1. Agile Coaching
Rachel Davies
www.agilexp.com
About you
Raise your hand if you
 Specify software?
 Write software?
 Test software?
 Coach teams?
And are you ..
 New to Agile?
 Already trying Agile?
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2. About me
Programmer Independent Agile Coaching
on XP team Agile Coach book
2000 2003 2009
What does an Agile Coach do?
helps teams grow strong in Agile practice
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3. Agile Coach works with ..
Teams
Individuals Organization
Supports rather than leads
Agile Coach
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4. How does a coach work?
Author: J. Richard Hackman
Many books about
coaching individuals.
Hackman’s book covers
coaching teams.
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5. Hackman Explains
Three kinds of coaching intervention:
 Motivational improve effort by minimizing free
riding and building shared commitment
 Consultative improve process by reducing
thoughtless habits and fostering invention based
on situation
 Educational improve knowledge and skill
Sow the seeds
Introduce agile ideas to
the team.
Create an environment
for the team to grow their
own agile practice.
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6. Be an example
Pitch in and show how
How to start?
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7. #1: Build Trust
Get to know the team
Trust Equation
T = (C + R + I ) / S
Where:
T = Trust
C = Credibility
R = Reliability
I = Intimacy
S = Self-orientation
Book: “The Trusted Advisor” by Maister, Green, & Galford
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8. I can trust what you say about ..
Credibility comes from
expertise
As a coach
• Talk from experience
• Admit when you don’t know!
Encourage team to develop
their expertise and ask for
help
I can trust you to ..
Be Reliable
As a coach
• Be consistent
• Keep commitments
Agile practices like
Daily Standup
meetings help the
team to meet their
commitments
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9. Care for needs of other ..
As a coach
• Listen to the team
• Demonstrate you heard
• Keep confidences
• You don’t have to get the
credit!
Encourage the team to get to
know each other
#2: Consider Context
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10. Why do people resist Change?
This team is using old tools
How can you influence them to change?
Measure Up
Being Agile is not usually the real goal
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11. Force Field Analysis
Remove barriers and amplify forces for change
#3: Work Iteratively
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12. Make Blockers Visible
Encourage Experiments
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13. Go with team energy
What do they want to try?
Respect Experience
Sometimes team know better than you!
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14. Take Time to Reflect
Try to See the Big Picture
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15. Care about Quality
Change Takes Time
Be patient
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16. Coaching Hazards
Don’t give all the answers
Don’t push the team too
fast
Don’t forget every team is a
unique in a different
context
Any Questions?
Contact info:
Email: rachel@agilexp.com
Twitter: rachelcdavies
Blog: http://agilecoach.typepad.com/
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17. Introduction to
Open Space
Open Space Technology
Open Space Technology by Harrison Owen
http://www.openspaceworld.org/
Adopted by in agile community:
http://www.agileopen.net/
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18. Conversations
The best conversations at conferences are often in
the coffee break!
Open Space enables sessions to be proposed by
anyone.
Photo from Open Jam at Agile2008 conference
Four Principles of Open Space
• Whoever comes is the
right people
• Whenever it starts is
the right time
• Whatever happens is
the only thing that could
have
• When it's over, it's over
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19. If you are in a session where you are not learning or contributing,
use your two feet and move on!
Bumble Bees & Butterflies
• Bumble bees move from
one session to another
carrying ideas.
• Butterflies hang outside
sessions and informal
conversations gather
around them.
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20. Running a Session
 Show up to lead your
topic
 Encourage conversation
in the group
 Take notes and write up
after your session
 No smoking or sticking
paper to walls!
How to propose a session
 Announce your session topic
 Write a note with your topic
and your name
 Add to Open Space
marketplace flipchart
• Day 1: 16:00-17:00
• Day 2: 10:00-11:00
• 9th floor or Club floor
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21. Now We Start
1.Talk about ideas for sessions
2. Stand up to announce your session
3. Add it to the marketplace choosing time and
place
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