Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Dennis Stevens explore the evolving definition of project success as outlined in PMI's recent report. They discuss the implications of this new definition, emphasizing the need for continuous transformation in organizations and the role of project managers in delivering value. The conversation also touches on the importance of reducing friction in project management, the impact of AI on the profession, and the necessity for project managers to navigate the political landscape of project success. Ultimately, they highlight the need for project managers to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and the skills required to thrive in this new landscape. Takeaways • A successful project delivers value worth the effort and expense. • Transformation is continuous, not stepwise. • Project success must include stakeholder perception and value delivery. • Project managers need to focus on reducing friction in processes. • AI will change the role of project managers significantly. • Friction is not the same as constraints; it impedes progress. • Project success should be measured by the ability to adapt and deliver value. • The role of project managers is evolving to include more strategic responsibilities. • Continuous evaluation is essential for project success. • Navigating politics is crucial for achieving project success. Links: PMI Article on Reframing Project Success https://www.pmi.org/blog/reframing-project-success Agile for Project Managers - What is Project Success? w/ Dennis Stevens, Jesse Fewell, Jenny Tarwater, Sally Sloley, Jimi Fearless, and Semira Allen and (on The Agile Network) https://theagilenetwork.com/content/1d2a0a72-4d33-4145-b80a-3728f45b1947/item/0 Redefining Project Success and How it Impacts Project and Product Leaders with Lenka Pincot, Mike Griffiths and Dave Prior (on The Agile Network) https://theagilenetwork.com/content/926c08d0-52c7-4444-8f2a-732ac6acea61/item/0 Contacting Dennis Website: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=orgwright&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisstevens/ The Agile Network Profile: https://theagilenetwork.com/celebrity/fa0c1ba5-2373-4750-a3a2-86e37bc3ab03 Chapters 00:18 Introduction to Project Success Redefined 03:25 Transformation in Project Management 06:14 The New Definition of Project Success 09:21 Challenges in Project Management 12:08 Reducing Friction in Project Success 15:16 The Role of Project Managers in Value Delivery 18:39 The Politics of Project Management 22:18 Evolving Role of Project Managers 25:08 AI and the Future of Project Management 28:08 The Changing Landscape of Project Management 30:18 Concluding Thoughts and Future Conversations

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Preston Hunter discuss the challenges of transitioning to Agile methodologies, particularly focusing on the use of JIRA and visual collaboration tools like Lucid. They explore a case study of a team moving to Kanban, the integration of Lucid with JIRA, and how visual tools can simplify workflows and enhance collaboration. The discussion also covers capacity planning, managing dependencies, and the importance of creating custom views for project management. Preston shares insights on how Lucid can help teams visualize their work, engage stakeholders, and improve overall efficiency. The conversation concludes with resources for learning and support for new users of Lucid. This podcast was recorded in video format because of the demo that was given. You can find the video here: https://www.projectmanagement.com/blog-post/78177/using-lucid-to-update-jira-with-preston-hunter Takeaways • Visual collaboration tools can ease the transition to Agile. • JIRA can be overwhelming for new users; Lucid simplifies this. • Integrating Lucid with JIRA allows for real-time updates. • Custom views in Lucid can help manage personal and team workflows. • Visualizing dependencies is crucial for effective project management. • Capacity planning features help teams avoid overcommitment. • Engaging teams with visual tools fosters collaboration and creativity. • Lucid offers resources for new users to learn effectively. • Conditional formatting in Lucid enhances reporting capabilities. • Personalization of boards can reflect team culture and identity. Chapters 03:21 Introduction to Agile and Visual Collaboration 05:13 Challenges of Implementing Kanban with JIRA 09:21 Lucid's Integration with JIRA 15:21 Enhancing Team Collaboration and Workflow Visualization 21:28 Managing Dependencies and Capacity Planning 27:21 Customizing Workflows and Agile Practices 30:48 Empowering Teams with Agency 33:58 Capacity Planning and Sprint Management 36:30 Reporting and Visual Collaboration Tools 40:28 The Future of Project Management 42:33 Enhancing Team Collaboration and Engagement 45:32 Personalizing Team Spaces 49:41 Learning and Support Resources To learn more about Lucid go to https://lucid.co/ To contact Preston https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-hunter/

In this conversation, Dave Prior, Brett Harned, and Greg Storey discuss the importance of creating a humane workspace through effective communication and collaboration. They share their backgrounds, the founding of Same Team Partners, and the significance of addressing communication issues within teams. The discussion highlights the need for leaders to be trained in facilitating meaningful conversations and the role of Team Angle in diagnosing and improving team dynamics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, cultural understanding, and creating a safe environment for teams to thrive. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the importance of understanding and communicating company values, the necessity of documentation and effective communication within teams, and the role of visualization in work processes. They emphasize creating safe spaces for team discussions, empowering teams through inclusivity, and the need for transformation at the team level rather than just implementing new processes. The conversation highlights the challenges leaders face in fostering a healthy team culture and the significance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration to improve team dynamics. Takeaways • Creating a humane workspace is essential for team success. • Many problems in teams stem from poor communication. • Positive culture leads to high-performing teams. • Stress and tension can be indicators of team dysfunction. • Empathy is crucial for understanding team dynamics. • Team Angle helps identify misalignments within teams. • Leaders often lack training for meaningful conversations. • Engagement at all levels is necessary for success. • Creating a shared language enhances team collaboration. • Structured conversations can improve team dynamics. Understanding company values is crucial for alignment. • Documentation is essential for effective communication. • Visual representation of work processes aids understanding. • Creating safe spaces encourages open dialogue. • Inclusivity fosters team empowerment and motivation. • Teams should be involved in the solution process. • Transformation should focus on team dynamics, not just processes. • Regular one-on-ones significantly increase team engagement. • Leaders need to be aware of their team's challenges. • Empathy and collaboration are key to overcoming obstacles. Chapters 00:18 Introduction to a Humane Workspace 03:29 Foundations of Same Team Partners 06:22 The Importance of Communication in Teams 09:11 Identifying Healthy Team Dynamics 12:12 Cultural Differences in Team Interactions 15:25 Creating Safety in Team Environments 18:19 Understanding Team Angle 21:31 Implementing Team Angle for Improvement 31:26 Understanding Company Values and Principles 34:18 The Importance of Documentation and Communication 36:00 Visualizing Work Processes 40:08 Creating Safe Spaces for Team Conversations 44:13 Empowering Teams Through Inclusivity 46:19 Transforming Teams, Not Just Processes You can find Same Team Partners, their Teamangle Diagnostic and the Teamangle Conversation Cards here: https://sameteampartners.com/ You can also find them on LinkedIn: Brett Harned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettharned/ Greg Storey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brilliantcrank/

In this conversation, Dave Prior and Mun-Wai Chung discuss the pervasive issue of ineffective meetings in the corporate world, exploring the cultural implications of meeting practices, the impact of remote work, and strategies for improving collaboration. Mun-Wai shares insights from her book, 'Slay the Meeting Monster', emphasizing the need for intentionality in meetings and the importance of scripts to guide discussions. The conversation highlights the necessity of reevaluating meeting structures to foster a more productive work environment. Takeaways • Meetings often reflect a company's culture and collaboration style. • The pandemic has exacerbated the problem of ineffective meetings. • Scripts can help facilitate more productive meetings. • Collaboration should be prioritized over traditional meeting formats. • Leaders play a crucial role in shaping meeting culture. • Information overload can hinder productivity in remote work settings. • Meetings should have clear purposes and outcomes. • It's essential to respect participants' time by evaluating meeting necessity. • Creating a collaborative culture requires intentional practices. • The way we work and communicate is evolving, necessitating new approaches to meetings. Chapters 01:33 Introduction to Meeting Culture 04:28 The Meeting Monster: A Personal Journey 07:30 The Inefficiency of Meetings 10:39 Types of Meetings and Their Purpose 13:25 The Role of Technology in Meetings 16:19 The Impact of Remote Work on Collaboration 19:33 Overcoming Information Overload 22:36 Conclusion and Key Takeaways 28:02 Navigating Communication Overload 31:02 Establishing Boundaries for Effective Collaboration 35:20 The Importance of Experimentation in Team Dynamics 37:32 The Role of Scripts in Meetings 46:36 Meetings as a Reflection of Company Culture Check out Mun-Wai's Book Slay the Meeting Monster: https://tinyurl.com/yc82k2pj If you'd like to contact Mun-Wai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/munwaic/ The Agile Network February 2025 Microconference - Disruption: How AI and Agile are Reinventing the PMO - February 24, 2024 https://theagilenetwork.com

In this episode of Drunken PM Radio, Dave Prior discusses how to make daily standups more effective for teams that feel they are merely status calls. He shares ten actionable suggestions to enhance the value of these meetings, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, preparation, and maintaining a focused and respectful environment. The conversation also touches on the need for team members to take responsibility for their contributions and the dynamics of remote work. Takeaways • Daily standups should foster conversation, not just status updates. • Avoid rigid structures like the three questions in standups. • Team members should update their work status before the meeting. • Focus on collaboration rather than individual assignments. • Encourage camera use during virtual meetings for better connection. • Limit standup meetings to 15 minutes to maintain efficiency. • Rotate the facilitator to promote collective ownership. • Use inclusive language to reinforce team unity. • Preparation is key to a productive meeting. • Respect your teammates by being prepared and engaged. The Agile Netork's CONVERGE MicroConference January 27-27, 2025 Over 100 Sessions! Free Access During The Conference! Use Discount Code DRUNKENPMCMC33 for 33% of Membership to The Agile Network https://theagilenetwork.com/

Today PMI announced that The Agile Alliance was joining PMI to form the PMI Agile Alliance. This is obviously going to cause a great deal of debate in the Agile and project management communities. I am very excited about what this could mean for the future of Project Management and Agile - and here is why.

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Jim Benson discuss the challenges of remote work, the impact of collaboration tools on productivity, and the importance of creating humane workspaces. They explore the dynamics of meetings, the toxicity of over-communication, and the need for regular maintenance in team processes. Jim shares insights from his course on cleaning toxic waste in workplaces, emphasizing the significance of visual management and effective communication to foster a healthier work environment. Takeaways • Work should be done without fear or trepidation. • Remote work requires understanding information needs within teams. • Meetings often become unproductive due to over-communication. • Context switching can lead to frustration and decreased productivity. • Creating humane workspaces is essential for team dynamics. • Regular maintenance of team processes prevents issues from escalating. • Collaboration tools need to be used intentionally and effectively. • Visual management can help reduce workplace toxicity. • Toxic systems lead to hiring toxic leaders. • Addressing workplace toxicity is a collective responsibility. Chapters 02:11 Introduction to Jim Benson and Work Dynamics 05:09 The Challenges of Remote Work and Collaboration Tools 08:07 Meeting Overload and Productivity Killers 11:14 Communication Tools and Their Inefficiencies 14:11 The Impact of Context Switching on Work 17:07 Creating Humane Workspaces 20:10 The Role of Tools in Team Collaboration 23:08 Cleaning Toxic Waste in Work Environments 26:15 Conclusion and Course Information Links from the episode Cleaning Toxic Waste Course: https://modusinstitute.com/course/toxic-waste Modus Institute: https://modusinstitute.com/ The Collaboration Equation: https://www.collaboration-equation.com/ The Agile Network December Micro Conference (Dec 16-17): https://theagilenetwork.com Contacting Jim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbenson/ Email: jim@moduscooperandi.com

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Galen Lowe explore the complexities of digital project management, emphasizing the importance of understanding digital projects, the role of project managers in decision-making, and the necessity of integrity in client relationships. They discuss the evolution of project management, the significance of building trust, and the challenges of navigating stakeholder expectations. The conversation highlights the need for project managers to learn from their experiences and adapt to the changing landscape of the profession, ultimately advocating for a supportive and humane work environment. This podcast was originally recorded in video. If you'd like to check out that version you can find it here: https://youtu.be/T6l6xRsT76A Takeaways - Digital projects involve a combination of people, pixels, and code. - Learning should not solely come from the school of hard knocks. - Project managers must facilitate decision-making processes. - Understanding choices is a key responsibility of project managers. - Decisions must be made, even when there are no good options. - Earning the right to ask questions is crucial in stakeholder management. Integrity is essential in maintaining client relationships. - Project management is evolving to focus on career health and continuous learning. - Building trust is fundamental to successful project management. - The messiness of projects is part of the journey towards success. Chapters 01:52 Introduction to Digital Project Management 07:55 The Role of Project Managers in Decision Making 13:56 Understanding Stakeholder Dynamics 22:24 Navigating Client Expectations and Project Integrity 28:39 Evolving Perspectives on Work and Loyalty 34:49 Forward Momentum in Problem Solving 41:39 Embracing the Messiness of Project Management Check out Galen's original post on LinkedIn https://tinyurl.com/3br78w6d Contacting Galen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/galen-low-digital-transformation-advisor/ Digital Project Manager: https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com Podcast: https://thedigitalprojectmanager.com/digital-project-manager-podcast/ Agile for Project Managers Show My new podcast/show is available on The Agile Network along with a wide range of brand new content we share every week from our 80+ experts from all corners of the Agile space. Link: https://theagilenetwork.com/ You can use the promo code DRUNKENPM12C202 to get a 20% discount of any of our membership options.

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Kate Kaiser discuss the challenges faced by non-technical project managers, particularly in overcoming fear and embracing difficult conversations. Kate shares her experiences in project management, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, communication, and building trust with clients. They explore strategies for managing energy and maintaining transparency in client relationships, ultimately highlighting the significance of creating positive experiences in every interaction. Takeaways - Embracing fear can lead to better outcomes. - Self-awareness is crucial in managing stress and energy. - Being shameless helps in uncomfortable conversations. - Asking questions is essential for clarity and understanding. - Trust and honesty build strong client relationships. - Every interaction should be a positive experience. - Fear is a common experience; it's okay to feel it. - Having a plan B can ease communication challenges. - Project managers don't need to know everything; leverage your team. - Building relationships is more important than the project itself. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kate Kaiser and Her Background 03:21 Embracing Fear in Project Management 06:16 Navigating Non-Technical Challenges 09:17 Self-Awareness and Energy Management 12:09 Honesty and Transparency in Client Relationships 15:19 Building Trust and Positive Experiences 18:26 Closing Thoughts and Conference Preview To learn more about the 2024 Digital PM Summit - https://bureauofdigital.com/event/digital-pm-summit-2024 Contacting Kay - Plank: https://plank.co/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-keizer/

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Val Hinze discuss the evolution of project management roles, the importance of creating a supportive PMO structure, and the significance of servant leadership in fostering a healthy work environment. Val shares insights on how Mighty Citizen has redefined project management to focus on career growth, client relationships, and sustainable practices. The discussion also touches on the upcoming Digital PM Summit and Val's talk about the journey of project management within her organization. If you'd prefer to watch the video version of this podcast you can find that here: https://tinyurl.com/3nwsmyud Takeaways • Creating a structure for project manager success is essential. • Support from leadership is crucial for project managers. • Client happiness is a key measure of project success. • Fostering growth and safety for project managers is rare but necessary. • Innovating together as a team leads to better outcomes. • Building sustainable client relationships is a new approach. • Continuous improvement should be a focus in project management. • Val's journey reflects the evolution of project management roles. • The PMO can be a supportive entity rather than a hindrance. • Val's superpower lies in her ability to adapt and innovate. Chapters 00:18 Introduction to Project Management and Personal Journey 03:09 Creating a Supportive PMO Structure 06:09 The Importance of Career Trajectory in Project Management 09:06 Fostering a Healthy Work Environment 12:07 Defining Success in Project Management 15:10 Performance Reviews and Growth Opportunities 18:11 Val's Talk at the Digital PM Summit 21:08 Val's Superpower and the Future of PMOs 2024 DIGITAL PM SUMMIT LINKS Digital PM Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/event/digital-pm-summit-2024 Val's Speaker Page at the 2024 DPM Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/val-hinze-dpm-summit-2024 Dave's Speaker Page at the 2024 DPM Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/dave-prior-dpm-summit-2024 CONTACTING VAL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valhinze/ Val at Mighty Citizen: https://www.mightycitizen.com/team/valerie-hinze Mighty Citizen: https://www.mightycitizen.com/

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Sara Doubleday discuss the complexities of managing change within creative teams, the integration of AI in creative processes, and the importance of maintaining human connections in a remote work environment. Sara shares her experiences with team mergers, the challenges of efficiency versus human connection, and the need for a supportive agency culture that fosters collaboration and creativity. The discussion highlights the nuances of change management and the significance of treating team members as individuals rather than mere processes. If you'd prefer to watch the video version of this podcast, you can find it here: https://www.projectmanagement.com/blog-post/77403/leading-creative-teams-through-change-with-sara-doubleday Takeaways • The role of a creative lead involves clearing blockers for the team. • AI is a tool to enhance creativity, not replace it. • Change management requires grace and understanding of individual differences. • Team dynamics are crucial for successful project execution. • Building connections in remote teams takes intentional effort. • Efficiency should not come at the cost of human connection. • Successful change is a complex, non-linear process. • Agency culture can significantly impact team morale and productivity. • Recognizing the value of individual contributions is essential. • Continuous learning from past experiences is vital for growth. Chapters 00:18 Introduction to Chaos and Collaboration 03:32 Navigating Change in Creative Teams 06:13 The Role of AI in Creative Processes 13:01 Building and Rebuilding Teams 16:04 Misconceptions About Change Management 19:49 Reflections on Change and Team Dynamics Digital Pm Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/event/digital-pm-summit-2024 Sara's Speaker Page at the 2024 DPM Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/sara-doubleday-dpm-summit-2024 Dave's Speaker Page at the 2024 DPM Summit: https://bureauofdigital.com/dave-prior-dpm-summit-2024 Contacting Sara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-doubleday/ Web: https://www.saradoubleday.com Seer Interactive: https://www.seerinteractive.com

Summary In this episode, Jimmy Fosdick joins Dave for a conversation about his journey from traditional project management to agile. They discuss the challenges of applying traditional project management to software development, the importance of understanding the context and problem domain when choosing project management approaches, and the misuse of the term 'agile' in the consulting industry. They also touch on the legacy of Frederick Taylor and the need for a people-centered approach in project management. The conversation explores the challenges of traditional project management and the need for a more empirical and agile approach. They discuss the problems with big upfront planning, the importance of shorter cycle times, and the fear of failure. The conversation also touches on the need for more humane workspaces and the changing nature of work. The principal themes include the limitations of traditional project management, the benefits of an empirical approach, and the evolving workforce and work environment. Takeaways • Traditional project management is effective for problems that can be solved on paper upfront, but may not work well for software development. • Agile approaches, such as Scrum, are better suited for software development and other complex, empirical problems. • The term 'agile' has become an overloaded and misused brand in the consulting industry. • Hybrid approaches that combine traditional project management and agile practices can be problematic and may not fully embrace the values and principles of agile. • A people-centered approach is essential in project management, and the focus should be on collaboration, respect, and solving the right problems. Traditional project management relies on upfront planning, which can lead to longer cycle times and higher failure rates. • An empirical approach, such as Agile, allows for shorter cycle times and the ability to adapt and change as needed. • The fear of failure often hinders organizations from embracing more agile and iterative approaches. • There is a growing emphasis on creating more humane workspaces and allowing for more flexibility and creativity in the workplace. • The nature of work is changing, and organizations need to adapt to the expectations and needs of the new generation of workers. Titles • The Misuse of the Term 'Agile' in the Consulting Industry • From Traditional Project Management to Agile: Jimmy Fosik's Journey The Changing Nature of Work • Overcoming the Fear of Failure Chapters 02:20 Introduction and Background 05:52 The Challenges of Traditional Project Management in Software Development 08:33 Differentiating Scrum from Traditional Project Management 12:13 The Misuse of the Term 'Agile' 14:38 The Problem with Hybrid Approaches 22:17 Legacy Code in Our Heads: Shifting the Project Management Paradigm 26:21 The Benefits of an Empirical Approach 28:46 Overcoming the Fear of Failure 33:18 Creating More Humane Workspaces 39:03 The Changing Nature of Work Contacting Jimi - Web: https://fearlessagility.com/ - X: https://x.com/FearlessAgility - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FearlessAgility/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realFearlessAgility/ - Courses on the Scrum Alliance site: https://tinyurl.com/yjc2rtmf Links from Dave's Intro - The Art of War for Collaboration Course http://modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration - Guided Personal Kanban (September 2024) http://modusinstitute.com/course/guided-pk-sep-usa The Agile Network* https://go.theagilenetwork.com/l/web-dprior Use the discount codes below to get either 20% or 2 months of free access 2 Free Months - DRUNKENPM10CM 20% off Annual - DRUNKENPM10C20 Contacting Dave Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

In this conversation, Dave Prior and Richard Chang discuss the challenges that product owners face when they don't receive the support and direction they need from their leadership. They explore strategies for product owners to navigate these situations, including having open and honest conversations with leadership, running experiments to validate assumptions, and finding mentors or support networks. They also emphasize the importance of understanding the needs and perspectives of stakeholders and users, and the need for product owners to manage their space and hold their ground, even in the face of power dynamics. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and continuous learning in the role of a product owner. Takeaways * Product owners often struggle when they don't receive the support and direction they need from their leadership. * Having open and honest conversations with leadership can help product owners gain clarity and alignment on product strategy and goals. * Running experiments and validating assumptions can help product owners make informed decisions and mitigate risks. * Finding mentors or support networks can provide guidance and help product owners navigate challenging situations. * Understanding the needs and perspectives of stakeholders and users is crucial for product owners to make effective decisions. * Effective communication, collaboration, and continuous learning are key skills for product owners to succeed in their role. Chapters 04:55 Introduction and Background 07:12 Challenges of Product Ownership 11:49 Taking Initiative and Creating Strategic Direction 17:39 Validating Assumptions and Removing Bias 27:56 Coping Strategies and Social Engineering 31:01 Conclusion and Plug for Richard's Classes Contacting Richard Web: www.agilityprimesolutions.com Email: richard.cheng@agilityprimesolutions.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/richardcheng/ Twitter: twitter.com/richardkcheng Contacting Dave Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/ Links from Dave's Intro The Agile Network* https://theagilenetwork.com/ *If you'd like a discount on an annual membership or want to try a month for free, send an email to dave@theageilnetwork.com and let me know. Agile 2024 Interviews: https://drunkenpm.blogspot.com/2024/07/agile-2024-all-interviews.html The Art of War for Collaboration Course https://modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration Guided Personal Kanban (September 2024) https://modusinstitute.com/course/guided-pk-sep-usa Public Scrum Training CSM/CSPO/A-CSPO https://www.scrumalliance.org/courses-events/search?tr=14153&cnty=US

Summary In this conversation, Si Alhir discusses the concepts of agility, resilience, and anti-fragility and how they relate to navigating stress and achieving growth. He emphasizes the importance of embracing stress and using it as a tool for adaptation and evolution. Si also highlights the need for balance between order and disorder, and the dangers of too much of either. The conversation touches on examples such as vaccinations, exercise, and the impact of COVID-19 on individuals and organizations. Si Alhir discusses how ecosystem thinking and the concept of the edge play a role in increasing agility, resilience, and antifragility in organizations. He shares real-life examples of how organizations have leveraged these concepts to overcome challenges and achieve success. Si also introduces the Edge Collection, a set of instruments that help assess and cultivate agility, resilience, and antifragility at the individual, team, enterprise, and ecosystem levels. Takeaways - Agility, resilience, and anti-fragility are degrees on a spectrum, not absolute elements. - Stress is necessary for growth and building resilience, but it must be leveraged intelligently. - The key is to seek stress and disorder proactively, rather than reacting to it. - The in-between, or the edge, is where the magic happens and where organizations and individuals thrive. - Too much order or too much disorder can be debilitating, so balance is crucial. - The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for adaptability and the challenges of navigating extreme situations. Ecosystem thinking is a worldview that can be applied to organizations, teams, technical architectures, infrastructure, and society. - Increasing agility, resilience, and antifragility requires exploratory and discovery work to understand what factors contribute to these qualities and how to amplify them. - The edge is where agility, resilience, and antifragility intersect, and maintaining the tension between these three is crucial. - The Edge Collection is a set of instruments that assess and cultivate agility, resilience, and antifragility at different levels of an organization. - Ecosystem enterprises are those that thrive on the edge, balancing stability and adaptability to navigate complex environments. Chapters 00:00 Podcast Overview and Annoucements 03:08 Introduction and Origin Story 06:24 The Edge: Embracing Stress and Anti-Fragility 13:17 Agility, Resilience, and Anti-Fragility as Muscle Fibers 28:55 Navigating Extreme Situations: Lessons from COVID-19 30:50 Introduction to Ecosystem Thinking and the Edge 33:20 Understanding Ecosystems and Applying Ecosystem Thinking 35:45 The Five E's and Five C's of Ecosystem Thinking 42:26 Introducing the Edge Collection: Assessing and Cultivating Agility, Resilience, and Antifragility 46:24 The Edge: Where Agility, Resilience, and Antifragility Intersect 49:29 Cultivating Agility, Resilience, and Antifragility with the Edge Collection 52:13 Thriving on the Edge: Balancing Stability and Adaptability in Ecosystem Enterprises Links from the podcast Contacting Si Alhir Si's books on Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/salhir LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salhir/ The Art of War in the Wild https://tinyurl.com/3abab6pb The Edge Collection on Comparative Agility https://www.comparativeagility.com/capabilities/team-edge-assessment The Art of War for Collaboration https://modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration Guided Personal Kanban Class with Dave Prior and Mark Kilby https://modusinstitute.com/course/guided-pk-sep-usa The Agile Network https://theagilenetwork.com/ Use Promo Code DRUNKENPM8C20 to get 20% off Annual Membership or DRUNKENPM8CM to get 1 Month Free

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior and Colleen Johnson discuss the concept of cumulative flow diagrams (CFDs) and their practical application in Agile methodologies. They explore the significance of CFDs in understanding work in progress, cycle time, and throughput. Colleen provides insights into the interpretation of CFDs and the implications for team performance and workflow management. The conversation delves into Little's Law, airport analogies, and the visualization of CFDs to identify patterns and bottlenecks in the workflow. The conversation covers the use of Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs) as a tool for visualizing work in progress and identifying workflow issues. It also delves into the concept of accelerating product value and the importance of learning quickly in product development. The discussion emphasizes the need for small bets and fast feedback to drive product improvement. Additionally, it highlights the challenges of defining and predicting value in product development. If you would like to watch the original video interview, you can find it here. https://tinyurl.com/55r86tah Takeaways - Understanding the practical application of cumulative flow diagrams (CFDs) in Agile methodologies - Interpreting CFDs to identify patterns an bottlenecks in the workflow - The significance of Little's Law and airport analogies in understanding CFDs - Visualizing CFDs to gain insights into work in progress, cycle time, and throughput - Implications of CFDs for team performance and workflow management CFDs provide a visual representation of work in progress and can be used to identify workflow issues. - Accelerating product value involves making small bets, learning quickly, and responding to feedback to drive product improvement. - Defining and predicting value in product development can be challenging, and the focus should be on shipping fast, learning quickly, and enabling rapid response to feedback. - The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding customer behavior and the need to pivot quickly based on feedback. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 03:16 Introduction to ProKanban 06:46 Understanding CFDs 09:37 Little's Law and Airport Analogies 04:14:24 Work in Progress and Work Item Age 16:53 Interpreting CFDs and Workflow Insights 27:46 Accelerating Product Value through Small Bets and Fast Feedback 40:48 Challenges of Defining and Predicting Value in Product Development Contacting Colleen ProKanban: https://www.prokanban.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colleen-johnson Email: colleen@scatterspoke.com Additional Links The Art of War for Collaboration: https://modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration Agile Alliance LinkedIn: https://www.agilealliance.org

Summary In this conversation, Si Alhir and Dave discuss the Art of War, its application in transformation work, and the naturalness and unity found within its wisdom. They explore the concept of taking whole, the relationship with the environment, and the role of the Sage Commander. Si shares personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the transformative power of the Art of War. The conversation delves into the concept of enlightened leadership and the application of the principles from 'The Art of War' in organizational transformation. It explores the distinction between an enlightened ruler and a wise general, the importance of psychological safety, and the shift from a vicious ego-based reality control cycle to a virtuous eco-based reality navigation cycle. The conversation concludes with a powerful story of using the ordinary and the extraordinary to transform toxic organizational dynamics. Takeaways • The Art of War is a transformative wisdom that emphasizes naturalness and unity in its application. • The concept of taking whole and the relationship with the environment are key elements of the Art of War's wisdom. • The role of the Sage Commander involves patience, relaxation, and an understanding of the natural flow of time and energy. • Leadership power lies in the individual's ability to navigate the world around them, working with the environment as a partner. • The Art of War offers tools for practice and learning, requiring a mindful and respectful approach to its application. Enlightened leadership requires awareness and mindfulness in navigating the nature of things. • Psychological safety should focus on building strong individuals to interact in an unsafe world. • The application of 'The Art of War' principles can lead to successful organizational transformation. • The distinction between the vicious ego-based reality control cycle and the virtuous eco-based reality navigation cycle is crucial for effective leadership. • Using the ordinary and the extraordinary can transform toxic organizational dynamics. Titles • Tools for Practice and Learning in the Art of War • Exploring the Transformative Wisdom of the Art of War Transforming Toxic Organizational Dynamics • Navigating Psychological Safety and Reality in Leadership Chapters 00:00 Preroll Intro 02:33 Introduction to the Art of War and Transformation Work 13:42 The Concept of Taking Whole and Unity 29:21 Navigating the Environment as a Partner 33:03 Tools for Practice and Learning 34:05 Enlightened Leadership and 'The Art of War' in Organizational Transformation 36:56 Navigating Psychological Safety and Reality in Leadership 43:43 The Shift from Vicious Ego-Based Reality Control to Virtuous Eco-Based Reality Navigation 59:39 Transforming Toxic Organizational Dynamics The Art of War in the Wild (May 2024) Panel #1 - Brad Barton, Mark Ferraro, and Si Alhir https://lnkd.in/emmnxQut Panel #2 - Cynthia Chambers, Christine Ferraro, and Holly Fiorello https://lnkd.in/eZNX6mJB Panel #3 - Chris Herring, Cynthia Chambers, and Mudasir Ahamed https://lnkd.in/ed3kyMUB Panel #4 - John Cherian., Chris Herring, and Dave Prior https://lnkd.in/eXB7Mm5x Si's Books on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/6rjvkucw Contacting Si LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salhir/ Dave's Links Dave's upcoming classes: tinyurl.com/u2vh9zh8 The Art of War for Collaboration: modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration Contacting Dave: linktr.ee/mrsungo

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior is joined by Jeff Leach and Sandra Cain to discuss the question of whether coaching has killed Agile. They explore the role of coaching in Agile transformations and the challenges that arise when underqualified coaches are thrust into coaching roles. They also discuss the difference between coaching and consulting, the importance of understanding one's place as a coach, and the need for range and adaptability in coaching approaches. The conversation highlights the need for a balanced approach that combines both coaching and consulting based on the specific needs of the organization and individuals involved. The conversation explores the importance of first and last impressions in building relationships and the role of emotions in our interactions. It delves into the distinction between coaching and consulting, emphasizing the need for coaches to be unbiased and focused on drawing out the best in others. The conversation also touches on the challenges of internal coaching and the importance of measuring the success of coaching engagements. It concludes with a discussion on the future of coaching and the need for a balance between task-oriented and relationship-oriented approaches. Takeaways • Coaching and consulting are both important in Agile transformations, but coaching should not be led with and should be used when appropriate. • Underqualified coaches can hinder Agile transformations and fail to deliver the promised value. • Coaches need to understand their place and have humility, as well as the ability to adapt their approach based on the needs of the organization and individuals. • There is a need for range and adaptability in coaching approaches, as different situations may require different approaches. • A balanced approach that combines coaching and consulting based on the specific needs of the organization and individuals is crucial for successful Agile transformations. First and last impressions are crucial in building relationships. • Coaches should be unbiased and focused on drawing out the best in others. • Internal coaching can be more complex and requires careful design around confidentiality and safety. • Measuring the success of coaching engagements should focus on moving towards the desired culture and operational rhythm. • The future of coaching requires a balance between task-oriented and relationship-oriented approaches. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:07 The Question: Did Coaching Kill Agile? 05:59 The Challenges of Underqualified Coaches 08:45 Defining Coaching and Consulting 15:32 The Importance of Range and Adaptability in Coaching 28:05 The Power of First and Last Impressions 31:48 The Challenges of Internal Coaching 37:44 Measuring the Success of Coaching Engagements 47:35 The Future of Coaching: Balancing Task and Relationship Contacting Sandra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandracain/ Email: coachcain@gmail.com Contacting Jeff Web: https://www.adaptivitygroup.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferyleach/ Email: jeff.leach@adaptivitygroup.com Dave's Links From The Intro Certified Scrum Product Owner July 1-2, 2024 (Use PRIOR50 to get $50 off the list price) https://tinyurl.com/2r8af3uk Dave's upcoming classes: https://tinyurl.com/u2vh9zh8 The Art of War for Collaboration: https://modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration Contacting Dave: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

Summary The conversation explores the concept of being a hero or a villain in a team and how awareness of one's role can lead to more intentional actions. The guests, Jesse and Carl, share their perspectives on this topic. Jesse discusses his experience running an agency and how he developed a marketing approach for supervillains. Carl talks about his role at the Bureau and the challenges of being a leader. They also discuss the importance of empathy and self-reflection in avoiding villainous behavior. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to be aware of their actions and the impact they have on others. They also explore the challenges of leadership and self-awareness, particularly in relation to the younger generation. It delves into the importance of difficult conversations, honest feedback, and effective reward systems. The fear and pressure of being in a position of power are discussed, along with the potential for toxic leadership. Strategies for improving self-awareness include having a coach, seeking unfiltered feedback, and using AI tools. The concept of decommoditization is introduced as a way to differentiate oneself in a competitive market. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the supportive and inspiring nature of the Bureau community. Takeaways • Being a hero or a villain is subjective and depends on the perspective of others. • Leaders should be aware of their actions and the impact they have on their team. • Empathy and self-reflection are important in avoiding villainous behavior. • True communication and understanding can help build stronger relationships within a team. Difficult conversations and honest feedback are crucial for effective leadership. • Fear and pressure can lead to toxic leadership, and it's important to find healthy ways to manage negative energy. • Having a coach and seeking unfiltered feedback can help improve self-awareness. • Decommoditization is a strategy to differentiate oneself in a competitive market. • The Bureau community is a supportive and inspiring network for professionals. Chapters 03:23 This dude is like Batman...I'm somebody's Joker 07:50 When you think you're a hero, but maybe you're a villain 10:40 The 3 brains in side every organization 11:05 Being conscious of an advanced perspective 13:53 Knowing when you've slipped into villain mode 20:36 Ways to increase your level of self-awareness 26:35 Decommoditization: Differentiating Yourself in a Competitive Market 31:24 The Supportive and Inspiring Nature of the Bureau Community Jesse's book Web: https://marketingforsupervillains.com Amazon: Marketing for Supervillains https://tinyurl.com/59tkjs39 Contacting Jesse Web: https://decommoditized.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-wroblewski/ Contacting Carl Web: https://bureauofdigital.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-w-smith/

Summary In this conversation, Dave Prior interviews Chris Hadnagy and Dr. Abbie Maroño about social engineering and human hacking. They discuss the definition of social engineering and how it differs from human hacking. They emphasize the importance of intent in social engineering, with the goal being to influence someone's actions for their benefit rather than to cause harm. They also explore the concept of imposter syndrome and how it affects different generations and genders. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how self-awareness can be used to be a better servant leader and understand others. In this conversation, Dr. Abbie and Chris Hadnagy discuss the importance of understanding human behavior and communication in various contexts. They emphasize the need to look beneath the surface when someone behaves badly and to consider their underlying needs. They also discuss the importance of self-awareness and understanding one's own communication style. They highlight the value of seeking credible information and avoiding misinformation, especially in the field of psychology. They provide insights into their courses and books that can help individuals improve their communication skills and become more effective in their personal and professional lives. This podcast was originally recorded in video format. You can find the video here: https://youtu.be/71cZz-ac-zc Takeaways Social engineering is the act of influencing someone to take an action that may or may not be in their best interest. Intent plays a crucial role in determining whether social engineering is positive or negative. Imposter syndrome is a universal human experience, but the way it is expressed can differ between generations and genders. Self-awareness is key to understanding and managing imposter syndrome and can be used to be a better servant leader. Understanding the emotions and motivations of others can help build empathy and improve relationships. Look beneath the surface when someone behaves badly and consider their underlying needs. Understand your own communication style and be aware of how it may impact others. Seek credible information and be cautious of misinformation, especially in the field of psychology. Take courses and read books to improve your communication skills and personal development. Chapters 00:18 Introduction and Background 10:26 Exploring Imposter Syndrome Across Generations 24:11 Understanding Others: Building Empathy 31:50 Seeking Credible Information 39:57 Challenging Simplistic Explanations Links from the podcast: Foundational Application of Social Engineering https://www.social-engineer.com/product/foundational-application-of-social-engineering/ Chris's books on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/mrx6umcb Dr. Abbie's Book Work in Progress: The Road to Empowerment, The Journey Through Shame https://tinyurl.com/jzbsu2ev Social-Engineer YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@Social-Engineer Dr. Abbie's TEDX Manchester talk https://www.tedxmanchester.com/abbie-marono/ Contacting Chris Hadnagy Web: https://www.social-engineer.org/ Blog: https://www.social-engineer.org/blog/ LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy Contacting Dr. Abbie Maroño Web: https://www.abbiemarono.com LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd-35ab2611a

I'm testing out the AI Generated Summary… In this conversation, Dave Prior and Scott Sehlhorst discuss the importance of improving the product plan while executing it. They explore the common problem of companies jumping straight into execution without considering what they should build and why. Scott emphasizes the need to shift from a mindset of control to one of influence, where product managers focus on solving problems and creating value for customers and the business. They also discuss the concept of uncertainty and sensitivity and how to navigate it using impact mapping to identify needs and changes. In this conversation, Scott Sehlhorst discusses the importance of shifting into a business model and the need to create changes and hypotheses. He emphasizes the process of narrowing down the target population and quantifying the impact of changes. Scott also highlights the significance of determining sensitivity and making connections between cause and effect. He introduces the confidence rubric and explains how to prioritize experiments. The conversation concludes with the idea of constantly improving the plan and focusing on the next most important thing to learn. Takeaways Companies often jump straight into execution without considering what they should build and why. Product managers should shift from a mindset of control to one of influence, focusing on solving problems and creating value for customers and the business. Uncertainty and sensitivity are inherent in product development, and it is impossible to know everything before building a product. Using impact mapping can help identify needs and changes, allowing for experimentation and learning in an uncertain environment. Shifting into a business model involves creating changes and hypotheses. Narrowing down the target population is crucial for effective experimentation. Quantifying the impact of changes helps determine the potential outcomes. Using a confidence rubric can aid in decision-making and prioritization. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 The Fear of Being Late vs. the Fear of Being Wrong 05:58 Backlog Rationalization Workshop 10:00 Moving from Control to Influence 13:07 Building the Right Things 20:00 Navigating Uncertainty and Sensitivity 29:11 Using Impact Mapping to Identify Needs and Changes 31:56 Shifting into Business Model 33:05 Creating Changes and Hypotheses 34:32 Narrowing Down the Target Population 35:15 Quantifying the Impact 36:34 Determining Sensitivity 38:21 Making Connections and Causal Relationships 39:36 Confidence and Uncertainty 43:00 The Confidence Rubric 44:23 Prioritizing Experiments 49:29 What's the Next Most Important Thing to Learn 53:28 Improving the Plan Links from the Podcast The Empathy Map Podcast where Scott and I discuss Impact Mapping https://on.soundcloud.com/szLXeqe5Q6t2Tf9b8 Scott's blog post about using a Confidence Rubric https://uxpressia.com/blog/make-decisions-about-business-experiments Contacting Scott: Scott's Blog at Tyner Blain: tynerblain.com/blog/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sehlhorst/ Twitter: twitter.com/sehlhorst Email: scott@tynerblain.com

Alan Dayley is back to help me continue the quest of figuring out why so many companies are struggling with PI Planning or quarterly planning. During the interview, we discuss some of the reasons organizations struggle with this type of planning. We address the topic from the perspective of senior leadership, why they want it, how they often approach it, and the challenges that creates. We also explore the way the request is often interpreted by the Development Teams, how they often respond, and how critical it is that they have the time needed to understand the request and the freedom to respond in a way that is responsible to the organization. Alan is a SAFe Program Consultant, so during the conversation he also explains how PI planning is supposed to work if you are truly following SAFe. … and, Developers are not batteries Contacting Alan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alandd/ Email: alandd@DayleyAgile.com

You've decided to take a Scrum certification class. Now the question is, which one? If you are looking for something like Certified Scrum Master or Certified Scrum Product Owner, there are so many options to choose from that it can be overwhelming. All of them should result in certification and price is certainly a concern. But there are a number of other factors to consider when trying to find the Scrum training that is right for you. When you take a certification class, whether its focus is on Scrum, Lean, Kanban, Project Management, whatever… you are investing in yourself and your future. In this podcast, Vic Bonacci and I talk through some of the key things you should consider when selecting a certification course. You are spending your time and money to obtain knowledge and validation (through certification) that you have a certain degree of expertise. Choose wisely… it's your future. Contacting Vic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbonacci/ AgileCoffee Podcast: https://agilecoffee.com Online Scrum Class: https://onlinescrumclass.com Contacting Dave Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo Dave's Classes listed on Scrum Alliance site: https://tinyurl.com/35pzsk5j

Keeping up with what is happening in AI is no small task. You probably know some folks who spend a lot of free time learning how to bend (insert AI flavor of the week) to their will, there are folks who are preaching to anyone who will listen about all the amazing things that are right around the corner, and then there are the folks who just periodically peek over their shoulder and say “Yeah, um… let me know when you've got this bit actually working.” And then there are people like Snehal Talati. I met Snehal last year at the Scrum Gathering and we did a podcast about http://aiagile.org, the community he started to bring Agilists together to ensure that the intersection between the Agile space and AI happens in an intentional and thoughtful way. It's been 8 months since that podcast was posted and that's like 20 years in the AI space. So Snehal is back to share what's been happening in AI and Agile. and to talk about the free course he built for the Scrum Alliance to help folks get started. During our conversation, Snehal gives an update on some of the newer changes and challenges in AI and he also offers real-life examples of how AI is becoming a powerful part of his personal productivity. If you'd like to check out the Scrum Alliance's AI course, that is here: • AI & Agility: A Comprehensive Introduction: https://resources.scrumalliance.org/Course/ai-agility-comprehensive-introduction AI Links to get you started: • AI Agile: https://www.aiagile.org/ • Agile GPT: https://www.agilegpt.com/ • ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt CONTACTING SNEHAL • Web: https://www.boostaro.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snehal-talati-124a38b6/

If you are on one of those teams that has made a habit of dragging unfinished work from one Sprint to the next... YOU NEED TO STOP!   When you get to the end of a Sprint and have work that isn't done, you can't show it to the stakeholders in the Sprint Review. If you don't show it to Stakeholders in the Sprint Review, you can't get feedback. And if you can't get feedback, you can't inspect and adapt, and you negate the entire point of working in a Sprint. This podcast offers five things that you and your team can do right now to stop carrying over unfinished work and start enabling Scrum to provide you with the results you and your organization were hoping for when you headed down the path to agility. This podcast was originally recorded in video. You can find that version here: https://youtu.be/df8Ig_KYPUg If you liked this podcast, please click subscribe and let me know so I keep adding more. If you are interested in attending one of my upcoming CSM or CSPO classes, just follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/yc5k84z5 And if you'd like to contact me, you can find all my links right here: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

At the Modus Institute, Jim Benson and Mark Kilby have created a new offering called Successful Distributed Teams. This new course focuses on how to build strong remote teams, how to create a humane, healthy balance of productivity and accountability, and what tools you can use to make it all work. In this interview, Jim and Mark join me to discuss what happened when they combined the many years of experience they each have in shaping remote teams that work. We cover how the idea of remote work has changed over the past few years, what makes it so challenging, and things you can start doing to foster a thriving collaborative remote team.  This podcast was originally recorded in video. You can find that version here: https://youtu.be/TnFzQr80tBg To learn more about Successful Distributed Teams https://modusinstitute.com/course/successful-remote-work-teams To check out Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman's book From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams https://tinyurl.com/5fbnynxe Contacting Jim Web: https://modusinstitute.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimbenson Email: jim@moduscooperandi.com Contacting Mark Web: MarkKilby.com Mastodon: https://hachyderm.io/@mkilby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkilby/ Email: mark@markkilby.com

A few weeks ago I interviewed Gil Broza about his new book, “Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization's Potential". The book was designed to quickly provide actionable practices that organizations can utilize to improve their value delivery system. It focuses on understanding the fitness for purpose of your system of delivery, and how to employ his ten strategies to improve your level of maturity. During my prep for the interview and during our conversation, there was one thing that was stuck in my head. None of this works without trust. How can a traditional, potentially toxic organization pivot into an approach that is mostly dependent on a certain level of trust? So, during our first interview, I asked Gil if he'd be open to a second conversation where we focus on the question “How do you build trust in an organizational system that does not have it? Gil was kind enough to agree and that is where this podcast began. If you'd like to check out our initial conversation you can find it here: https://on.soundcloud.com/Ed2C4 Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization's Potential
 You can purchase the book here: http://DeliverBetterResultsBook.com Gil has made the first chapter of the book available for download. It provides an executive-level summary of the 10 strategies and how they work as well as an assessment that readers can complete to determine the maturity level of their organization and select strategies to help them improve. You can download it for free here: http://HeardOnPodcast.DeliverBetterResultsBook.com Contacting Gil
 * Work: http://3pvantage.com/
 * LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbroza/ Dave's Upcoming Classes 
In the introduction to the podcast I mentioned a few of my upcoming classes: * A-CSPO February 29-March 1 http://tinyurl.com/bde5acnv * CSM Atlanta - March 4-5 - http://tinyurl.com/yhwzr3bs
 * CSPO Atlanta - March 6-7 - http://tinyurl.com/24be92zy
 And you can find links to all of my upcoming classes here: http://tinyurl.com/4wbkkhra

Gil Broza joins me for a podcast about his new book, “Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization's Potential". During the interview, Gil and I discuss how he designed the book to quickly provide actionable practices that organizations can utilize to improve their value delivery system. Our conversation includes details on how to understand the fitness for purpose of your system of delivery, and how to employ his ten strategies to improve your level of maturity. The first chapter of the book provides an executive-level summary of the 10 strategies and how they work as well as an assessment that readers can complete to determine the maturity level of their organization and select strategies to help them improve. Gil has offered an electronic version of the first chapter to listeners of this podcast. Just follow this link: http://HeardOnPodcast.DeliverBetterResultsBook.com The Book You can purchase the book here: http://DeliverBetterResultsBook.com Other Podcasts About the Book During the podcast, I mentioned that I had listened to a few other interviews with Gil about the book. They are definitely worth checking out because each one focuses on a different aspect of the book. - Agile Uprising: https://agileuprising.libsyn.com/driving-better-results-with-gil-broza - Tech Lead Journal: https://techleadjournal.dev/episodes/160/ - SPAM: https://spamcast.libsyn.com/spamcast-792-deliver-better-results-a-conversation-with-gill-broza Contacting Gil Work: https://3pvantage.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbroza/ Dave's Upcoming Classes In the introduction to the podcast I mentioned a few of my upcoming classes: A-CSPO February 28-March 1 http://tinyurl.com/bde5acnv CSM Atlanta - March 4-5 - http://tinyurl.com/yhwzr3bs CPO Atlanta - March 6-7 - http://tinyurl.com/24be92zy And you can find links to all of my upcoming classes here: http://tinyurl.com/4wbkkhra

With the state of Agile as it is today, I find myself frequently wondering, “Is this the Darkest Agile Timeline”? Things have been getting a bit bleak lately in the Agile space. With the layoffs, the job market, and the fact that the business world has change fatigue and is tired of not getting what they expected from a way of working they've mostly only kinda half-done... Where's the hope? For this podcast (and to find some hope), I reached out to George Schlitz because 1. George is way smarter than me and sees things I can only vaguely sense the shape of, and 2. His new company Adaptivity Group has a mission statement that includes “an unquenchable thirst for ‘better'" and "a fearlessness about the unknown” that kinda smelled like hope to me. During this interview, George and I discuss whether or not this is the darkest timeline, what that means, how we got here, where we can find hope, and what we can do to make things more better-er and think that little old ant can move that rubber tree plant. If you aren't familiar with The Darkest Timeline, in the show Community there was a storyline where a random occurrence created multiple parallel timelines. A roll of the dice created six possible ways things could have gone… basically a six-sided multiverse. And one of the parallels created is THE DARKEST TIMELINE. It's basically the Lemony Snicket timeline of worst case scenario where Captain Kirk is sporting his Van Dyke beard, Thomas Wayne is Batman instead of Bruce Wayne, it rains all the time, you miss every bus, never made that play in the big game, never asked that person to the prom, never got that promotion… you get the idea. During the podcast, George references his blog post on "Addicted to More" blog posts which can be found here: https://www.adaptivitygroup.com/insights/addicted-to-more If you'd like to reach George you can find him here: Adaptivity Group:https://www.adaptivitygroup.com LinkedIn:http://linkedin.com/in/gschlitz

There seems to be a current trend where organizations that say they are doing PI planning or quarterly planning are making a decision for the teams about what must be delivered in the time box. The teams just accept the commitment because they either feel they do not have the agency to push back and say no to some of it or are too busy trying to finish up their last overcommitment to look at new work. So, they begin the new time box already behind and then assess the new work only to (shockingly) learn it is too much. Then they divide it up by the number of Sprints or weeks and that is how they plan out how to get it all done. Most of the time this results in developing a habitual practice of carrying work from one sprint to the next, continually trying to recover from the last overcommitment so they can get to work on the new overcommitment.   In this episode, The Agile Bear, Nigel Baker, joins me to sort through why this is happening, the harm it causes, and ways to fix it. Video Version If you'd prefer to view the video version of this interview: http://tinyurl.com/2eu5yucw Contacting Nigel Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nigelebaker

What do you do when your Scrum Master's understanding of their role seems to be less about acting as a servant leader to the Scrum Team and more about making the team to work in a way that is most convenient for them? In this episode of the podcast, Jeff Howey joins me to talk through the real-life case of a Scrum Master who seems to have lost their way. Here are some of the concerns shared in the podcast: - Dev Team is offshore and holds a Daily Scrum before 8 AM in Scrum Master's time zone. Scrum Master requires that they hold a second Daily Scrum to provide status to Scrum Master. - SM does not attend Sprint Planning. They require the PO to run it. - SM requires the PO to run the Retrospective. All topics must be submitted in advance of the meeting and must be positive comments (not negative). - Scrum Master does not like the way the Developers have set up their Task Board and requires that they change it to a format that works better for the Scrum Master. During the conversation, Jeff and I unpack these and a number of additional concerns, talk through how they are out of alignment with Scrum and the role of the Scrum Master, and discuss suggestions we'd offer to help reset the understanding of what it means to be a Scrum Master who acts as a servant leader for a Scrum Team. If you'd like to contact Jeff Howey. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhowey/ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-agile-alchemist-7018992829091778560

For the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/pnmbdAxskXo When an organization has taken the decision to switch an Agile way of working, they often get so caught up in trying to adopt the various practices and processes that they forget to stop and ask the question, “Is this providing the business outcome we need?” Remembering to keep that question top of mind is important. Knowing what to pay attention to and how to understand the answer is even more important. In this episode, Jessica Wolfe returns to the podcast so that we can discuss some of the things you might want to focus on, and how paying attention to areas that may be less obvious can give you greater insight into how agile is impacting your business and delivering the results you are looking for. As we work through the topic, Jessica shows how Lean Agile Intelligence can be used to help discover and interpret metrics you need to see so that you can understand how agile is impacting your organization. During the podcast Jessica was kind enough to offer a special 20% discount on an annual license to Lean Agile Intelligence if you purchase before the end of 2023. In order to get the discount go to https://leanagileintelligence.com/Account/Register?promoCode=DRUNKENPM6W and tell them you listened to the DrunkenPM podcast. This podcast was originally recorded using video. If you would like to check out that version so you can see the demo of Lean Agile Intelligence, click here: https://youtu.be/pnmbdAxskXo For more on Lean Agile Intelligence Web: https://tinyurl.com/2p23z556 LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/mspwy5r7 Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/bdcs2fnd Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3dkjwh9t Contacting Jessica LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/erzxw66m

On Friday, December 8, The Agile Alliance is hosting a MiniCon on the Future of Artificial Intelligence. During the event, Mark Kilby will be hosting a roundtable discussion with the speakers to explore the ways AI is poised to impact how we work and what it will take to utilize it in an ethical and responsible way. Mark joins me in this episode of the podcast to discuss why he made a conscious decision to get schooled up on AI, how he's going about doing it, some of the key learnings he has had along the way, and his take on what the future of AI has to offer those of us work in the agile space and project management. The Future of AI MiniCon If you'd like to learn more about the Agile Alliance's Future of AI MiniCon: https://tinyurl.com/mw5ww3w2 Contacting Mark If you'd like to contact Mark: https://www.markkilby.com/ Distributed Teams And if you need some help with distributed teams, you should pick up a copy of From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams which Mark co-authored with Johanna Rothman. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! https://tinyurl.com/22vvnyjx

Agile is going through a lot of changes right now. The changes aren't so much in what it is and how it works - that seems to be a bit stable at the moment. The changes stem more from how adopters feel about it, their ideas about much agile they need, what they need to achieve it, and what kind of support they want getting there. As the space works through these growing pains, many Agilists respond to discomfort they way they (unfortunately) have since the very beginning, by pointing figures at each other and saying “OM%G! CAN YOU BELIEVE THOSE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE AGILE?” It is a sad but true thing that baked deep into the culture of the agile community is this idea that the best way to prove that you are good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like you is by calling out the people who you think are not good enough, smart enough and doggone it… you get the idea. In response to one of these incidents that showed up in his LinkedIn Feed, Andy Jordan posted an article called “Letting Go of Pure Agile” (https://www.projectmanagement.com/articles/893794/letting-go-of--pure--agile), making the case that whether or not you are truly Lean, or doing Scrum “right”, or whatever, doesn't matter because the business cares about results and that is what we should all be focused on. I reached out to Andy to ask for an interview with the hope that we could dig a little deeper into his concerns over the purists, finding the right tools for the job, the current state of agile and project management, and, of course, how AI is impacting us. (It was also just great getting to catch up with him.) Andy, Mark Price-Perry, and I used to do workshops for PMI on Redefining your PMO. If you are curious about that you can learn more here: https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/294895/pmxpo-2015--why-you-need-to-consider-redefining-the-pmo Andy's Article: Letting Go of Pure Agile: https://www.projectmanagement.com/articles/893794/letting-go-of--pure--agile Contacting Andy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyjordan/ ProjectManagement.com: https://www.projectmanagement.com/profile/andyjordan/ Web: https://www.roffensian.com

With each new round of layoffs, the existential crisis facing the agile coaching community deepens. Alan Dayley joins me to discuss how the community is retrospecting on this moment and whether or not it is asking the right questions. Over the past year, a number of high-profile organizations have made a decision to let go of their agile coaches. The impact of that choice on those organizations will become apparent in time. The impact on the coaches, however, has been more immediate. In this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Alan Dayley for a conversation about how the agile coaching community has responded to this existential crisis. With all the current conversations about whether or not Agile is dying, or how coaches could make the value they add more obvious to the organization, but there is very little discussion about the systems and environment that led to the decision to get rid of the coaches I'm the first place. What were these organizations trying to achieve and did they actually get it? Have they reached a level of agility that no longer requires the help of a coach? Is it just change fatigue? Alan and I dig into these topics throughout the conversation. This interview is also available in video. You can find that version here: https://youtu.be/TZ2KoSzkEB8 Contacting Alan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alandd/ X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/DayleyAgile Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@adayley

Louder Than Ten is a Vancouver-based Project Management Training and Consulting company. L>10 was founded by Rachel and Travis Gertz, and for the past 14 years, everything they have done has been centered around fostering healthy and humane ways of working together and managing projects. There aren't many organizations in the digital agency space that have taken the time to develop their own project management manifesto. It is truly a unique place and now, as they do, Rachel and Travis have cranked up the volume just a scosche higher by converting their company into a Worker Owned Cooperative. This means that folks who have been working with them for a long time (like Abby Fretz: https://on.soundcloud.com/H6TJq) as well as new employees who join Louder than Ten will have an option to purchase a stake in the company and become an equal partner. This is a far cry from the sweatshop grind-it-out approach that many agencies take and it is definitely unique in the context of what is happening in the field of project management today. In this episode of the podcast, Rachel and Travis join me to talk about what led to this decision, why they made it, and what it means for the future of Louder Than Ten. This podcast was originally recorded with video. You can find that version here: https://youtu.be/mFLfeDYhgE0 If you'd like to learn more about how to turn a business into a worker owned coop, here are some links: Worker Cooperative - Wikipedia Entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_cooperative Canadian Worker Cooperative Federation: https://canadianworker.coop/ United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives: https://www.usworker.coop/en/ Democracy at Work: https://institute.coop/ Contacting Rachel and Travis Web: https://louderthanten.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louderthanten/ Rachel LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachel-gertz-trainer Travis LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/travisgertz

As long as there have been agile teams there has been the challenge of putting people together and getting them to actually be agile. You can send them off to a class and teach them Scrum or Kanban, or bring in team coaches, and that helps, but it doesn't address one fundamental issue. Most people have not taken (or been given) the time they need to learn how to be agile in how they manage themselves as individuals. Michael Grill is a Product Owner and Head of Process and Methods in the Agile Practice at Knorr-Bremse, and they have taken steps to address this challenge of helping individuals adopt an agile mindset and practices in managing their day-to-day work by adopting Personal Kanban before they put them together on agile teams. In this interview Michael joins me to share how Knorr-Bremse came to make this choice and how it is deeply impacting their agile practice. First, you begin working with Personal Kanban, then you and your team members begin working together using PK, and then you adopt practices from Scrum, Kanban or other forms of agile, to get the work done. When Michael told me about the approach they had taken I was really excited to do the interview, because it just makes so much sense I was stunned that it had never occurred to me before. To add a little to the complexity, the work that Michael and his teams use agile to develop hardware like breaking systems for trains, and that adds a whole other dimension to how they incorporate agile. If you'd like to hear more about that, we covered it in a previous interview and there is link to it below as well as links to where you can learn more about Personal Kanban and even take a course in how to get started with it. Links:
 Using Agile to Develop Hardware with Michael Grill https://tinyurl.com/yc32jdc8 Personal Kanban site: https://www.personalkanban.com Personal Kanban Training at Modus Institute: https://modusinstitute.com Lean Agile Visual Management Certification: https://tinyurl.com/2m8pzaa7 My blog on Personal Kanban: https://tinyurl.com/33vb3rua Contacting Michael
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-grill
Twitter: twitter.com/actualMG

Getting people to open up to one another and connect at work is not an easy thing. It wasn't easy before the world went remote, and now that many of us are somewhere in the middle of being half remote and half in-person, it's not getting any easier. But if we can get to know each other a little better and a little deeper, we will foster stronger connections. As we become more invested in one another, the work we do together will improve as a result. Together To Gather is a card game developed by Lia James from &Human and Jessie Shternshus from the Improv Effect to help leverage the power of great questions to inspire meaningful conversations. If you are looking for a really fun way to build deeper relationships with your team members or any group of people you interact with, you should definitely check out this interview. During our conversation, Jessie, Lia, and I talk about how and why the game works and discuss different use cases for it. You can even watch us play a few rounds and learn one of the reasons I was so bad at working in a recording studio. This interview was originally recorded using video. If you'd prefer to watch the video version, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/YvfqASg2EhI You can find more about Together To Gather Here: Web: https://tinyurl.com/bdht73yu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/togethertogather/ Connecting with Lia Web: https://www.andhuman.space LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liajames/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liajames Email: lia@liajames.com Connecting with Jessie Web: https://improveffect.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-shternshus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheImprovEffect/ Email: jessie@improveffect.com

AI is everywhere now. You can't have a conversation that involves the future of work without heading down the rabbit hole of how Chat GPT and tools like it are changing the workspace. For some, it is a very exciting time. For others, it is scary as hell because it is so hard to figure out how it will impact our work. In this interview, Zach Stone is back for a chat about the following questions: - What parts of the work we do on Scrum Teams will be augmented or replaced by AI? - How do we prepare for that? - After AI takes over parts of the job, what are we supposed to do and how will we keep adding value? During our conversation, Zach shares what he's learned while pursuing answers to these questions, as well as his thoughts on what we need to do to prepare for our work in the not too distant future and what we'll need to do in order to stay valuable and relevant to our teams and organizations. Transcript - A transcript of the interview can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/zmt26ped Links from the podcast - Interview with Zach on his team in Ukraine: https://on.soundcloud.com/jG1NM - Agile Coaching Skills - Certified Facilitator (ACS-CF): https://tinyurl.com/3tnpd637 - Jira Insights: https://tinyurl.com/2br59457 - AI For Everyone (the AI course Zach recommended): https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-for-everyone/ - Study: Prefrontal Cortex In Jazz Musicians Winds Down When Improvising https://tinyurl.com/2ua826yf - AI Decision Assistant ChatBot for Software Release Planning and Optimized Resource Allocation https://tinyurl.com/bddz9zdm - Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/ Contacting Zach - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stonezach/

Times are weird in the land of Agile. More and more big companies are letting go of the people they've brought on to help them adopt agile practices, or replacing their Scrum Masters with Technical Program Managers, or creating a homegrown version of Agile by taking an established framework and bailing on the practices they don't like. Is this just business accepting that what they've been trying to do for the past 10+ years was just too hard, have they achieved a level of agility that they are happy with, or have they decided to place different bets on what it will take to carry them into the future? In this episode of the podcast, Jesse Fewell joins me to explore different ideas about what is happening, why it is happening, and what this means for people who've spent years trying to establish a career in agile.  The conversation came about as a result of a post Jesse made on LinkedIn. He's doing research on the topic and I asked him to join me to talk through some of the ideas. If you have stories to share, he'd love to hear from you. You can find his original LinkedIn post here: https://bit.ly/3EjRUf9 Towards the end of the podcast we also discuss a question that came up in one of my CSM/CSPO Lean Coffees: If you are hired as a Scrum Master into a mostly waterfall organization that still has traditional project managers, and the engineers are trying to treat you like a secretary, how do you establish your role and the value you can provide? Contacting Jesse Untapped Agility on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3PnjPBr Untapped Agility Website: https://untappedagility.com/ Jesse's Site: https://jessefewell.com Jesse's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JesseFewell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessefewell/ Email: jesse@fewellinnovation.com

Jardena London is on a mission. After spending years helping organizations transform, adopt agile, and achieve business agility she realized there was something missing. Soul. Yes, change was happening, but at what expense? Were people any more able to bring their whole selves to work, authentically show up, rise to the challenge of the day, and fully contribute themselves to the work? Mostly, not so much. And that is what led her to shift her focus to helping create soulful transformation within an organization. This led to a book “Cultivating Transformations: A Leader's Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical” and her newly launched community Transformational Leader Community which is the primary focus of our conversation. During this interview, we talk about what Jardena means by “soulful”, how it is different from what many people experience during their normal work, and how the change has to occur on three levels, the me, the we, and the system. If you'd prefer to watch a video of this interview https://youtu.be/zOa4IZT_V2c Join the Transformational Leader Community https://learning.cultivatingtransformations.com/ Read Jardena's book Cultivating Transformations: A Leader's Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical https://bit.ly/3QB72fo Links from the interview - 5 Steps to Soul https://www.rosettaagile.com/resources - Inner Workings - Pixar short about happiness at work https://vimeo.com/270992364 - Brave New Work - Aaron Dignan https://amzn.to/440LJHn - The Responsibility Process - Christopher Avery https://amzn.to/47o5AD6 - 4 Stages to Psychological Safety - Tim Clark https://amzn.to/47fnKqR Contacting Jardena - CultivatingTransformations.com https://www.cultivatingtransformations.com/ - RosettaAgile.com https://www.rosettaagile.com/ - JardenaLondon.com https://www.jardenalondon.com/

Agile 2023 is almost here! Mark Kilby, Tim Nolan, and I are putting the final touches on our session Tuning Your Distributed Team with a Right Environment Exercise. We are looking forward to sharing some of the things we learned in Modus Cooperandi's Lean Agile Visual Management Certification program. The workshop will be held at Agile 2023 on Tuesday, July 25th from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This video gives an overview of our workshop and some of the key concepts we will be covering with the participants. If you are attending the conference for the first time, it can be a rough week so we've also got tips for how to get the most out of the conference and how to best survive the week. This was originally recorded in video. You can find that version here:https://youtu.be/FKwIETj0xzM

Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Agile and Project Management space has become a conversation most of us are now having daily. There are a number of products already on the market and more coming every hour. In the same way that several years ago everyone had an app, now everyone wants to have a product leveraging AI. Snehal Talati, the AI Agile guy, has an app he's been working on, but he's also working on something bigger… the question of how we will use AI, responsibly, to not just replicate the things we can already do, but help us advance the way we understand and approach work. In this interview, Snehal joins me to talk about https://www.aiagile.org. This is a community he has founded to start a conversation with four goals: - Develop principles and practices for human-centric AI - Learn and share how AI augments Agile methods to serve people - Pioneer an adaptive, collaborative model for progress - Ensure diversity and ethics in creating new tech During our conversation we talk about where AI is headed, what is happening to the job market, and how we can “reimagine agile” in a way that leverages the power of AI and Agile Principles to create another revolution in the world of work. Note: Towards the end of the interview Snehal generously offers a 10% discount on a course but unfortunately I did not finish editing the interview until after the course had run. Instead, he's offering a 10% discount on his ChatGPT Agile Mastery Workshop Series. All you have to do to receive the discount is use the promo code drunkenpm when you sign up here: https://www.boostaro.com/new-micro-certifications. Links from the podcast: AI Agile: https://www.aiagile.org/ Agile GPT: https://www.agilegpt.com/ ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt Spinach.io: https://www.spinach.io/ Socratic: https://socraticworks.com Contacting Snehal: Web: https://www.boostaro.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snehal-talati-124a38b6/

Johanna Rothman is one of my favorite people to interview and in this episode, she's back to talk about her new book Successful Independent Consulting: Relationships That Focus on Mutual Benefit. The book is full of insights and practical tips not just for consultants but anyone looking to establish themself and make their presence known in their profession. The conversation also covers the book she published last year, Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer: Educate, Influence, and Entertain Your Readers because a big part of making your presence known is making sure your voice is heard. What's great about Johanna's books is that they are full of practical answers to the questions you show up with. But in reading Successful Independent Consulting I found it was also addressing the questions I hadn't figured out how to articulate yet, and the questions I didn't realize I was hiding from. She sent me an ebook version of Successful Independent Consulting to prep for the interview, and I was making so many notes in my Kindle that I had to order a hard copy as well, just so I could keep it all straight. During the interview, she shares some stories and examples of the challenges she faced in consulting and how she has overcome them. Whether you work in consulting or are just trying to carve out a space for yourself in the company you work for, you'll get a lot of value out of this conversation and her new book. I can't recommend the book enough. The advice she shares is already having a deep impact on how I approach my work. This podcast is also available in a video format: https://youtu.be/-H8F873dD10 The Books: Successful Independent Consulting: Relationships That Focus on Mutual Benefit https://bit.ly/3PODNFO Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer: Educate, Influence, and Entertain Your Readers https://bit.ly/3PRZmoP Contacting Johanna Web: https://www.jrothman.com Amazon: https://bit.ly/44wqwWm Leanpub: https://leanpub.com/u/johannarothman LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/johannarothman

I've done several podcast interviews over the past few months about Flow Metrics. These podcasts are all pretty much aligned around the fact that if you want metrics you can rely on to predict what to expect from your teams in the future, nothing is perfect, but flow metrics are better than velocity. Since most of the people I meet while I am coaching, or teaching use Jira, I reached out to a friend at Atlassian to learn more about how to get this data. Here's the best part… if you are using Jira, the system is probably already capturing the data for you, you just need an easy way to get at it… and this podcast Derek Huether and Sam Tsubota will show you just how easy it is to get at the information you need to understand more about you team's flow. (This podcast was originally recorded in video. If you'd like to watch that version you can find it here: https://youtu.be/q86HXsvvv04 ) If you'd like to check out the other podcasts I've done recently on flow metrics: Story Points are Good AND Evil with Ryan Ripley https://bit.ly/3vZvDzk Enabling Change with Data Modeling and Forecasting (with Troy Magennis) https://bit.ly/3JypeSF For more on Atlassian Analytics: https://bit.ly/3oZiaYt If you'd like to contact Derek or Sam Derek Huether LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3poYSvF Web: derekhuether.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/derekhuether Amazon: https://bit.ly/3GPEQQQ Sam Tsubota LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/STsubota

In the classes I teach and the podcasts I record I talk frequently about how deeply Sun Tzu's The Art of War has impacted the way I understand the opportunities that show up in my life. Once you get past the title, you can begin to understand how it is really a book about collaboration. I have MANY translations of the Art of War in my apartment but none of them have reshaped my brain as profoundly as the ones by Gary Gagliardi. His book The Amazing Secrets of Sun Tzu's The Art of War: The Mysteries of History's Most Powerful Strategy helped me to understand the work on a completely different level and was the basis for my Five Meaasures Canvas tool. And, he is the guest on this episode of the podcast!!!! If you are a fan of the Art of War or are curious about how a book called The Art of War could actually be about collaboration, this podcast is for you. I also want to say that I am so grateful to Gary for being willing to share his time with me and tolerate my questions. He definitely took me to school during this interview. I hope you will enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it. Links from the Interview The Amazing Secrets of Sun Tzu's The Art of War Contacting Gary Gagliardi Amazon Author Page: https://bit.ly/3CHgJkh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyjgagliardi/ Web: https://scienceofstrategy.org/main/ and http://www.garygagliardi.com SubStack: https://practicalstrategy.substack.com Email: gagliardi.gary@gmail.com

Join us in this new episode as we welcome back Ross Beurmann, who takes us on an exploration in IT funding, and how the way we fund IT impacts how work gets done and the outcomes it delivers. Drawing inspiration from his thought-provoking LinkedIn post, Ross advocates for making intentional decisions about how we fund IT projects and products, ensuring their separation between operations IT projects and strategic IT projects. Discover how this distinction can impact the outcomes of our work, shaping priorities, staffing decisions, and resource allocation. Links: Ross's original blog post: https://bit.ly/43SQNhq Contacting Ross • Podcast: Couple of Coaches: https://soundcloud.com/coupleofcoaches • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossbeurmann/ • Email: Ross@rossbeurmann.com • (Ross has joined me on a few other podcasts. If you'd like to check them out you can find them here: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=ross%20beurmann)

Get ready for an electrifying episode of DrunkenPM Radio as I welcome the esteemed James Grenning to unravel the world of Test Driven Development (TDD). Agile 2023 is just around the corner, and during the conference, James will be leading a workshop called "Your First Test-Driven Development." While TDD is not a new concept, it remains unfamiliar to many tech professionals who didn't come from a development background. That's precisely why I reached out to James and invited him to join me for this inspiring podcast. If you're immersed in Agile or managing technology projects, and TDD is still a mystery to you, this is a must-watch. TDD is a game-changer, and understanding it is crucial for your professional growth. I assure you that this episode will significantly impact your job in the best way possible. Now, let's talk about the best part of this podcast: our incredible guest, James Grenning. He personifies the epitome of old-school OG Agile Royalty. Not only is James one of the co-authors of the Agile Manifesto, but he also penned the definitive book on TDD. That's not all—James is the brilliant mind behind Planning Poker, a technique that has revolutionized Agile estimation. Stay tuned as we delve into this fascinating topic towards the end of our conversation. But wait, there's more! At the conclusion of our interview, James will unveil a remarkable system he designed and developed for his training classes. When off-the-shelf solutions fell short of meeting his requirements, James took matters into his own hands. His ingenuity and determination to deliver top-notch training are truly awe-inspiring. Don't miss out on this captivating podcast episode. James Grenning's wisdom and expertise will reshape the way you approach your work. Join me as we embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment with one of the brightest minds in the world of Test Driven Development. (This podcast was originally recorded using video. You can find that version here: https://youtu.be/k5OaxLCIzzI) James's Book Test Driven Development for Embedded C (Pragmatic Programmers): https://bit.ly/43CMsP0 James's session at Agile 2023 Your First Test-Driven Development at Agile 2023 https://events.agilealliance.org/Agile2023/session/1423798/your-first-test-driven-development-james-grenning Monday, July 24, 2023, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Lafayette 4 Contacting James Web: https://wingman-sw.com/about LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwgrenning/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwgrenning Agile, Extreme Programming, XP, Scrum, TDD, Test Drive Development, James Grenning, Dave Prior, Reluctant Agilist, drunkenpm, Drunken PM Radio, Planning Poker, Estimation, Wingman-SW, Agile Development and Design Techniques,

Are you tired of endless meetings, indecision, and lack of progress? Do you want to learn a powerful problem-solving technique that will help you transform your digital business? If so, you won't want to miss this exciting podcast episode! Join Dave Prior as he interviews Atif Rafiq, a change leader who has worked with some of the biggest companies in the world, including McDonald's, Volvo, and Amazon. Atif's new book, "Decision Sprint," reveals a breakthrough problem-solving technique that enables leaders to tap into the power of upstream work and collaborative teamwork to generate the questions needed to make crucial decisions. In this podcast, Atif shares his insights into how to make the most of upstream work and collaborative teamwork to develop successful products and transform your digital business. You'll discover how to solve complex problems quickly and effectively, and how to keep your team aligned and moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the world's top change leaders! Tune in to this podcast episode now and discover how to unlock the power of upstream work and collaborative teamwork to take your business to the next level. The Book Decision Sprint: https://bit.ly/41kNptK Contacting Atif Web: https://www.decisionsprint.com/ LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/42C6dWt

ChatGPT was used to create the blog post to go with this podcast... Are you ready to step into the future of work? Join Marty Bradley and Dave Prior for a mind-blowing conversation about the power of Artificial Intelligence! In this podcast, you'll learn how Marty has teamed up with AI to write a book and create epic briefs, and how this cutting-edge technology is already transforming the way we work and lead. Discover how to leverage AI to its fullest potential, and unlock new opportunities for growth and success. From exploring the skills and jobs that will be in demand in the AI era, to uncovering the ways AI is already shaping our world, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve. Don't miss out on this game-changing episode! Tune in now to hear how you can harness the power of AI to take your career, your team, and your organization to the next level. Subscribe to the podcast and be ready to embrace the future! Contacting Marty Web: https://evergreenagile.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martybradley Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskCoachMarty TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@askcoachmarty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askcoachmarty/

What do you do when you and your fellow product owners are competing for limited resources (human and otherwise) within your organization and senior leadership seems unwilling or unable to align around strategic priority for the company and create clarity on what the most important things to work on are. Is it okay for leadership to just wait for the Product Owners to fight it out? If you are a PO looking for strategic guidance, how can you get it? In this podcast, Mike Vizdos joins me to talk through the impact this situation has on teams and their ability to deliver value. We explore what you might be able to do if you are faced with this “opportunity,” how Patrick Lencioni's idea of First Team has become an critical part of Mike's work coaching senior leadership, and how AI is becoming part of his approach. Links from the Podcast First Team: https://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/first-team The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni https://bit.ly/43KMCox Interactive Scrum Guide: https://www.michaelvizdos.com/interactive-scrum-guide Audio Scrum Guide: https://www.michaelvizdos.com/scrum-guide Implementing Scrum AI: https://implementingscrum.ai Contacting Mike Web: https://www.michaelvizdos.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mvizdos/ Blog: https://www.michaelvizdos.com/implementing-scrum/ Contact Form: https://www.michaelvizdos.com/contact

This episode of the podcast is all about Facilitation. Fellow Certified Scrum Trainer, Anu Smalley joins me to talk about a brand new Scrum Alliance certification called: Agile Coaching Skills - Certified Facilitator (ACS-CF). During the conversation Anu and I discuss what the certification focuses on, what you can expect from someone who has it, and why it might be valuable to those leading and/or coaching teams. In the podcast, Anu references a TED talk where the facilitation skills of different musical conductors are evaluated. You can find that here: http://bit.ly/3KORIZo To learn more about the Scrum Alliance's Agile Coaching Skills - Certified Facilitator program: http://bit.ly/3KOK958 Getting Certified AND a Discount At the time this podcast is being posted, Anu is the only person teaching ACS-CF in North America. She has three classes coming up and she set up a discount code so that anyone listening to this podcast can get $100 off the price of a class by entering the promo code: facilitation100 Here are her upcoming classes: In-Person May 11-12 in Portland, OR - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/553421507627 Virtual June12-13 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/592781765217 July 13-14 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/592821082817 Contacting Anu Web: https://www.capalaconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/41etnl2 Email: anu@capalaconsulting.com