What are the 3 challenges you face facilitating distributed agile teams? This talk discusses those challenges and provide some solutions in 40min. I longer version is being developed to include exercises.

1. FACILITATING
DISTRIBUTED TEAMS
MARK KILBY - LEAN AGILE US - FEB 2019

2. My distributed (agile) background …
2001
2003
2008
2012
2013
2014
for hire
consultingacrossindustries
volunteer
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

3. Facilitating Distributed Teams
Challenge 1:
When can we meet?
Challenge 2:
What type of distributed team?
Challenge 3:
How do we make distributed meetings better?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

4. Challenge 1:
When can we meet?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

5. Challenge:
When can we meet?
We get tangled up on time zones but
is that really the problem?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

6. Distributed
Collaboration
Limits?
Based on work preference
(not time zones)
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

7. How to find
acceptable hours of overlap?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

8. Challenge 2:
What type of
distributed team?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

9. Team
Patterns
more info at
https://markkilby.com
Satellite
one or a few remote
from team
Nebula whole team dispersed
Clusters
team in a
few locations
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

10. more info at
http://remotelyagile.info / @mkilby
Satellite
one or a few remote
from team
© 2019 Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman
@mkilby

11. more info at
http://remotelyagile.info / @mkilby
Clusters
team in a
few locations
© 2019 Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman
@mkilby

12. more info at
https://markkilby.com
Nebula
whole team dispersed
© 2019 Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman
@mkilby

13. How we can facilitate different
types of distributed teams
more info at https://markkilby.com
Backchannel
Buddy System
Copilots
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

14. Backchannels
“All hailing
frequencies open”
Someone should always monitor the
chat channel for related
communications in distributed
meetings
Example: Allows anyone to ask
questions or share info if they can’t
break in on audio/video
Satellite
Clusters
Nebula
Dedicated chat channel where
team can communicate in case
of audio/video challenges
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

15. Backchannels are not…
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

16. Better Backchannels
Use the team’s regular
chat channel
Let others know if you drop
connection with meeting
(“LOS. BRB”)
Provides a better persistent
history for team
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

17. Buddy System
Satellite
one or a few remote
from team
Each remote person has a
buddy in the main location to
make sure they are connected
to the rest of the team
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

18. Buddy System
In-Room Buddy can:
* Agree on best way to
connect with Remote Buddy:
chat / SMS / etc.
* Monitor chat to see if Remote Buddy
is having issues hearing or joining conversation.
* Represent Remote Buddy in any in-room activities
(white board, sticky notes, etc.)
* Share pictures with buddy of in-room activities @mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

19. Copilots
Someone at another location
that can help you facilitate the
whole team meeting
Variations:
* Facilitation (equal) pairing
* Host & Producer
(handle logistics)
* Main Facilitator & Site-Cluster
Facilitators
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby
Clusters

20. Copilots
Prep - Consider
planning time in
advance to
Clusters
team in a
few locations
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby
Co-develop an agenda and
Practice any transitions from
one facilitator to another and
Prep any “pilot/facilitator” to
take over if one drops off

21. Challenge 3:
How do we make
distributed meetings
better?
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

22. NEED GOOD
FACILITATION
SKILLS
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

23. We may leverage our
distributed environment
Mix asynchronous
and synchronous
Synchronous
Mix asynchronous
and synchronous

24. Facilitating Distributed Teams
Challenge 1: When can we meet?
Tools: Team Hours Overlap Chart
Challenge 2: What type of distributed team?
Tools: Backchannels, Buddies, and Co-Pilots
Challenge 3: How do we make distributed
meetings better?
Tools: Good facilitation technique
@mkilby
© 2019 Mark Kilby

25. Thanks! Questions?
more info at http://markkilby.com
Twitter: @mkilby
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkilby
Want to try it? We are hiring
https://www.sonatype.com/careers
Get e-book at
http://bit.ly/distagilebook
Available on Amazon late March 2019

26. Photo credits (in order of appearance)
- The Pleiades, an open star cluster. Public Domain. https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_astronomical_objects#/media/
File:Pleiades_large.jpg
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:World_Time_Zones_Map.png, Public Domain
- Satellite.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Navstar-2F.jpg - Public Domain.
- Crab Nebula.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebula#/media/
File:Crab_Nebula.jpg - Public Domain.
- The Pleiades, an open star cluster. Public Domain. https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_astronomical_objects#/media/
File:Pleiades_large.jpg
- Uhura / Star Trek http://www.publicdomainfiles.com/
show_file.php?id=13498604414055 - Public Domain
- Buddy System for -6 PLSS, Apollo 14 press kit. https://
www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a14/a14pk_buddy_system_en.jpg -
Public Domain.
- Gemini astronauts. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/
images/258507main_s66-44601_full.jpg - Public Domain.
- Gemini-11 prime and backup crews at Kennedy Space
Center, FL. https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/gemini-xi-
prime-and-backup-crews - Public Domain.
Other images © 2019 Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman