practicing scrum masters would need a bridging course that empowered them to upskill their knowledge, tools, and resources within a year after completing the Certified Scrum Master course.   A course that helped them evolve into an advanced scrum master and practice as a professional scrum master for at least another year before seeking to certify as a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master.   The Certified Scrum Master course is great for preparing new Scrum Masters for the role and providing them with the foundation knowledge, tools, and resources they need to lead as a scrum master in a scrum team. It doesn’t, however, prepare scrum masters for the more advanced challenges they will face whilst working in a scrum environment.    The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course is designed to build on the foundation knowledge, skills and tools of a scrum master and provide them with the more advanced knowledge, skills, tools, and resources they will need as they advance in their career.   The goal of any training course is to help you become better at your profession and overcome the challenges you face in a working environment.   The ACSM is designed to do exactly that.   It is designed to help you grow as a scrum master and provide you with the foundation knowledge, tools, and models you will need to start practicing coaching and facilitation within your role as a Scrum Master. Often, a scrum master will coach the team to find the best answers they are capable of and will also work with people outside of the scrum team to help remove impediments to progress. Coaching and facilitation are important skills for a scrum master and the A-CSM will help you develop those skills.   The ACSM also focuses on more advanced elements in providing service to the team as well as the product owner. A combination of tools, techniques, and insights combine to help you grow in your role as a scrum master and provide more effective service in these areas.   The ACSM also explores teamwork and how team dynamics work. You’re going to learn how to harness the power of working in teams and how that can assist you in creating products and services that truly delight customers. The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course builds on these elements with a greater exploration into each of the sections to develop deep skill in all areas relating to the Scrum Master role.   You would need to have successfully completed the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and achieved the certification in order to sign up for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course and you would need at least a years’ worth of experience practicing as an advanced scrum master to certify as a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master.   If you would like to upskill as a Scrum Master, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ For an idea of progression within the role, visit the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit the Agile Coach Academy course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  To start your coaching career journey, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching

It depends on your current skills, experience and mindset.   If you find that you have mastered the basics of Scrum and are actively looking for more advanced knowledge, tools, and techniques to overcome the challenges you face within a working environment then you're going to find the course challenging but enjoyable.   If you have little to no experience as a Scrum Master and you are attending the course because you want the certification or because you need the certification, then you are going to find the course incredibly difficult.   In the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course, you are taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer and your primary goal is to learn about scrum, the role of a scrum master in a scrum team, and how to be a scrum master.   There are discussions and simulations but for the most part, you are being taught and all you need to do to pass the examination is learn.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course validates your skills and capabilities in addition to teaching you new skills, tools and techniques.   In the A-CSM, you are required to participate and lead. You are required to demonstrate that you are a competent and capable Scrum Master.   There are a lot of discussions and simulations around the more advanced elements of scrum and you will be sharing your challenges and war stories with others. You will also be learning from others and gaining insights into how they have overcome challenges.   That's why it is important that you have experience as a Scrum Master working in a scrum team.   If you don't have that experience, you won't have a context for what you are learning nor will you be able to participate in these discussions. The ACSM digs deeper into Agile theory and provides a context for why these lightweight frameworks have proven so popular over the past two decades. It also provides insights into which kind of applications best work for Agile and Scrum.   Agile is a great answer but it isn't the answer to every question. That's why you need to understand the context and best case application.   You will also learn more about coaching and facilitation. Two very important parts of a Scrum Master's arsenal. As you progress in your career, you are naturally going to facilitate events and coach members of your team. The ACSM course will teach you how to do that more effectively and provide you with tools, techniques, and models that will help you become a great Agile coach and facilitator. You will also practice some of these techniques and tools in simulations throughout the course to help embed the knowledge and start your journey as an Agile coach.   Scrum Masters coach people across the organisation to find compelling answers to the problems we face. Advanced Scrum Masters will use coaching as a tool to help people within the scrum team and outside of the scrum team to overcome obstacles and create the most valuable products, services and features they are capable of.   These concepts and skillsets aren't difficult, they simply require that you are invested and make an effort to practice. For most people, these elements are immediately actionable and once you start the habit of practicing these skills, they become easier over time. The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course also works through service to the Scrum Team, service to the Product Owner, Scaling scrum and organisational change.   Again, these are difficult concepts that will challenge you. If you have battled with any of these elements in your working environment, you are going to be super pleased to discover the answers to your challenges and will find the experience relatively straightforward to understand and adopt.

The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course was designed by the Scrum Alliance to build on the advanced knowledge of the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course and certify individuals as professional Scrum Masters and Agile coaches.   Where the Advanced Certified Scrum Master focused a great deal on Agile theory, tools and models, the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course takes a deep dive into the world of LEAN.   There is a great deal of knowledge, insights and learning that has come from the world of lean manufacturing and software engineering, and the CSP-SM course explores how these concepts, models and frameworks have impacted the world of business agility.   You'll have the necessary knowledge and insight to speak professionally about the application of lean technologies and processes and to understand how these elements can be applied to your working environment.   The Certified Scrum Professional course builds on that platform and explores the concept of professional service as a coach and facilitator.   The CSP-SM course takes you deeper into the world of an Agile coach and provides you with the knowledge, insights, tools and techniques you will need to be a professional coach in a scrum environment.   You will also learn professional facilitation techniques, models and frameworks to help you get the most out of your Scrum events and interactions with your scrum team.   A great scrum master will also coach people  outside of the Scrum team to help the team remove impediments or secure resources, and so you will find that the facilitation and coaching elements are invaluable in your journey as a professional scrum master.   The CSP-SM then explores service to the team in your capacity as an experienced, professional scrum master. You will learn from others as well as your certified scrum trainer how to effectively engage your team and provide them with services that empower them to build and create products that truly delight customers and stakeholders.   The CSP-SM course then takes you into a deeper exploration of service to the product owner in high performance environments. You'll learn new techniques, tools, models and frameworks that will help you support product owners in their role as the CEO of the product environment. You will learn from others as well as your Certified Scrum Trainer how to effectively engage the product owner and how to assist them in achieving their product objectives. You will also learn how to get the most out of the product owner and scrum team interactions.   Finally, the CSP-SM course explores scaling agile and organisational change. Scaling scrum is a big challenge for many organisations and you will receive professional insights, tools and frameworks to help guide your organisation through their scaling objectives.   You'll also be learning how to form high-performance teams and how organisational change impacts both individuals as well as teams.   In the ACSM you explore high-performance teams and what makes them so successful. In the CSP-SM you learn how to create those kinds of teams and how to effectively lead the process of team development.   In short, the CSP-SM does exactly what it says on the tin. It teaches you how to become a professional Scrum Master that has a significant impact on the success of individuals and scrum teams within your organisation. If you see value in growing your Scrum Master skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ For more insights into career progression, visit the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

It could have a significant impact on your career if you embed the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques into your everyday practice.   A certification in and of itself will always hold value for employers and potential clients but it must be augmented by an increased impact on the team, organisation and environment for it to translate into promotions and pay rises.   The certificate by itself is not necessarily going to do that for you.   For that reason, I always encourage my students to focus on how to improve as a Scrum Master and how to adopt the tools, techniques, and recommendations to have a greater impact on the team and organisation.  That’s where the real gold lies.   Training and certification are valuable tools to teach new skills and validate existing skills.   The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course does an incredible job of doing exactly that. It both teaches and validates at the same time. The value of the more advanced certifications lies in the group dynamic of training.    You are exposed to individuals who have a significant amount of experience practicing as a Scrum Master and Agile coach, and you are exposed to the challenges they have as well as how to overcome those challenges. In addition to growing your network of scrum professionals, you actively learn from these individuals as they share their war stories or from the questions they pose to your Certified Scrum Trainer.   It’s real-world insights, challenges and solutions that are immediately actionable as part of your practice as a Scrum Master.   At this stage of your career, you will be straddling the lanes of Scrum Master and Agile Coach. The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course will take your coaching and facilitation skills to the next level.   You will learn how to be a more effective coach to your team, outside of the team, and how to facilitate everything from workshops to Scrum events. The tools, techniques, models, and frameworks you learn will have a significant impact on your team and organisation.   As you practice these skills and techniques, you will become more valuable as an Agile Coach and Scrum Master to the organisations you serve and the individuals you work with, and ultimately that is going to have a significant impact on your career and prospects. The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master is a valuable credential that is internationally recognised and respected. It will carry a lot of value for potential employers and clients, and it does serve to validate your expertise as a professional Scrum Master.   It is up to you, however, to ensure that you practice and embed the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques of the course to make the most of the career opportunities that lie before you.   The certification is the final step before you can validate your skills as a Certified Team Coach or Certified Enterprise Coach. We would recommend that you practice as a Scrum Professional for at least a year before seeking to achieve the CEC and CTC certifications from Scrum Alliance. You will be well prepared to excel as a Scrum practitioner and Agile coach from the CSP-SM course but like any form of training, it simply prepares you for the role rather than ensures you excel in the role.   If you adopt the tools, models, and frameworks and actively practice them in your working environment you are going to see great results. If you augment that by working through the recommended reading list provided in the course, you are going to amplify those results and prepare yourself for success in your career trajectory as a scrum practitioner and agile coach.

The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course is a total of sixteen (16) hours.   We deliver the course in two formats.   The first is over two (2) full days, from 9am to 5:30pm and the second format is over 4 half days, in either the mornings or the afternoons for 4 hours at a stretch.  Both formats have specific benefits.   If you have a slight lull in your week and can afford to take two full days out of the office, the full-time format is perfect.   You will have 2 days of actionable content that you can implement immediately upon your return to the office and start to experience the benefits of the course material, simulations, and practices right away.   Some people really like the half-day format because it gives them time to digest all the information, tools and techniques delivered in the morning or afternoon course. It also provides them an opportunity to immediately implement something they may have learned in the half-day format. We often find people coming back to the course enthusiastic because something they learned in the morning was implemented in their working afternoon, producing exactly the kind of outcomes they had hoped it would deliver.  The course is a balance of theory, practical and simulations that help provide a context for the learning and skills development.   Regardless of the format you choose, you will find the course incredibly valuable in how actionable the content is and how quickly you are able to adopt and deploy the tools, techniques and recommendations provided in the course.   If you are interested in taking your career to the next level, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/. If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/.   If you think coaching may be a valuable journey for your career, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching.  For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  #agile #scrum #scrumcoach #scrumcoachcertification #scrumcertification #scrumcourses #scrumcoaching #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agilecourses #agilecertifications #coachcertification #certifiedscrumprofessional #certifiedscrumprofessionalscrummaster #csp-sm #acsm #a-csm #agiecentre

Yes, it is.   In many ways, a scrum master acts as an Agile coach for the scrum team, the product owners, and even people in the organisation who are not part of the scrum team.   Coaching and facilitation is a critical part of the scrum master’s job. Some individuals choose to pursue a career as a scrum master and have no interest in becoming an Agile coach. That’s great. We need people who are in love with the role and perform it to the best of their ability.   The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course will make you a better scrum master and allow you to level up in your career and achieve your career goals and objectives.   If you do wish to go the route of Agile coach, either within your organisation or as an independent Agile coach that serves customers, the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course will definitely help you in that journey.   The CSP-SM course starts with a deep dive into LEAN theory. So many great evolutions have been made in the world of manufacturing and software engineering because of the LEAN movement, and there is much to learn from their successes.   As you grow your knowledge of Agile and LEAN, you are automatically becoming a better Scrum Master and Agile Coach because of your deeper understanding of where Agile originated and why it proved to be such a successful methodology for building products and solving problems.   The course also dedicates an entire section to coaching and facilitation.  Whether you choose to become an Agile coach or not, you will definitely need to have a strong coaching and facilitation skillset to help your team achieve an environment where everybody can excel.   Facilitation of scrum events such as sprint planning, retrospectives and reviews is also critical.   As both a scrum master and an Agile coach, you will benefit from having advanced theoretical knowledge, tools and frameworks from which to build on your existing coaching and facilitation skills.   The CSP-SM then tackles service to the team.   Again, a skillset that is valuable to scrum masters as well as agile coaches. Learning advanced techniques, tools, models, and frameworks to serve the scrum team is critical for scrum masters to help the scrum team create and build products that truly delight customers.   Group discussions that include insights into how people currently overcome challenges within their teams, as well as from the Certified Scrum Trainer, give you real-world actionable recommendations on how to progress within your own scrum team environment.   The CSP-SM then progresses to providing service to the product owner. The product owner is like the CEO of the product and serve product stakeholders within and outside of the organisation. They have a difficult job and they could use all the help they can get from Scrum Masters.   In this section, you will explore advanced tools, techniques, models, and frameworks that will empower you to serve product owners and act as the glue that binds the scrum team together.   You will learn how servant leadership as a Scrum Master and Agile coach really serve product owners and help them to create products, services and features that delight stakeholders as well as customers.   So, in summary, the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master is a course designed at developing powerful scrum masters who act as both practitioners and agile coaches within their organisations.  Regardless of whether you choose to pursue a career as an agile coach or prefer to remain a power scrum master within your organisation, you will definitely benefit from the course content, group discussions and simulations.  

You will certainly have the tools, techniques, and theory to help you become a great deal more effective, but it is going to take time for you to practice and evolve as an Agile coach.   The Scrum Alliance have designed the certification pathway with active practice in mind.    It starts with the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course followed by a years’ worth of practice as a Scrum Master before you sign up for the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course.   After a years’ worth of practice as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master you can sign up for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course.   The thinking is that you will have a strong theoretical and skills development platform followed by 2 years’ worth of experience actively working in the field before you start the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   A scrum master is often a coach within the organisation and helps the scrum team to create an environment where everybody can excel. An environment where the product owner, development team and scrum master collaborate toward creating the most valuable products and services that delight customers.   So, by the time you start the CSP-SM course you should already have a significant amount of practice as a Scrum Master and will have a working context that you can use as a frame of reference in the training and coaching you will receive.    You will also have insights into the challenges of being an effective coach in a dynamic organisation. This is valuable because it provides a context from which you can learn. In addition to teaching, the course also features group discussions where people share their challenges and experiences. Conversations that help you identify what others have faced and how they have overcome their challenges.   In many cases, people bring questions to the course with the objective of getting actionable insights and recommendations to overcome those challenges.    That’s where you Certified Scrum Trainer really comes into their own. Diving into our own experiences as a Scrum Master and practicing Agile coach, we are able to help you with the challenges you face and provide you with war stories, insights and recommendations that have helped us overcome the very challenges you now face.   The Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course features LEAN theory, service to the scrum team, service to the product owner, coaching and facilitation, and service beyond the team as the primary pillars. Each of these elements will strengthen your capability as both a scrum master as well as an Agile coach. You will be learning advanced coaching and facilitation skills, tools, techniques, models and frameworks that will help you evolve as a professional coach.  You will need to actively practice these elements and you will find that over time, you are able to achieve the desired outcomes and objectives of your team because of your strong coaching capability.   The scrum team also benefit from your advanced facilitation skills and will derive even greater benefits from Scrum events such as the sprint reviews and retrospectives.   After a few years’ practice as a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master, many people choose to start the application process for a Scrum Alliance Certified Team Coach or Certified Enterprise Coach.   The CSP-SM provides you with a strong foundation from which you can practice and develop your coaching capabilities in the field and is a great launchpad for further certification programmes down the line.   If you are interested in advancing your skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.

The Agile Coach Academy was an idea me and Karim explored when we first started Agile Centre.   We had both invested thousands of pounds in courses, books, seminars, and workshops over our decade long journey to becoming an Agile Coach. Some of those investments were incredibly worthwhile but there was also a lot of wasted time, effort and money in investments that didn’t make the cut.   We had a conversation one evening about how we would love to create an academy that would be exactly what we would have wished for when we first set out on our journey.   We wanted to create an environment that helped grow the next generation of great scrum masters and agile coaches. We wanted to create an Academy that helped significantly reduce the amount of time it would take to become an excellent coach and practitioner.   The Agile Coach Academy is exactly that.   An academy that mentors, teaches, and coaches scrum masters through their apprenticeship and helps to grow confidence, capability, and competence.   To accelerate their development as both a coach and an Agile coach. It takes years and years of training, coaching and practice to become a competent and respected coach. It is an incredibly difficult skillset to master and is a stand-alone profession outside of the Agile industry.   An Agile coach is a coach that has a significant amount of expertise and experience working in Agile environments. From a Scrum Master through each of the levels of proficiency as a practitioner to a Scrum Professional.   An Agile coach will use coaching techniques, models and frameworks throughout their practice but will also use teaching and mentoring to help scrum teams create environments where they can excel.   Many people develop their agile chops as a Scrum Master and Agile practitioner but don’t necessarily develop their coaching and facilitation skills. In many ways, this is like a little league coach that teaches people how the game is played and how the rules work but isn’t actively coaching that team to achieve their best performances.   In the Agile industry, there are a lot of people who call themselves Agile coaches after practicing as a Scrum Master for a couple of years but lack the deep coaching and facilitation skills that are necessary to thrive as an Agile coach.   The Agile Coach Academy aims to bridge that gap.   We invest a great deal of time in small, intimate cohorts working through coaching skills, techniques, models, and frameworks. We bring war stories from many years working in the trenches of Agile transformations and scrum environments to help embed the Agile capabilities and competence. The Agile Coach Academy also offers individuals the opportunity to practice their coaching amongst their peers and learn from each other’s experiences and challenges.   People actively bring their challenges, questions and stumbling blocks to each session and we explore the best opportunities available to them to overcome those challenges and impediments.   We bring our deep knowledge of Agile and Scrum to help grow their capabilities as both an Agile practitioner as well as an Agile coach. A deeper understanding of Agile and Scrum empowers our aspiring coaches to develop their professional coaching skills alongside their professional practitioner skills. In essence, the Agile Coach Academy is an apprenticeship in Agile coaching that typically lasts around 18 months before progressing into mentoring and coaching sessions on a one-to-one and cohort basis. Over the 18 months, we help aspiring coaches develop the necessary skills and degree of competence required for them to practice as an Agile coach.

Curious about how Agile coaches differ from Project Managers? One has a great deal of authority and actively drives projects, the other has a great deal of influence and works with teams to create environments where the best product or service can be built. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Many project managers are curious about how their role could potentially integrate into a Scrum environment. Can you make the transition to Agile coach? John McFadyen explains how you could make that a reality.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It may or may not help your team, it depends on the application entirely. You could simply hire a great Agile coach to achieve the same result or you could invest in upgrading your career path to become an Agile coach. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about how Project Managers are different to Scrum Masters? John McFadyen gives us his perspective on how they differ.    A project manager has a number of significant skills in the delivery of a specific project within a specified time frame. They possess great communication skills and often work with project stakeholders all the way through the project delivery process.   They manage risks, costs, dependences and play an active role in deciding who should do what work and in what specific order that work needs to be done. In many ways, they are the kingpin of the project and all the elements of the project fall under their authority and responsibility.   In traditional environments like Civil Engineering this can be a good thing. People know how to build bridges and they have been building them for centuries so project managers have great insight into what needs doing, how it needs doing, and how long it will take to complete a project with relatively accurate estimates.   Project managers and traditional waterfall style project management battles when there are great degrees of complexity, uncertainty, volatility and ambiguity.   In other words, at times where what is being created has never been created before or a problem that has never been solved before needs solving by a team of experts and professionals.  In #scrum, the #scrumteam work together to solve complex problems and build products and services that truly delight customers.   In Scrum, the development team are the experts who are best placed to know how something should be built or how the problem should be solved. A Scrum Master will work with the development team to identify the most valuable work and how to remove impediments to progress that may be plaguing the scrum team.   A product owner is like the CEO of the product and they are involved in identifying a vision for the product or service, and identifying a priority for the most valuable elements to be built first or the most compelling problems to be solved first.   A scrum master will work with the product owner as well as the development team to create an environment where the team can thrive and deliver working, valuable solutions in relatively short increments of time known as sprints. The #scrummaster would not bear sole responsibility for the product as the project manager does nor do they get involved in deciding who should do what. They work with the team to understand what impediments stand in the way and then set about solving those problems in conjunction with the team as well as other members of the organisation.   A scrum master also works with influence rather than authority. They would rely on tools and techniques found in coaching, for example, to help the team find their way rather than using their authority as a project manager to influence outcomes.   It's a very different style of working.   If you are interested in becoming a Certified Scrum Master, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ course page as well as the https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ course page for insights into these courses. If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development journey, visit our Agile Coach Academy page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.   #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #projectmanager #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumteam #scrumframework #agileprojectmanagement #businessagility #agilecourses #scrumtraining #agilecoach #agiletraining #productdevelopment

It's an entry-level Scrum course that teaches you what you need to know in order to be a Scrum Master.  If you read through the Scrum Guide and go through the Agile foundations online course beforehand you will be good to go. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information on the Certified Scrum Master course   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, it is. John McFadyen explains why project managers are a great fit for both the Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Product Owner courses.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, they do. A project manager is a great fit for a product owner but does need to reign in certain elements from the project manager role. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It's better to view it the other way around. How does a marketing development team work with a product owner? John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes they do. Sometimes for private training with 12 plus individuals and at other times, a few individuals will join a public course. John McFadyen explains more.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Through a combination of courses, on-the-job experience and sourcing materials such as books and blogs. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, I would. A product owner course is a great fit for entrepreneurs. John McFadyen explains why.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

An Agile coach is someone who helps align a team with Agile values and principles so that the team can thrive.   They are invested in creating an environment where teams can build products and services that truly delight customers. They do so by questioning the status quo and inspiring teams to dig deeper on every effort.   A great deal of progression in the Agile world comes from thought and reflection.   An Agile coach works with teams to reflect on what has happened and how to evolve because of the challenges that may be tripping them up.   An Agile coach works with Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and the development team to focus on the why. Why are we building this product? Why does it matter? How is it going to have a significant impact in the lives of our customers?   An Agile coach is often an individual who has significant experience as a practitioner.   Their journey has been informed by overcoming challenges as practitioners, for example a Scrum Master, and they bring a blend of coaching and mentorship to help others progress toward their goals and objectives.   An Agile coach will have invested a great deal of time working in team environments and will have a deep understanding of the kind of challenges that teams encounter.   They have a great understanding of team dynamics and invest themselves in aligning the team with high-performing, Agile ways of working that help teams unleash their creativity and passion.   Agile coaches use a blend of professional coaching skills as well as their own practitioner skills to create environments where others can excel.   They are deeply invested in individuals as well as the team and use their expertise and experience to help the team overcome challenges and produce their best work.   If you are interested in becoming an Agile coach, there are a number of paths you can follow.   If you are currently a Scrum Master, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages to deepen your expertise as a practitioner. From there, visit our Agile Coaching Academy course pages to deepen your expertise as a coach.   If you are currently a Product Owner, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner course page to deepen your expertise as a Product Owner and visit our Agile Coaching Academy course pages to deepen your expertise as a coach.   The Agile Coaching Academy will help prepare you for the Scrum Alliance Certified Team Coach and Certified Enterprise Agile Coach certifications.   You can also visit the IC Agile Certified Agile Team Coaching course pages for an accelerated course in Agile coaching.   https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  #agilecoach #scrummaster #agile #scrum #certifiedagilecoach #certifiedteamcoach #certifiedenterprisecoach #cec #ctc #agilecertification #agiletraining

One has an agenda, the other doesn't. John McFadyen walks us through the difference between a professional coach and an Agile coach.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

They are pretty diverse. From entrepreneurship through to a blend of training and coaching. John McFadyen walks us through career opportunities for an Agile coach.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, you do. John McFadyen explains why mastery of Agile environments is a critical skill for Agile coaches.   Visit https:///www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen

No, you don't. Journey is the keyword. John McFadyen explains why developing your skill set is important early in the process.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johncfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

How is the Agile coaching role structured in a corporate environment and can an Agile coach also be a line manager? John McFadyen walks us through the opportunities and possibilities for Agile coaches. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Very seldom are companies fully 'Agile' in all departments, so how do you integrate Agile coaching into a traditional line management role? John McFadyen explains how you can do just that.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Project managers have awesome skill sets across multiple cross-functional roles. So, how do they integrate into Agile and Scrum environments and do they make great candidates for Agile coaches down the line?   John McFadyen explains how a great project manager can set themselves up to be an Agile coach through an Agile apprenticeship.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Many people believe that Agile coaches are a natural evolution from the Scrum Master track, which is true. But what if you're a product owner?   John McFadyen explains how you can become a valuable Agile coach given your product ownership experience.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about the path to mastery in Agile coaching? John McFadyen explains how you can create a great apprenticeship for yourself as an Agile coach, leading to journeyman and practitioner.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It's an introduction to Product Ownership course so you don't need to do anything except read the Scrum Guide beforehand. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Pretty well. You won't be an expert in Scrum but you will have everything you need to become a Product Owner. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, you do. John McFadyen explains what you will receive as part of your CSPO course.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

The CSPO course is internationally recognised and respected as a flagship of the Scrum Alliance. John McFadyen explains more.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

A Certified Scrum Master is a Scrum Alliance certified Scrum Master who has completed the CSM course and is now recognised as an entry-level Scrum Master. If you would like to become a Certified Scrum Master, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

John McFadyen explains how it can be beneficial to be a software developer and a Scrum Master but that it isn't necessary for you to be one in order to lead a software development team as a Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

John McFadyen runs us through his take on whether Scrum Masters have a role outside of software environments.    Yes, Scrum Masters do work outside of software engineering environments. In many ways, Scrum Masters are like coaches and work toward creating environments where teams can thrive. As such, the application doesn't matter as much as the role, however, Scrum Masters were born in the technology industry and as such tend to have a greater presence in IT environments.   A scrum master works to help a team create new products and services that delight customers. In any environment where a product is being created by a team of people, a Scrum Master would play a valuable role.   In Scrum@Scale, for example, a great example of a technical hardware environment that employed multiple scrum masters was SAAB, the aeronautical engineering company.   Whilst there was no doubt software applications in the development of high performance aircraft, Scrum Masters were deployed throughout the organisation in any small team that deployed #scrum as a way of building products and solving complex problems.   As more people move into the realm of #agile and #scrum to build products, more and more opportunities are becoming available to professional and experienced Scrum Masters. From web development environments to creative agencies. If you are interested in becoming a #scrummaster, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ and https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ for more insights into our Scrum Master courses.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development journey, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ page.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.   #scrum #agile #scrum-master #scrummaster #scrumalliance #scrumcertification #scrumcourses #agilecoach #agilecourses #learnscrum #softwareengineering #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement

Ever wondered whether you need project management experience to become a Scrum Master? John McFadyen walks us through his perspective.   No, you don't need project management experience in order to become a #scrummaster. In some ways, it may actually benefit you not having any previous experience with traditional waterfall style project management because you won't have picked up any of the bad habits inherent in the approach.   A Scrum Master works with a team of developers and a product owner to create products that have never existed before and to solve complex problems that have never been solved before.    The entire philosophy of Agile environments is that the development team are the experts who are best placed to understand how something should be done. In project management, the project manager decides what should be done, how it should be done, and by when it should be completed.   In a Scrum Team, the team would make these decisions rather than have a single person dictate work.   The Product Owner works with stakeholders to identify what the most valuable work is and in what order of priority the work should be completed. How that work is done is decided by the development team with the product owner receiving an educated estimate of how long it would take to perform. By contrast, a project manager attempts to articulate the entire project upfront and work out the dependencies and how those will impact proposed timelines. In some cases this works well, for example in civil engineering where people have precise knowledge of what to do and how long it should take.   In complex environments where the answer is unknown, project managers battle to identify what should be built and how it should be built.  If you have no experience within a project management environment but stepped into the role of a Scrum Master, you would find that you are the glue that holds the scrum team together and empowers them to make the kind of decisions that really move the team forward.   You would not be investing your time in deciding who does what and how they should do that work at all. You would be helping the team make those estimates and communicate that effectively to the product owner to ensure all stakeholders are informed and updated. Regardless of what environment you worked in as a Scrum Master, you would be invested in becoming a better scrum master and agile coach rather than learning how to do specific things. So for example, in a software engineering environment, you wouldnt be learning how to be a developer, you would simply focus on learning how to become a better scrum master.   A project manager doesn't necessarily have that luxury as they are a key player in every event that happens throughout the project and are often the only source of communication to project stakeholders so they must be actively involved in the tiny details of the project.   Many project managers actively like being so deeply involved in the project and as such, they can find it hard to make the transition to scrum master where they are a member of the team rather than the sole leader of the team. If you have significant experience as a project manager, you may battle to make that transition yourself.   If you do have experience as a project manager you can almost certainly make the transition to scrum master but you would need to learn an entirely new skillset.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information on becoming a Certified Scrum Master and visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.

Looking for a context that supports the Agile manifesto? An event that gave rise to the Agile movement in software development. John McFadyen runs us through what the Agile Manifesto means in today's context.    The Agile Manifesto was created in 2001 by a team of 17 very bright and experienced software engineers. Their goal was to create a new way of working that cut through all the red tape and impediments which traditional waterfall style project management produced.   Traditional project management worked just fine in complicated environments such as engineering and civil engineering but as soon as their was a great deal of complexity, volatility, uncertainty and ambiguity, the traditional way of working created more problems than solutions.   The Agile manifesto was a set of 4 values and 12 principles that articulated what was necessary for a team to thrive when creating software.   You can view the Agile Manifesto on http://agilemanifesto.org/ Over the past 20 years, more and more companies have experienced the same problems with traditional project management that the early pioneers of Agile experienced and have turned to Agile as a potential solution to that problem.   Agile itself has evolved a great deal over the past 20 years and continues to evolve as better ways of working integrate with the concept of Business Agility across the organisation.    Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.  #agile #scrum #agilemanifesto #businessagility

Sometimes you work in an environment that doesn't embrace "Agile" as a way of working. John McFadyen explores whether you can create a Scrum environment regardless of whether the organisation embraces Business Agility or not. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Thinking about holding the Scrum Master and Developer roles at the same time? John McFadyen walks us through his perspective on whether Scrum Masters can also be developers.    A scrum master is independent of the development team and works with the product owner to help the development team create products and services that truly delight customers.   In some rare cases, a Scrum Master is also a developer.   In my experience, this can be a double-edged sword.   As a developer, you would be actively involved in solving problems and determining how best to create a product or service. You would have the deep domain knowledge of a developer and be actively working with others within the team to come up with solutions to the problems you face.   That level of immersion in the problems and product creation process is not the job of a Scrum Master. A scrum master works with the team to create an environment where others can succeed and acts to remove impediments that stand in the way of a scrum team.   If you are too deeply immersed in how to solve the problem or determining who should do the work, you risk alienating the development team. They don't know whether they are engaging you as a developer or whether you are their scrum master.  A senior developer within a development team would carry a great deal of authority and use that authority to determine how best to solve problems.   A scrum master works from a perspective of influence rather than authority and as such, the lines can be blurred if you are both a senior developer as well as a Scrum master. It makes it incredibly difficult for the team to identify how they should engage with you.   The plus side of being a developer is that you will immediately have your team's respect because you fully understand the challenges they face and how difficult the process of creating new products and services can be. If you can maintain that level of empathy without stepping out of the role of a Scrum Master, it could be a great asset to your team. In my experience, that is often difficult to do and it's better that you aren't a member of the development team if you are going to lead effectively as a Scrum Master.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ and visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you'd like to get an idea of what being a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master is all about visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your learning and skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  We have also just launched an on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching so be sure to check that out too.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about what a Scrum team consists of? John McFadyen walks us through a brief overview of what a Scrum Team is and how the Scrum Master integrates into that team.    The Scrum Guide defines the scrum team as a scrum master, a development team, and a product owner.  A great scrum team is often less than 6 people in total but it can go as high as 8 to 9 people.   The Scrum team are responsible for solving complex problems and building products or services that truly delight customers.   A product owner is responsible for determining the product vision and articulating that vision in an inspiring way to the team. They also work on creating a backlog of items, in priority, that determines what needs doing and how that will add value to the customer or end user.   A scrum master is the glue that binds the scrum team together and works with both the product owner as well as the development team to work through the backlog and create products that delight customers.   They often perform a coaching role and help the team to thrive. Often, they will also work with people outside of the scrum team to remove impediments that may be blocking progress within the team.   A great scrum master coaches the development team and product owner through the scrum process and helps ensure that the team are delivering valuable work in short iterations known as sprints.   The development team consist of the people who  are the subject matter experts and actively do the work. Because of their expertise and capabilities, they are the ones who decide how to fix the problem or how to create the product or service or feature that is on the backlog.   Their experience empowers them to estimate how long an item will take to complete and they often work as a unit to create the product, service or feature to the best of their ability. They learn from each iteration and share that knowledge to improve the team as a whole.   The development team meet daily to discuss what is on their radar for the day ahead and report any potential impediments or problems to the Scrum Master who in turn seeks a remedy for that situation or problem.   The development team work closely with the product owner to ensure that they are producing the most valuable work for the product stakeholders and that they have clarity behind what needs doing and why it needs doing.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you are interested in becoming a Product Owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/product-owner/certified-scrum-product-owner/  If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  #scrum #agile #scrumteam #projectmanagement #projectmanager #certifiedscrummaster #csm #certifiedscrumproductowner #cspo #productowner #scrummethodology #a-csm #agilecoach Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Ever wondered what traits make a good Scrum Master? John McFadyen walks us through 3 important traits to cultivate and embrace in order to become a successful Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information about Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.

Scrum promotes a flat structure that focuses on being great at what you do rather than accumulating job titles, but is there potentially seniority amongst Scrum Masters? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Thinking of a career as a Scrum Master? John McFadyen explains how you can get a feel for whether a Scrum Master is a good fit for you.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about daily scrums? John McFadyen walks us through what a daily scrum is and what role a Scrum Master plays in hosting effective daily scrums.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

A Scrum Master is the glue that binds the Scrum Team together. They need to know Scrum to get started but they don't need to be an expert in Scrum to become a Scrum Master. John McFadyen walks us through the difference between starting and becoming an expert Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about what Scrum Masters actually do within organisations? John McFadyen walks us through the role of a Scrum Master and what they do within Scrum Teams.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Thinking of moving into a Scrum Master role? John McFadyen walks us through some of the career opportunities available to Scrum Masters.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Ever wondered how a Scrum Master differs from a Product Owner in a Scrum environment? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of how they differ.   A scrum master and a product owner are completely different sides of a scrum team and perform very different functions within the environment.   A product owner acts as the CEO of the product.   They determine the vision for the product and articulate that vision to the scrum team to help inspire creative solutions to solving problems or creating products that delight customers.   The product owner is also responsible for creating a backlog of items, in order of priority, to help the development team understand what needs doing and why it needs doing.   A product owner will also be responsible for writing epics and user stories that aim to provide context to the development team, helping them to understand what the specific feature or item aims to do for the user and why it is important to the user that the new feature or item exists. A product owner also works closely with product stakeholders within the organisation as well as outside the organisation to ensure that the most valuable products are being built. They also work closely with customers to understand their challenges and ensure that the products and features being built will truly delight those customers.   A scrum master works with the product owner to achieve their vision and ensure that great products, services and features are being built.   A scrum master will work with the development team to help them excel in the environment and ensure that there are no impediments to the team's progress.   Sometimes, that involves working with people outside of the scrum team to remove impediments or secure resources that will help the scrum team to thrive.   A scrum master also acts as a coach to the development team, helping them to identify the most effective ways to solve complex problems or create valuable products.   A scrum master does not carry the same authority as a project manager nor do they involve themselves in the tiny details in the same way that a project manager would.  Instead, they focus on coaching others or facilitating events such as retrospectives to help the team gain the most valuable insights and learning from each sprint and product increment.   A scrum master works with influence rather than authority and as such they are trusted figures within the scrum team. They are great at coaching and facilitation rather than issuing directives and as such they can be very effective at helping scrum teams tap into their highest potential.   A scrum master understands that members of the development team are the experts when it comes to solving problems or creating products, and as such, doesn't interfere in the minor details of their work. Instead, they work with the development team to identify ways to improve in each cycle and how to integrate what has been learned in each iteration into the scrum team repository.   If you would like to become a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ If you would like to become a product owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/product-owner/certified-scrum-product-owner/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  If you would like to understand how coaching integrates into the scrum master role and begin your journey there, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching 

John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of what Scrum is and how it is most effectively deployed in developing great products.    Scrum is a process invested by Dr Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the early 90s. It went through several years of testing and iterations before being launched in 1995 as a great way for software engineers to build and develop software.   Since then, it has had multiple applications outside of the software engineering environment and is one of the most widely adopted Agile frameworks available today.   I like to think of Scrum in the same way that you think about scaffolding around a new building or renovation.   The scaffolding gives you a rough idea of the size and scope of the building but doesn't show you the details such as windows, doorways and any decorative features.   It is a lightweight framework that gives you an idea of what to build, especially when you aren't 100 percent sure of what needs building, and provides a methodology for going about that build.   Scrum offers a process that empowers a team of people, from the scrum master to the product owner to the development team, to create products and services that truly delight customers. John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of what Scrum is and how it is most effectively deployed in developing great products.    Scrum is a process invested by Dr Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the early 90s. It went through several years of testing and iterations before being launched in 1995 as a great way for software engineers to build and develop software.   Since then, it has had multiple applications outside of the software engineering environment and is one of the most widely adopted Agile frameworks available today.  I like to think of Scrum in the same way that you think about scaffolding around a new building or renovation.   The scaffolding gives you a rough idea of the size and scope of the building but doesn't show you the details such as windows, doorways and any decorative features.  It is a lightweight framework that gives you an idea of what to build, especially when you aren't 100 percent sure of what needs building, and provides a methodology for going about that build.   Scrum offers a process that empowers a team of people, from the scrum master to the product owner to the development team, to create products and services that truly delight customers. The development team are the highly skilled individuals who solve the complex problems and create the most valuable products and features they are capable of. Working through a Scrum process empowers them to focus on the most valuable work first and iterate as they learn and improve throughout the process.   Scrum empowers teams to also pivot when necessary and go in a new, more valuable direction than what may have originally been planned. They do this whenever they learn something that indicates a new direction may be a better call than what had originally been thought.  Sometimes, a team can recognise 90% of the value whilst only having completed 20% of the build. It may then make sense to look at how to do something even more valuable than the remaining 10% of value that would require a great deal of time and effort to complete.   Scrum is built on empiricism, the concept of learning through doing and using that knowledge and insight to inform decisions moving forward.  It prevents the team from wasting time on products and features that don't add any value to customers and empowers them to work with the product owner to invest their time, efforts and creativity into only solving problems and creating products that will delight customers and help the company achieve competitive advantage.

There are a number of certification paths available from the Scrum Alliance to nurture you on your product ownership path. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

There are multiple product owner courses but only one CSPO which is Scrum Alliance certified. John McFadyen walks us through the CSPO. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen

Yes, you do get course materials and access to electronic resources on the Certified Scrum Master course but you don't get text books. John McFadyen walks you through what you can expect on the CSM course presented by Agile Centre UK.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It prepares you very well and gives you the solid foundation you need to start your career as a Scrum Master. John McFadyen explains how the Certified Scrum Master course helps prepare you to be a Scrum Master.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

The Certified Scrum Master credential is internationally recognised and respected. John McFadyen explains why the CSM course has such a favourable reputation amongst the corporate and employer markets.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

John McFadyen, Certified Scrum Trainer, walks us through what you will learn on a CSM (Certified Scrum Master) course at Agile Centre. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ if you would like to become a Certified Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It's 2 days full time or 4 half-days (mornings or afternoons). John McFadyen walks us through the CSPO course configuration.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Agile Centre have an Agile Coaching Academy as well as a certification path from Scrum Alliance to help shape your career from Scrum Master to Advanced Certified Scrum Master to Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master.    You can also follow an Agile coaching track upon completion of the Scrum Master certifications. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information on becoming a Certified Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It's a 2-day full time or 4 x half day experience. The course is fun, interactive and engaging. John McFadyen explains how the CSM course is configured to help you become an effective Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, you will. John McFadyen explains how the CSM course provides you with a rock solid foundation to become a Scrum Master and launch your career as a Scrum professional.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, there are. John McFadyen explains which Certified Scrum Master certifications are industry-wide and internationally respected credentials for aspiring Scrum Masters.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, they do. At Agile Centre we offer public as well as private Certified Scrum Master training courses. Companies value the course as well as the credential throughout the UK, Europe and internationally.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Its a combination of both. John McFadyen, a Certified Scrum Trainer, walks us through how the Certified Scrum Master course includes both theoretical and practical elements to help you become an effective Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It is a combination of theoretical and practical. John McFadyen walks us through the configuration of the CSPO course. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

You'll learn about Scrum and how to be a product owner. John McFadyen explains what the CSPO course entails.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, there is. The Scrum Alliance conduct an online international examination that you need to pass in order to be awarded the Certified Scrum Master credential.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Certified Scrum Trainer and Agile Centre managing partner, John McFadyen, walks you through what you can do with a Certified Scrum Master credential.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

The rapid growth and adoption of 'Agile' frameworks around the world has created many opportunities for Scrum Masters. John McFadyen walks us through your earning potential as a Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, they can. It can be tough to be both Scrum Master as well as a boss so John McFadyen explains why he thinks it's best that a Scrum Master is not a line manager for the people within their Scrum Team.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It depends on what you define as 'lead' but yes, you will be able to be a product owner in a Scrum Team. John McFadyen explains more.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

John McFadyen walks us through Scrum Master progression. From entry-level Scrum Master through to Agile Coach and Enterprise coach.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

In essence, they are someone who has attended and passed a Certified Scrum Product course via the Scrum Alliance. John McFadyen explains more.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, we do have a recommended reading list for Scrum Masters. John McFadyen has created both book reviews as well as a recommended reading list for Scrum Masters and Agile coaches.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

If you are in a position to do both courses, we would recommend that you do. John McFadyen walks us through which course is better suited to which role and how you can get the most out of your training.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

SEUs are Scrum Education Units. John McFadyen explains how the Scrum Alliance award these units and how you can use them to further your career or apply for new opportunities.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

In theory, they don't differ much. A product manager could be a product owner and vice versa. John McFadyen explains the difference between a product owner and a product manager.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

They are vastly different roles.   A project manager is primarily concerned with the delivery of products within a predetermined time frame. A product owner is primarily concerned that the right product is built, and that the right problems are being solved in order of priority.   In short, a project manager manages projects within specified time frames whereas a product owner is focused on creating and developing products through a process of continuous improvement.  A project manager has a great degree of responsibility.   Often, they have sole responsibility for ensuring that a product or project is delivered within the predetermined time frames and costs.  In an environment where there is a great deal of complexity, it can set one person up for failure time and again.   A product owner works within a team environment, trusting the developers and Scrum Master to focus on how best to solve the problem or how best to create the right product.   The people with the expertise, in this case, the developers, are the people who estimate how long something should take and work together to ensure that the best version of that product, service or feature is created.   The Product Owner acts as a CEO of the product.  They are engaged with customers and stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is being built, in the best way, and they are engaged internally with the team to provide feedback and guidance on what is being built.   The product owner holds the product vision and invests a great deal of time ensuring that the right problems are being solved for customers. Their mission is to create and develop products, services and features that truly delight customers.   In essence, a product owner is a great source of achieving competitive advantage because they are so focused on making sure that the best possible product or service is being created.   Their ownership of the product space encourages continuous improvement and innovation in the product, which in turn leads to increased competitive advantage within the marketplace.  A project manager has a focus on a specific project and in delivering that project within the agreed times, costs, etc. which doesn’t set them up well for continuous improvement of any kind.   Once the project is delivered, it is onto the next project and so forth.   Sure, they may learn through the process and become better project managers over time, but the rigid framework within which they operate doesn’t lend itself toward continuous improvement or innovation over time.   If you would like to become a Product Owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page as well as the Advanced Scrum Product Owner course page for an idea of progression within the field.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.   #scrum #certifiedscrumproductowner #productowner #cspo #projectmanager #projectmanagement #productdevelopment #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agilepm #scrumtraining #scrumprojectmanagement #scrumalliance

They can be. Many start-ups were founded on the back of a developer with a great vision for a product or service. That would be the equivalent of a Product Owner also being a developer.    John McFadyen explains how a product owner can be a member of the development team.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

No, you don't. If you do have project management experience it is super beneficial though. John McFadyen walks us through Product Ownership versus Project Management.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

They are an integral part of a scrum team. John McFadyen explains how Product Owners integrate into Scrum environments.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, it is. Especially if the team are looking to create products and services that truly delight customers. John McFadyen explains why the product owner role can be a great fit.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, they do. An entrepreneur is likely thinking about what products need to be built, for whom they are being built and when would be the best time to release products. John McFadyen explains how product ownership can help entrepreneurs become more effective in the marketplace.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

In theory, no there isn't but in practice, there are always more experienced and advanced product managers to help guide product owner newbies. John McFadyen explains how this works.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Career opportunities are pretty diverse and significant. From entrepreneurship through to leading product development at some of the worlds most exciting brands. John McFadyen walks us through his thoughts.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.

Product Owners act as the CEO for the product. John McFadyen walks us through what product owners do in Scrum environments.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

No, you don't. Whilst it can be helpful to have come from a development background, it is often a double-edged sword in a product owner environment. John McFadyen explains why.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, you can. Many successful companies have someone who is dedicated to product development exclusively. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen

Availability, empowerment, creativity and passion. John McFadyen walks us through some great traits of a product owner in a Scrum team.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit htttps://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

The best way to discover that is through actively working in the role but there are some signs that it may be a great fit for you. John McFadyen walks us through some of his thoughts on a great product owner.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

It is great when they do but they don't have to according to the Scrum guide. The daily scrum is dedicated to the development team. John McFadyen explains how Product Owners create strong relationships by attending daily scrums.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, they do. John McFadyen explains how product owners act as the central hub for everything to do with the product environment.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.

A great deal of Scrum Masters naturally evolve into Agile coaching as a continuation of the work they do. What is the difference between an Agile Coach and a Scrum Master though? John McFadyen walks us through the differences.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Thinking of embarking on a career as an Agile Coach? How will you know whether it's a good fit for you personally? John McFadyen walks us through a few ways to discover whether an Agile Coach role is a great fit for you.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

There are Certified Team Coaches, Certified Enterprise Agile coaches, Certified Executive Coaches, and a myriad of different titles associated with coaches in the Agile world. Are they different levels of seniority or simply different areas of specialisation? John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

For many people, AI (artificial intelligence) is a deep threat for the future.   It's this faceless, nebulous thing that casts a shadow over future job security and career opportunities, yet very few people have actually seen AI in action. Over the past few months, the popularity of CHAT GPT has given many people an opportunity to play with the technology and get a feel for it's capabilities.   This week we asked John McFadyen what he would say to developers who fear AI, and why?   About John McFadyen   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

CHAT GPT has made a stunning entrance over the past few months and it's raised a lot of questions about AI and its application, specifically in the agile industry.   This week we took some time out to chat to John McFadyen to find out how he has been working with AI (artificial intelligence) and where that may lead in the future.   About John McFadyen   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

This week we took some time out to talk about AI (artificial intelligence) and where John McFadyen feels it slots into the context of Agile right now.   About John McFadyen   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 27 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   As a #scrummaster, you will facilitate a number of different #scrum events as well as conversations within the team environment. Its your job to help the team focus on what matters and extract as much value from each event and conversation as possible.   Doing so, consistently, will help the team achieve their goals and continuously improve with each iteration. So, how do you get that right? How do you facilitate great events?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how a scrum master prepares for a workshop or scrum event.  If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 26 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of scrum masters and agile coaches in interviews and client engagements.   As a #scrummaster, #facilitation and #coaching form a large part of your job role. Many of the #scrum events are facilitated by the #scrummaster in addition to private and team conversations that help the team become better.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why a #scrummaster doesn't always need to be the facilitator and provides a few examples of when a scrum master shouldn't facilitate.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 25 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   #scrum is built on the value proposition of achieving twice the work in half the time. A value proposition that suggests high-performance without explicitly stating it.   The dilemma for a #scrummaster, especially when dealing with leaders and individuals outside of the #scrumteam, is that doing twice the work in half the time is not the purpose of #agile.   If the work you are producing isn't great and doesn't deliver value to customers, there's no point in doing twice the amount of work in half the time. That's productivity rather than high-performance.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the primary ways in which a #scrummaster can help to create a high performance team environment and why that is important.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 2 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews.   This question is designed to test whether you have experience working with teams who aren't achieving their #sprint goals on a consistent basis and whether you know how to correct that.   Some interviewers will understand that organizational impediments stand in the way of a #scrumteam achieving their goals and are testing how you would respond to that, whilst other interviewers may genuinely be curious as to what causes to teams to underperform based on your experience.   There are a lot of ways to answer this question and each of those answers will differ based on your own unique experience as a scrum master or agile coach.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most common reasons why a #scrum team may fail to meet their commitments and why that is.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

In a #scrum environment, one of the more important events is the #dailyscrum. It is a daily meeting of around 15 minutes where the developers talk about what is planned for the next 24 hours, what has been achieved, and what might be blocking progress for that day.   It is a great way for the team to stay connected to the big picture of what is happening in the product development, and to ensure that any potential impediments can be delegated to the person most likely to solve the problem.   So, what is the role of a #scrummaster in this event? How do scrum masters fit into the picture and how can they be more effective?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the purpose of a daily scrum, what the scrum master's role in the daily scrum is, and what a great daily scrum looks like.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 25 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This interview question gives you a great opportunity to provide the organization with insights into how you would help the team create and identify great user stories for the developers.   There are some schools of thought that recommend a standard approach to user stories, but in this short video, John McFadyen walks you through potential structures for powerful user stories.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s....   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s....   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/s...   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfad....    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 24 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of scrum masters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is kind of a trick question. Either the interviewer wants to understand how you perceive your role within the team environment or they think that scrum masters act similar to project managers in a #scrum environment.   A #scrummaster does not choose the backlog items that go into the #sprintbacklog, the developers do - in collaboration with the product owner - and so you wouldn't be choosing the work at all.   That said, let's assume that you have a brand new team who have never done #scrum before and are used to a traditional #projectmanagement environment. How would you help them in this scenario?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how you can help the team identify valuable user stories in the backlog and decide whether to bring them into the sprint backlog.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 23 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   In a traditional #projectmanagement environment, a #projectmanager will work with project stakeholders and sponsors to identify the scope of the project, the outcomes that must be delivered, and the time frame in which the project must be delivered.   In an #agile environment, a #productowner does something similar in that they work with customers and product stakeholders to identify the most valuable work that needs doing or the most compelling problems that need solving. They then prioritize that work in the form of a backlog and engage with the developers to help them understand why the work is valuable, when it is most valuable, and how it will delight end-users.   This interview question touches on that process but assumes that a product owner is behaving more like a project manager than a product owner and asks you how you would respond to this behaviour.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how he would deal with this specific issue, as a scrum master or agile coach, and provides you with some insights into how to answer this question in an interview.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 22 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This interview question is designed to illicit practical examples of where your past expertise and experience as a scrum master translated into success for the organization or team you served.   Some interviewers will ask the question to understand whether you have a solid track performance as a scrum masters whilst others may be trying to understand how you perceive success in a #scrum environment and how you have measured that success in the past.   It is a great opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities by highlighting how you have helped teams achieve their business objectives in the past and help them understand why you are a great fit for the organization.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how you can approach this question and what kind of offer will best serve you in the interview.  If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 21 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   In a waterfall-style #projectmanagement environment, a #projectmanager is often the person who chases team members to deliver tasks in alignment with a predetermined schedule.   In #agile environments, such as a #scrum team, many people expect that the #scrummaster plays a similar role and your interviewer may be trying to understand how you are going to ensure that items which are flagged for follow up are actioned.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why a scrum master is not directly involved in chasing developers for updates on items actioned and how they can use their influence and capabilities to help the team be held accountable for actioning items agreed in the sprint retrospective or review.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 20 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   The #sprintretrospective is a #scrum event where the developers, #scrummaster and #productowner come together to evaluate the team's performance during the #sprint and have conversations about where the team can improve in the next sprint.   It is considered one of the most valuable events in the #scrumframework because it actively engages the whole team around the concept of current performance and continuous improvement.   In this interview question, the interviewer is trying to get a feel from you, as the scrum master or agile coach, how you would structure sprint retrospectives and who you feel would contribute value to the event.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains who he would invite to the sprint retrospective and why they should be there.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 18 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   A #dailyscrum is intended for the developers to spend roughly 15 minutes talking about what is planned for the day ahead, what has been achieved, and to raise any potential impediments to progress.   It isn't intended to be a long meeting nor does it exist for the team to discuss problems on a granular level.  It is a short, sharp meeting that makes sure the team are aligned and that any impediments can be escalated to the correct person for resolution.   For that reason, the #scrummaster generally would not invite #productstakeholders to the meeting; however, there may be circumstances where it may be valuable for them to be there.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the purpose of the #dailyscrum and under which circumstances it may make sense to invite people outside of the development team into the meeting.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/ . If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster Full article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/deploy-improve-scrum/how-do-you-develop-influence-and-have-an-impact-outside-of-the-scrum-team/

Part 18 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   A #dailyscrum is intended for the developers to spend roughly 15 minutes talking about what is planned for the day ahead, what has been achieved, and to raise any potential impediments to progress.   It isn't intended to be a long meeting nor does it exist for the team to discuss problems on a granular level. It is a short, sharp meeting that makes sure the team are aligned and that any impediments can be escalated to the correct person for resolution.   For that reason, the #scrummaster generally would not invite #productstakeholders to the meeting, however, there may be circumstances where it may be valuable for them to be there.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the purpose of the #dailyscrum and under which circumstances it may make sense to invite people outside of the development team into the meeting.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 17 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   Vision and purpose are incredibly important elements of growing and nurturing great #scrumteams.  If the team understand why something is important and how that will contribute value to the customer or end-user, they are better positioned to solve the problem effectively or create the product or feature that best serves the customer.   #userstories were invented with the purpose of explaining why something matters, how it matters, and to who it matters.  A brief explanation that provides the developers with context and informs them of how the new feature or product will solve a real problem for a customer.   In #scrum, writing user stories is usually associated with the #productowner but that isn't always the case.  Nor should it be.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the concept of user stories and who should be writing them, how they should be writing them, and how to make this process as effective as possible.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 17 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   Vision and purpose are incredibly important elements of growing and nurturing great #scrumteams. If the team understand why something is important and how that will contribute value to the customer or end-user, they are better positioned to solve the problem effectively or create the product or feature that best serves the customer.   #userstories were invented with the purpose of explaining why something matters, how it matters, and to who it matters. A brief explanation that provides the developers with context and informs them of how the new feature or product will solve a real problem for a customer.   In #scrum, writing user stories is usually associated with the #productowner but that isn't always the case. Nor should it be.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the concept of user stories and who should be writing them, how they should be writing them, and how to make this process as effective as possible.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 16 in our series of #coaching #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   In traditional #projectmanagement, a #projectmanager will attempt to scope a project upfront and determine everything from budget to deadlines for delivery.    In a complicated environment, like civil engineering for example, heaps of bridges have been built before and the project manager will have a fair idea of how long each element of that bridge will take to complete and what a reasonable time frame for delivery is.   That deadline will usually be committed in terms of days, weeks or months. Sometimes even years depending on the size of the project.   In complex working environments where the variables are unknown and the problem has never been solved before, it becomes trickier to estimate in terms of time and so #agile teams rarely use time as an accurate measure of estimation.   They use effort instead.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why #scrum estimates in terms of effort rather than hours or days.  If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 16 in our series of #coaching #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   In traditional #projectmanagement, a #projectmanager will attempt to scope a project upfront and determine everything from budget to deadlines for delivery.    In a complicated environment, like civil engineering for example, heaps of bridges have been built before and the project manager will have a fair idea of how long each element of that bridge will take to complete and what a reasonable time frame for delivery is.  That deadline will usually be committed in terms of days, weeks or months. Sometimes even years depending on the size of the project.   In complex working environments where the variables are unknown and the problem has never been solved before, it becomes trickier to estimate in terms of time and so #agile teams rarely use time as an accurate measure of estimation.   They use effort instead.  In this short video, John McFadyen explains why #scrum estimates in terms of effort rather than hours or days.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 15 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This one produced a bit of a laugh from John initially because a #scrummaster does generally not get involved in selecting and delegating work for developers.   The developers work closely with the #productowner and product stakeholders to understand what work needs doing, why it needs doing, and in what priority it needs to be tackled.   A scrum master can facilitate that process or coach the team to identify the most valuable work but it generally isn't their sphere of expertise or responsibility to be selecting backlog items for the developers.   That said, you may find yourself in a situation where the team are battling to identify and select high-value work, so what would you do in that situation as a scrum master?   In this short video, John McFadyen walks you through what you can do in a circumstance where the team may need help in estimating and selecting work for the upcoming sprint.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 15 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.     This one produced a bit of a laugh from John initially because a #scrummaster does generally not get involved in selecting and delegating work for developers.     The developers work closely with the #productowner and product stakeholders to understand what work needs doing, why it needs doing, and in what priority it needs to be tackled.     A scrum master can facilitate that process or coach the team to identify the most valuable work but it generally isn't their sphere of expertise or responsibility to be selecting backlog items for the developers.     That said, you may find yourself in a situation where the team are battling to identify and select high-value work, so what would you do in that situation as a scrum master?     In this short video, John McFadyen walks you through what you can do in a circumstance where the team may need help in estimating and selecting work for the upcoming sprint.     If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/    If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.     If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.     If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/    For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.      #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 14 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen walks us through answers to common questions asked of #scrummasters or #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This question could be a trick question or the interviewer may genuinely want to know how you would extract valuable information from product owners and stakeholders to help the scrum team stay focused on building the best product they are capable of.   Ideally, the developers work frequently and consistently with product owners, product stakeholders and customers to ensure that they are working on the most valuable product and receive information and feedback on how the product is performing, how the market perceives the features, etc. but sometimes you may have a deeply inexperienced product owner so it's worth knowing how you can make a valuable intervention as a scrum master.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what a scrum master can and should do if the team aren't receiving the information and feedback that they need.    If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 14 in our series of #scrummaster #interviewquestions where John McFadyen walks us through answers to common questions asked of #scrummasters or #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This question could be a trick question or the interviewer may genuinely want to know how you would extract valuable information from product owners and stakeholders to help the scrum team stay focused on building the best product they are capable of.   Ideally, the developers work frequently and consistently with product owners, product stakeholders and customers to ensure that they are working on the most valuable product and receive information and feedback on how the product is performing, how the market perceives the features, etc. but sometimes you may have a deeply inexperienced product owner so it's worth knowing how you can make a valuable intervention as a scrum master.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains what a scrum master can and should do if the team aren't receiving the information and feedback that they need.    If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

In a #scrum environment, developers and members of the #scrumteam will meet daily to quickly catch up on what is planned for the day ahead, what people are working on and to raise any impediments that may be blocking progress.   But what happens if the problem encountered is immediate and critical? What happens if the daily scrum is completed and you encounter a problem that needs to be resolved quickly?   In this short video, John McFadyen answers the question of whether you need to wait until the next daily scrum to raise an impediment or whether you should address the issue right away.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

In a #scrum environment, developers and members of the #scrumteam will meet daily to quickly catch up on what is planned for the day ahead, what people are working on and to raise any impediments that may be blocking progress.   But what happens if the problem encountered is immediate and critical? What happens if the daily scrum is completed and you encounter a problem that needs to be resolved quickly?   In this short video, John McFadyen answers the question of whether you need to wait until the next daily scrum to raise an impediment or whether you should address the issue right away.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Scrum Masters page on https://www.growingscrummasters.com/  If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/.   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.   If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  For more information on John McFadyen, connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 12 of our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches during interviews and engagements.   In a perfect #agile world, each member of the #scrumteam understands the benefits of #scrum and attempts to live, breathe and act based on the #agile values and principles.   Attempts to use each of the #scrumevents to optimize their performance and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.   That said, people are complex and often you will find that not everybody in the team supports a particular event or wants to participate.   This is an interesting interview question because the team could be experiencing this very issue of non-participation or resistance to adoption of #scrum and the interviewer is genuinely interested in how you would deal with that.   It gives you a great opportunity to demonstrate why you are a great coach as well as a #scrummaster, and it provides them with the insight they need to make a decision about whether you are the right person for the job or not.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how he would deal with a person who saw scrum meetings and events as a waste of time and refused to participate in them.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 11 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and client engagements.   This is either a trick question or the person interviewing you has very little knowledge of #scrum and the #agilemanifesto. It could be both.   This question drew a bit of scorn from John and irritated him a bit but like a trojan, he had a laugh and got on with answering the question as he would if he were in an interview or client engagement.   As we work through this series, we are discovering that some questions posed in interview questions are tough to answer if you have deep experience within the industry.   They are tough because the answer is obvious to experienced individuals but require patient and respectful explanation to people who don't understand #scrum or #agile environments in the least bit.   It is easy to assume that the people interviewing you have a great knowledge and understanding of #scrum environments, but you are well served by preparing for the unexpected and downright silly questions that will come your way.   This is one of them, but we think John did a great job in answering it.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 10 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed to #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   This is an interesting question. Either your interviewer has very little knowledge of #scrum and wants to gain insight into how you would lead the #scrumteam effectively or they are experiencing an issue within the organization where #developers are excluded from the product discovery process and it is causing problems down the line.   In short, the #scrumteam must be involved in the product discovery process from the very beginning.    There will also be a process of continuous discovery as the team move into the development phase. #scrum is built on the pillars of transparency, inspect and adapt so there will always be a strong focus on ensuring that the right thing is being built, at the right time, to deliver the highest value to the #productowner and customer.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains why product discovery is critical for the #scrumteam and why their focus will always align with ensuring that the team are building the most valuable products and features.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 9 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed to #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   #agile is a great answer to #productdevelopment in complex environments. It is, however, not the only answer. It is one of many approaches, frameworks and models that an organisation could employ to achieve their objectives.   This is a great interview question because it explores how you, as the #scrummaster or #agilecoach, would measure the effectiveness of your role and determine whether the #scrumteam were on the right track.   There are many metrics and performance measures employed within the industry, but this question offers you the opportunity to articulate which of those metrics and measures are important to you and why.   In this short video, John McFadyen defines how he would determine whether #scrum or #agile was proving to be a great answer for the organization and why it should be nurtured and developed.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 7 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common questions posed to #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   This is a more technical question from an interviewer to ascertain how you, as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, would guide the team in #sprintplanning and #sprintretrospectives.   It is an interesting question because factoring these elements into planning and retrospectives is important yet it isn't the most important thing to be focusing on as a team.   Yes, housekeeping matters, but ultimately, the purpose of a #scrumteam is to create products and features that truly delight customers. To deliver the highest value items to the #productowner #productstakeholders and customers.   So, how do you balance technical elements with delivery elements?   In this short video, John McFadyen explains how he would consider refactoring, fixing important bugs, exploring new ideas and concepts in terms of the team's capacity.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 6 in our #scrummaster #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the more common questions asked of #scrummasters and #agilecoaches in interviews and engagements.   In this scenario, a product owner has pushed to include a user story in the upcoming sprint but the design has not yet been finalized. How do you respond as a scrum master?   If you know your #agile values and principles, this becomes a very simple question to answer because one of the principles is to 'welcome change, even late in development' because we are always trying to delight our customer and satisfy our #productowner and product #stakeholders.   It is sometimes easier said than done, but living by this principle is going to win you heaps of friends in the product stakeholder and customer space.   In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through how to deal with a user story being pushed into the #sprint even if the final design has not yet been committed or agreed.   If you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development in your journey to mastery, visit our Growing Agile Coaches page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/growing-agile-coaches/.   If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master and want to achieve internationally recognised and certified accreditation as a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/.    If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill to a more advanced level of knowledge and agile coaching capability, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/advanced-certified-scrummaster/.    If you have several years’ experience as a scrum master and want to validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/.   For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/.    #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agility #businessagility #scrum #scrummaster #scrumtraining #scrumcertification #scrumalliance #agilecentre #johnmcfadyen #coach #coaching #certifiedscrummaster

Part 10 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of #agile coaches during interviews.   This one drew a laugh from John because each #agiletransformation is pretty unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to #agile, especially in large organisations.   Nevertheless, you're in an interview and you have to answer the question to the best of your ability so here is John's take on how to answer the question of which strategies have worked well for agile transformation.   If you like the idea of becoming an #agilecoach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Growing Agile Coaches section on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com   If you like the idea of becoming a #scrummaster, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/   #agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #coaching #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course differs a great deal from the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course.   The Certified Scrum Master course presumes that you have no knowledge of Scrum and that you have no experience working as a Scrum Master.   It is an entry-level certification program that is designed to introduce you to the world of Agile and Scrum, and specifically, prepare you for the role of a Scrum Master within team environments.   There are a lot of simulations to help embed the knowledge and skills of a Scrum Master and there is a lot of theoretical instruction to help you grasp the basics as well as the nuances of the Scrum Master role.   Over the 2-day period, you are primarily learning from the Certified Scrum Trainer and as a cohort, you are learning how to work together using Scrum as a methodology for creating products and services.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course presumes that you have a Certified Scrum Master certification and that you have at least one years' worth of experience working as a Scrum Master in the field.   It presumes that you have a fairly good idea of what Scrum is, how it works and why it is such a powerful framework for product development.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course is designed to help grow your knowledge of Agile as well as it's applications, and help you become a more effective Scrum Master.   It also introduces you to coaching and facilitation so that you can start to straddle the roles of Scrum Master and Agile coach within your organisation.   In this short video, John McFadyen explains the difference between the CSM and the A-CSM course.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/ for more on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more on John McFadyen.   If you want to advanced your career as a Scrum Master, visit the https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ course page as well as the https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ course page.   If you like the idea of being coached and mentored as part of your career progression, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ for more on our Agile Coach Academy.   If you like the idea of becoming an Agile coach, we have just launched an on-demand Introduction to Agile Coaching course that you may find useful. Visit https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching for more information.

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course is a blend of the two. Whilst you will definitely learn new theories, tools and techniques as part of your learning and personal development, you will also have your skills as a Scrum Master validated throughout the experience.   The Scrum Alliance have set learning objectives for each module of the course but they are also looking for students to validate their skills and demonstrate competence as an Advanced Scrum Master.   In many ways, this is why there is a requirement for at least one years' experience as a Certified Scrum Master in order to achieve certification.   The Scrum Alliance have designed the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course as a stepping stone between the Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master (CSP-SM) certifications.   The idea being that you can invest in your skills development and acquiring important knowledge and toolsets to help you in your journey as a Scrum Master.  So, to summarise.  The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course is designed to both teach you new skills as well as validate your current skills as a Scrum Master.   If you are interested in the A-CSM, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   To get a feel for the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/   If you are interested in becoming an Agile Coach, visit our Agile Coaching Academy course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/   If you would like an Introduction to Coaching opportunity, visit https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course was designed to be a natural evolution for Certified Scrum Masters (CSM) in their quest to become a Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master.   The Certified Scrum Master course is an entry level certification that teaches you how to become a Scrum Master and understand the scrum environment. It's meant to be the first step in your apprenticeship as a Scrum Master that will give you a strong enough foundation from which you can learn.   The Advanced Certified Scrum Master course is designed for scrum masters with approximately a year's experience working in a Scrum Team. It builds on the foundation of the #CSM course and is designed to meet the scrum master at the next level of their evolution as a scrum professional.   What do you need to know before signing up to the ACSM course? You need to know the role of a scrum master and have about 1 year's worth of experience in the role.   You need that context in order to grasp the course material and derive value from the interactions and simulations that are found throughout the course.  Technically, you could attend the ACSM course directly after finishing your CSM course, you simply wouldn't be able to be certified as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master without the CSM and a year's experience in the role so we wouldn't advise it.   John McFadyen walks us through what you need to know before signing up for the ACSM course in this short video.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ for more information on the ACSM course and visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ for more information on the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   If you would like the idea of a mentored and coaching focused learning experience, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ for more about our Agile Coaching Academy.   Also see https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course is a blend of both theoretical as well as practical instruction.   It isn't as theory heavy as the Certified Scrum Master course but it does dig much deeper into the concepts of Agile and how to be of service to both the product owner as well as the development team.   Much of the learning in the environment is based on practical, real-world examples and stories. Conversations with people on the course as to what their experience is in being a scrum master and how they have overcome challenges in their environment really provide you with great insights into how to practically adapt specific tools and techniques to help you become a better Scrum Master in your own environment.   That said, there is also a lot of implementation practice, especially with concepts like coaching and facilitation.   The #ACSM course is designed to bridge the gap between being a scrum master and #agile coach. You will learn how to facilitate powerful events like retrospectives and sprint reviews.   If you are interested in becoming an Advanced Certified Scrum Master visit our course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  A great follow up to this course is the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course and you can view that on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/

Many people find that their journey to mastery as a scrum master lacks a critical step between the Certified Scrum Master course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.   For this reason, the Scrum Alliance created the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course. An advanced course that helps bridge the gap between Scrum Master and Agile coach within the organisation.   John McFadyen walks us through how the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) course helps you become a better Scrum Master and prepares you for the more advanced Scrum Master courses.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information on our Certified Scrum Master course.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ for more information on our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ for more on our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course.  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #a-csm #acsm #advancedscrum #scrumalliance

The Scrum Alliance have a pre-requisite 1 year of experience as a Certified Scrum Master before they will certify you as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master after attending the A-CSM course. John McFadyen explains why.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Agile coaching is often a journey of progression. From scrum master and agile practitioner through to master practitioner and Agile coach. John McFadyen explains how the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course helps you progress along that journey.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about what the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course offers? Scrum expert and Certified Scrum Trainer, John McFadyen, walks us through what you can anticipate in the ACSM course delivered by Agile Centre.   If you're interested in becoming an Advanced Certified Scrum Master, visit our course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/   To read more about the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course, visit https://johnmcfadyen.com/scrum-training/what-will-i-learn-on-the-acsm-course/   #agile #scrum #scrumtraining #certifiedscrummaster #advancedcertifiedscrummaster #csm #acsm #a-csm #scrumalliance #scrumcourses #scrummastercourses #scrummastertraining #scrumcertification #agilescrumtraining    Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and the ACSM course, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

In many ways, a Scrum Master is already an Agile coach although it takes years of practice and a certain degree of mastery before you can coach at the enterprise levels. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

They work with both although an Agile coach works to optimise for the whole environment rather than at the individual level. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

If you're an entrepreneur, you already have a job that requires all of your attention. Should you embrace Agile? Yes. Should you embrace coaching skills in addition to your entrepreneurial skills? Yes. But you don't need to become an Agile coach to lead your company more effectively. You can simply hire one. John McFadyen explains.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

In terms of the Scrum Alliance, a CEC is a Certified Enterprise Coach and a CTC is a Certified Team Coach. One works at the team level and the other works more at the leadership level across enterprise environments. John McFadyen explains the difference.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Entrepreneurs are an amazing source of creative and collaborative ventures aimed at delighting customers. They are a perfect fit for Agile coaches looking to make an impact in the space of product development. John McFadyen explains how Agile coaches are a perfect match for entrepreneurs.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Agile transformation is a buzz word that few people understand. Agile coaches are an essential part of any Agile transformation and work closely with teams as well as leadership to make the shift toward Business Agility. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Many people think that your business needs to be fully 'Agile' in order to see the benefits of working with an Agile coach, but that simply isn't true. An Agile coach can add tremendous value in a very short space of time regardless of how you currently work. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Agile coaching isn't simply for companies that embrace 'Agile' as a way of working. Agile coaching is about helping teams perform better and creating environments where people can thrive, creatively and collaboratively. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about the next steps to take after earning your stripes as a Scrum Master? John McFadyen speaks about the natural evolution from Scrum Master to Agile Coach.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Yes, we do have a recommended reading list for Scrum Masters. John McFadyen has created both book reviews as well as a recommended reading list for Scrum Masters and Agile coaches.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre, and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/scrum-training/is-there-a-recommended-reading-list-for-scrum-masters/

Yes, it is. John McFadyen explains why project managers are a great fit for both the Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Product Owner courses.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/scrum-training/im-a-project-manager-is-the-csm-a-good-fit-for-me/

If you have experience as a Scrum Master but haven't already done the Certified Scrum Master course, can you do the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course? Yes, you can. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

If you have experience as a Scrum Master but haven't already done the Certified Scrum Master course, can you do the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course? Yes, you can. John McFadyen explains how.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Agile Centre don't currently have an alumni group but we are working on creating one via Slack and LinkedIn. All CSM graduates are members of a wider network known as the Scrum Alliance.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Thinking of a career as a Scrum Master? John McFadyen explains how you can get a feel for whether a Scrum Master is a good fit for you.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/how-will-i-know-if-a-scrum-master-role-is-a-good-fit-for-me/

A Scrum Master is the glue that binds the Scrum Team together. They need to know Scrum to get started but they don't need to be an expert in Scrum to become a Scrum Master. John McFadyen walks us through the difference between starting and becoming an expert Scrum Master.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/must-you-be-an-expert-in-scrum-to-become-a-scrum-master/

Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-are-career-opportunities-for-a-scrum-master/

Curious about what Scrum Masters actually do within organisations? John McFadyen walks us through the role of a Scrum Master and what they do within Scrum Teams.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-do-scrum-masters-do/

Curious about daily scrums? John McFadyen walks us through what a daily scrum is and what role a Scrum Master plays in hosting effective daily scrums.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-is-a-daily-scrum-and-do-scrum-masters-lead-them/

Ever wondered what traits make a good Scrum Master? John McFadyen walks us through 3 important traits to cultivate and embrace in order to become a successful Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-are-3-traits-of-a-good-scrum-master/

Scrum promotes a flat structure that focuses on being great at what you do rather than accumulating job titles, but is there potentially seniority amongst Scrum Masters? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/are-there-different-levels-of-seniority-amongst-scrum-masters/

Sometimes you work in an environment that doesn't embrace "Agile" as a way of working. John McFadyen explores whether you can create a Scrum environment regardless of whether the organisation embraces Business Agility or not.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/can-you-set-up-a-product-owner-role-in-a-company-that-isnt-scrum/

John McFadyen explains how it can be beneficial to be a software developer and a Scrum Master but that it isn't necessary for you to be one in order to lead a software development team as a Scrum Master.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/do-i-need-to-be-a-developer-to-be-a-scrum-master-for-a-software-development-team/

Ever wondered how a Scrum Master differs from a Product Owner in a Scrum environment? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of how they differ.    A scrum master and a product owner are completely different sides of a scrum team and perform very different functions within the environment.   A product owner acts as the CEO of the product.   They determine the product's vision and articulate it to the scrum team to help inspire creative solutions to solving problems or creating products that delight customers.   The product owner is also responsible for creating a backlog of items, in order of priority, to help the development team understand what needs doing and why it needs doing.   A product owner will also be responsible for writing epics and user stories that aim to provide context to the development team, helping them understand what the specific feature or item aims to do for the user and why it is important to the user the new feature or item exists.   A product owner also works closely with product stakeholders within and outside the organisation to ensure that the most valuable products are being built. They also work closely with customers to understand their challenges and ensure that the built products and features will truly delight those customers.   A scrum master works with the product owner to achieve their vision and ensure that great products, services and features are being built.   A scrum master will work with the development team to help them excel in the environment and ensure that there are no impediments to the team's progress.   Sometimes, that involves working with people outside the scrum team to remove impediments or secure resources that will help the scrum team thrive.   A scrum master also coaches the development team, helping them identify the most effective ways to solve complex problems or create valuable products.   A scrum master does not carry the same authority as a project manager nor do they involve themselves in the tiny details in the same way that a project manager would.  Instead, they focus on coaching others or facilitating events such as retrospectives to help the team gain the most valuable insights and learning from each sprint and product increment.   A scrum master works with influence rather than authority and as such they are trusted figures within the scrum team.  They are great at coaching and facilitation rather than issuing directives and as such they can be very effective at helping scrum teams tap into their highest potential.   A scrum master understands that members of the development team are the experts when it comes to solving problems or creating products, and as such, doesn't interfere in the minor details of their work. Instead, they work with the development team to identify ways to improve in each cycle and how to integrate what has been learned in each iteration into the scrum team repository. #agile #scrum #productowner #cspo #certifiedscrumproductowner #certifiedscrummaster #csm #scrumteam #agilemethodology #productownership #agilecoach #coaching #projectmanagement  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-is-the-difference-between-a-scrum-master-and-a-product-owner/

What is Scrum? 

John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of what Scrum is and how it is most effectively deployed in developing great products.    Scrum is a process invested by Dr Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the early 90s.  It went through several years of testing and iterations before being launched in 1995 as a great way for software engineers to build and develop software.   Since then, it has had multiple applications outside of the software engineering environment and is one of the most widely adopted Agile frameworks available today.   I like to think of Scrum the same way you think about scaffolding around a new building or renovation.  The scaffolding gives you a rough idea of the size and scope of the building but doesn't show you the details, such as windows, doorways and any decorative features.   It is a lightweight framework that gives you an idea of what to build, especially when you aren't 100 per cent sure of what needs building, and provides a methodology for going about that build.   Scrum offers a process that empowers a team of people, from the scrum master to the product owner to the development team, to create products and services that truly delight customers.   The development team are the highly skilled individuals who solve complex problems and create the most valuable products and features they are capable of.  Working through a Scrum process empowers them to focus on the most valuable work first and iterate as they learn and improve throughout the process.   Scrum empowers teams to pivot when necessary and go in a new, more valuable direction than originally planned. They do this whenever they learn something that indicates a new direction may be a better call than what had originally been thought.   Sometimes, a team can recognise 90% of the value whilst only having completed 20% of the build. It may then make sense to look at how to do something even more valuable than the remaining 10% of value that would require a great deal of time and effort to complete.   Scrum is built on empiricism, the concept of learning through doing and using that knowledge and insight to inform decisions moving forward.  It prevents the team from wasting time on products and features that don't add any value to customers and empowers them to work with the product owner to invest their time, efforts and creativity into only solving problems and creating products that will delight customers and help the company achieve competitive advantage.   Like Agile, Scrum is built on values and principles rather than rigid processes which determine exactly how something should be done. This structure enables it to be super lightweight, adaptive and responsive.  Scrum is built on the idea of continuous inspection and adaption.  Making decisions based on what is learned and known and adapting what is being done in order to achieve the highest value outcome.   It's a great way of working whenever you are trying to solve a problem that hasn't been solved before or when you are trying to create a new product, service or feature that has never existed before. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-is-scrum/

Curious about what a Scrum team consists of? John McFadyen walks us through a brief overview of a Scrum Team and how the Scrum Master integrates into that team.    The Scrum Guide defines the scrum team as a scrum master, a development team, and a product owner.   A great scrum team is often less than 6 people in total, but it can go as high as 8 to 9 people.   The Scrum team are responsible for solving complex problems and building products or services that truly delight customers.   A product owner is responsible for determining the product vision and articulating that vision in an inspiring way to the team. They also work on creating a backlog of items, in priority, that determines what needs doing and how that will add value to the customer or end user.   A scrum master is the glue that binds the scrum team together and works with both the product owner as well as the development team to work through the backlog and create products that delight customers.   They often perform a coaching role and help the team to thrive. Often, they will also work with people outside of the scrum team to remove impediments that may be blocking progress within the team.   A great scrum master coaches the development team and product owner through the scrum process and helps ensure that the team are delivering valuable work in short iterations known as sprints.  The development team consist of the people who  are the subject matter experts and actively do the work. Because of their expertise and capabilities, they are the ones who decide how to fix the problem or how to create the product or service or feature that is on the backlog.   Their experience empowers them to estimate how long an item will take to complete and they often work as a unit to create the product, service or feature to the best of their ability. They learn from each iteration and share that knowledge to improve the team as a whole.   The development team meet daily to discuss what is on their radar for the day ahead and report any potential impediments or problems to the Scrum Master who in turn seeks a remedy for that situation or problem.   The development team work closely with the product owner to ensure that they are producing the most valuable work for the product stakeholders and that they have clarity behind what needs doing and why it needs doing.   If you are interested in becoming a Scrum Master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ If you are interested in becoming a Product Owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/product-owner/certified-scrum-product-owner/  #scrum #agile #scrumteam #projectmanagement #projectmanager #certifiedscrummaster #csm #certifiedscrumproductowner #cspo #productowner #scrummethodology #a-csm #agilecoach  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-is-a-scrum-team/

Looking for a context that supports the Agile manifesto? An event that gave rise to the Agile movement in software development. John McFadyen runs us through what the Agile Manifesto means in today's context.    The Agile Manifesto was created in 2001 by a team of 17 very bright and experienced software engineers. Their goal was to create a new way of working that cut through all the red tape and impediments that traditional waterfall-style project management produced.   Traditional project management worked just fine in complicated environments such as engineering and civil engineering, but as soon as there was a great deal of complexity, volatility, uncertainty and ambiguity, the traditional way of working created more problems than solutions.   The Agile manifesto was a set of 4 values and 12 principles that articulated what was necessary for a team to thrive when creating software.  You can view the Agile Manifesto on http://agilemanifesto.org/  Over the past 20 years, more and more companies have experienced the same problems with traditional project management that the early pioneers of Agile experienced and have turned to Agile as a potential solution to that problem.   Agile itself has evolved a great deal over the past 20 years and continues to evolve as better ways of working integrate with the concept of Business Agility across the organisation.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com for more information on John McFadyen.  #agile #scrum #agilemanifesto #businessagility Article available at https://www.growingscrummasters.com/learn-scrum/what-is-the-agile-manifesto/

Ever wondered how a Scrum Master differs from a Product Owner in a Scrum environment? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of how they differ.    A scrum master and a product owner are completely different sides of a scrum team and perform very different functions within the environment.   A product owner acts as the CEO of the product.   They determine the vision for the product and articulate that vision to the scrum team to help inspire creative solutions to solving problems or creating products that delight customers.   The product owner is also responsible for creating a backlog of items, in order of priority, to help the development team understand what needs doing and why it needs doing.  A product owner will also be responsible for writing epics and user stories that aim to provide context to the development team, helping them to understand what the specific feature or item aims to do for the user and why it is important to the user that the new feature or item exists.   A product owner also works closely with product stakeholders within the organisation as well as outside the organisation to ensure that the most valuable products are being built. They also work closely with customers to understand their challenges and ensure that the products and features being built will truly delight those customers.   A scrum master works with the product owner to achieve their vision and ensure that great products, services and features are being built.   A scrum master will work with the development team to help them excel in the environment and ensure that there are no impediments to the team's progress.   Sometimes, that involves working with people outside of the scrum team to remove impediments or secure resources that will help the scrum team to thrive.   A scrum master also acts as a coach to the development team, helping them to identify the most effective ways to solve complex problems or create valuable products.   A scrum master does not carry the same authority as a project manager nor do they involve themselves in the tiny details in the same way that a project manager would.   Instead, they focus on coaching others or facilitating events such as retrospectives to help the team gain the most valuable insights and learning from each sprint and product increment.   A scrum master works with influence rather than authority and as such they are trusted figures within the scrum team. They are great at coaching and facilitation rather than issuing directives and as such they can be very effective at helping scrum teams tap into their highest potential.   A scrum master understands that members of the development team are the experts when it comes to solving problems or creating products, and as such, doesn't interfere in the minor details of their work. Instead, they work with the development team to identify ways to improve in each cycle and how to integrate what has been learned in each iteration into the scrum team repository. If you would like to become a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  If you would like to become a product owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/product-owner/certified-scrum-product-owner/  If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ If you would like to understand how coaching integrates into the scrum master role and begin your journey there, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course on https://agile-centre.thinkific.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching

Do you need to follow the rules of Agile to the letter, or is it a framework that enables innovation and experimentation? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of Scrum from a Scrum Master's perspective.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre, and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Do you need to follow the rules of Scrum to the letter, or is it a framework that enables innovation and experimentation? John McFadyen walks us through his interpretation of Scrum from a Scrum Master's perspective.  Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre, and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.

Curious about how Project Managers are different to Scrum Masters? John McFadyen gives us his perspective on how they differ.  A project manager has a number of significant skills in the delivery of a specific project within a specified time frame. They possess great communication skills and often work with project stakeholders all the way through the project delivery process.  They manage risks, costs, dependences and play an active role in deciding who should do what work and in what specific order that work needs to be done. In many ways, they are the kingpin of the project and all the elements of the project fall under their authority and responsibility.  In traditional environments like Civil Engineering this can be a good thing. People know how to build bridges and they have been building them for centuries so project managers have great insight into what needs doing, how it needs doing, and how long it will take to complete a project with relatively accurate estimates.  Project managers and traditional waterfall style project management battles when there are great degrees of complexity, uncertainty, volatility and ambiguity.  In other words, at times where what is being created has never been created before or a problem that has never been solved before needs solving by a team of experts and professionals. In #scrum, the #scrumteam work together to solve complex problems and build products and services that truly delight customers. In Scrum, the development team are the experts who are best placed to know how something should be built or how the problem should be solved. A Scrum Master will work with the development team to identify the most valuable work and how to remove impediments to progress that may be plaguing the scrum team. A product owner is like the CEO of the product and they are involved in identifying a vision for the product or service, and identifying a priority for the most valuable elements to be built first or the most compelling problems to be solved first. A scrum master will work with the product owner as well as the development team to create an environment where the team can thrive and deliver working, valuable solutions in relatively short increments of time known as sprints. The #scrummaster would not bear sole responsibility for the product as the project manager does nor do they get involved in deciding who should do what. They work with the team to understand what impediments stand in the way and then set about solving those problems in conjunction with the team as well as other members of the organisation. A scrum master also works with influence rather than authority. They would rely on tools and techniques found in coaching, for example, to help the team find their way rather than using their authority as a project manager to influence outcomes. It's a very different style of working. If you are interested in becoming a Certified Scrum Master, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ course page as well as the https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ course page for insights into these courses. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen. #agile #scrum #projectmanagement #projectmanager #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #scrumteam #scrumframework #agileprojectmanagement #businessagility #agilecourses #scrumtraining #agilecoach #agiletraining #productdevelopment

Ever wonder whether you need project management experience to become a scrum master? John McFadyen walks us through this perspective. No, you don't need project management experience in order to become a #scrummaster.  In some ways, it may actually benefit you not having any previous experience with traditional waterfall-style project management because you won't have picked up any of the bad habits inherent in the approach.   A Scrum Master works with a team of developers and a product owner to create products that have never existed before and to solve complex problems that have never been solved before.    The entire philosophy of Agile environments is that the development team are the experts who are best placed to understand how something should be done. In project management, the project manager decides what should be done, how it should be done, and by when it should be completed.   In a Scrum Team, the team would make these decisions rather than have a single person dictate work. The Product Owner works with stakeholders to identify what the most valuable work is and in what order of priority the work should be completed. How that work is done is decided by the development team with the product owner receiving an educated estimate of how long it would take to perform.   By contrast, a project manager attempts to articulate the entire project upfront and work out the dependencies and how those will impact proposed timelines. In some cases this works well, for example in civil engineering where people have precise knowledge of what to do and how long it should take.   In complex environments where the answer is unknown, project managers battle to identify what should be built and how it should be built.   If you have no experience within a project management environment but stepped into the role of a Scrum Master, you would find that you are the glue that holds the scrum team together and empowers them to make the kind of decisions that really move the team forward.   You would not be investing your time in deciding who does what and how they should do that work at all. You would be helping the team make those estimates and communicate that effectively to the product owner to ensure all stakeholders are informed and updated.   Regardless of what environment you worked in as a Scrum Master, you would be invested in becoming a better scrum master and agile coach rather than learning how to do specific things. So for example, in a software engineering environment, you wouldnt be learning how to be a developer, you would simply focus on learning how to become a better scrum master.   A project manager doesn't necessarily have that luxury as they are a key player in every event that happens throughout the project and are often the only source of communication to project stakeholders so they must be actively involved in the tiny details of the project.   Many project managers actively like being so deeply involved in the project and as such, they can find it hard to make the transition to scrum master where they are a member of the team rather than the sole leader of the team.   If you have significant experience as a project manager, you may battle to make that transition yourself.   If you do have experience as a project manager you can almost certainly make the transition to scrum master but you would need to learn an entirely new skillset. Visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ for more information on becoming a Certified Scrum Master and visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/

John McFadyen runs us through his take on whether Scrum Masters have a role outside of software environments.    Yes, Scrum Masters do work outside of software engineering environments. In many ways, Scrum Masters are like coaches and work toward creating environments where teams can thrive. As such, the application doesn't matter as much as the role, however, Scrum Masters were born in the technology industry and as such tend to have a greater presence in IT environments.   A scrum master works to help a team create new products and services that delight customers. In any environment where a product is being created by a team of people, a Scrum Master would play a valuable role.   In Scrum@Scale, for example, a great example of a technical hardware environment that employed multiple scrum masters was SAAB, the aeronautical engineering company.   Whilst there was no doubt software applications in the development of high performance aircraft, Scrum Masters were deployed throughout the organisation in any small team that deployed #scrum as a way of building products and solving complex problems.   As more people move into the realm of #agile and #scrum to build products, more and more opportunities are becoming available to professional and experienced Scrum Masters. From web development environments to creative agencies.   If you are interested in becoming a #scrummaster, visit https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ and https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ for more insights into our Scrum Master courses.   If you like the idea of a mentored and coach-driven approach to your skills development journey, visit our https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ page.   Visit https://www.agilecentre.com for more information on Agile Centre and visit https://www.growingscrummasters.com for more information on John McFadyen.   #scrum #agile #scrum-master #scrummaster #scrumalliance #scrumcertification #scrumcourses #agilecoach #agilecourses #learnscrum #softwareengineering #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement