Afleveringen
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BONUS: The Power of Handwritten Letters for Leaders With Amy Daughters
In this BONUS episode, we explore the transformative power of handwritten letters with author Amy Daughters. In her book, Dear Dana, Amy shares her remarkable journey of reconnecting with hundreds of people through the lost art of letter writing and reveals how leaders can use this simple yet profound tool to build deeper connections, foster engagement, and create lasting impact in their organizations.
The Genesis of a Letter-Writing Mission"I was minding my own business, just doing my thing, and I get on Facebook one day in 2014, very innocently, like we all do, and I had a memory of a friend that I'd worked with at a summer camp here in Texas 35 years ago."
Amy's journey began with a simple Facebook search for an old camp friend named Dana. After reconnecting online, Amy discovered that Dana's young son was battling cancer. Initially just following their story from a distance, Amy felt compelled to start sending handwritten letters to Dana and her son during their hospital stays. When Dana's son tragically passed away at age 15, Amy continued writing to Dana, sending letters to her husband's law office despite feeling it might be irrational. Five months later, she received a ten-page handwritten response from Dana, sparking a two-year correspondence that changed both of their lives. This powerful connection ultimately inspired Amy to write letters to all 580 of her Facebook friends in a remarkable social experiment that transformed her perspective on human relationships.
The Power of Human Connection"We were relating to each other as simple human beings. I didn't know how she voted, she didn't know how I voted... I didn't know what her religious views were. I didn't know what she thought about any kind of social issues."
What began as a simple act of kindness evolved into a profound lesson in human connection. Amy describes how her letter-writing created a unique space where people could connect authentically without the filters and divisions of social media or modern digital communication. The letters fostered relationships based purely on shared humanity rather than political views, religious beliefs, or social stances. This experiment changed Amy herself as much as it impacted recipients, giving her a deeper appreciation for the unique individuals in her life and helping her see beyond labels to the person beneath. For leaders, this highlights how communication tools that prioritize personal connection can transcend workplace divisions and build genuine relationships.
Creating Lasting Impact with Handwritten Notes"When someone receives a handwritten item from you, I'm going to immediately realize that you took the time and the effort. And the higher up on the food chain you are, it's even better to do this for me."
The most common feedback Amy received from her letter recipients was that they would treasure her letters for life. Many even framed her notes or displayed them prominently in their workspaces. Amy explains that handwritten communication carries profound emotional weight in our digital age precisely because it's become so rare. When a leader takes the time to write a personal note, it signals to the recipient that they are genuinely valued and important enough to warrant the time, effort, and personal touch required. This simple act creates a lasting memento of appreciation that employees often preserve and display proudly. Amy observes that marketing companies spend significant resources attempting to mimic the impact of authentic handwritten communication, underscoring its unique power.
The Two-Way Benefit of Letter Writing"The most changed person from all this was me. It changed who I was because I was grateful for all these people who showed up in my life... It made me look at everything in my life differently."
Writing letters transforms not only the recipient but also the writer. Amy emphasizes that leaders who adopt this practice will experience personal growth and changed perspectives. The physical act of handwriting slows down thinking, creating space for reflection and deeper consideration that rapid digital communication doesn't allow. This meditative quality helps leaders appreciate team members more fully, connect with their own humanity, and approach relationships with greater empathy and gratitude. Amy found that writing letters made her look outward more thoughtfully and inward more honestly, providing benefits beyond what she initially expected. For leaders, this practice can become a valuable form of mindfulness that strengthens their emotional intelligence and relationship-building capacity.
Vulnerability as Leadership Strength"The handwritten letter is an expression of vulnerability... Your handwriting is something that very few people see."
In a business world that increasingly values authentic leadership, handwritten notes create a natural opportunity for vulnerability. Amy points out that sharing your imperfect handwriting - something rarely revealed in professional settings - is itself an act of openness. This vulnerability builds trust and demonstrates confidence, showing that you're secure enough to present your unfiltered self. Unlike polished digital communications, handwritten notes can't be perfected or edited, making them inherently more human and relatable. For leaders looking to create psychological safety on their teams and model healthy vulnerability, handwritten notes offer a meaningful and accessible approach that complements other leadership practices.
Practical Steps for Leaders: Connecting With Your Team"Trust your human side... commit to one note a week, do it in the morning... it doesn't need to be long."
Amy offers practical advice for leaders interested in implementing handwritten notes in their practice:
Start with a manageable commitment of one note per week
Write notes in the morning before the day gets busy
Keep messages brief - even just 2-3 sincere sentences make an impact
Don't overthink it or worry about perfect handwriting
Use simple note cards rather than elaborate stationery
Focus on being genuine rather than eloquent
Write without expectation of response
Oh, and here is a bonus tip: remember how hard it is to communicate the vision for a change or a product? Try doing it with hand-written notes, and see how that impacts your next big project!
The most significant barrier is simply getting started. Amy encourages leaders to push through any initial discomfort, knowing that the impact of this simple practice far outweighs the minor effort required.
About Amy Daughters
Amy has a remarkable ability to inspire and connect with audiences, and her work centers around revitalizing human connections in our increasingly digital age. She achieves this by rekindling the age-old art of handwritten letters, infusing them with wit and humor to illuminate the path to profound connections, even in the unlikeliest corners. Her books, such as "Dear Dana" and "You Cannot Mess This Up," have touched the hearts of many, inspiring vulnerability and genuine kinship. Critical characteristics of great leaders.
You can link with Amy Daughters on her website.
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Anuj Ojha: Helping POās Move Beyond User Story Templates to True Customer Understanding
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
The Great Product Owner: The Vision Setter Who Empowers TeamsIn this segment, Anuj describes an exemplary Product Owner who mastered the art of inclusive product development. This PO excelled at bringing everyone together to discuss the product and potential solutions, while maintaining a clear focus on the vision and problem space. Rather than dictating solutions, they created an environment where team members could freely explore solutions while the PO remained available for questions and guidance. Their success came from building strong relationships with stakeholders and customers, and effectively using the Eisenhower matrix to prioritize work.
The Bad Product Owner: The Requirements TranslatorAnuj discusses common anti-patterns he's observed in Product Owners, particularly those who may have previously been project managers. A crucial issue arises when POs create user stories without first understanding the customer and their journey with the product. Some POs become mere translators, rigidly adhering to story templates instead of truly understanding customer needs. The key to improvement lies in helping POs learn to engage directly with customers, focus on problem exploration rather than immediate solutions, and collaborate with the whole team in solution discussions.
Self-reflection Question: How can you help your Product Owner move from being a requirements translator to becoming a true value maximizer?
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š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
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About Anuj Ojha
Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven.
You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his companyās website Benzne.com.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Anuj Ojha: Building Agile Team Maturity Through Honest Feedback
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
A successful Scrum Master should work towards making themselves unnecessary, but Anuj warns against common anti-patterns in this journey. He emphasizes the danger of viewing Scrum as a universal solution or behaving like a "cult master" who rigidly follows rules instead of listening to team needs. He advises against manipulating conversations or using others' authority to validate decisions. Instead, he promotes viewing Scrum as a continuous PDCA cycle and maintaining an open mind about different approaches.
Self-reflection Question: How comfortable is your team with giving and receiving direct, constructive feedback to each other?
Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Team Shared Self-EvaluationThis retrospective format focuses on building interpersonal relationships through structured feedback. Using a Google Form, team members answer two key questions about each colleague: what they appreciate about working with them and one change that could make them an even better team member. The format includes a sharing session where team members can process the feedback and discuss it openly. This approach encourages personal accountability by having participants first communicate what they themselves want to change before asking others to change.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Anuj Ojha
Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven.
You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his companyās website Benzne.com.
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Anuj Ojha: Beyond the Iron Triangle, A Path to True Agility
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Anuj shares his journey of understanding the complexities behind Scrum implementation, particularly when faced with fixed time and scope demands. He emphasizes the importance of learning to communicate effectively with different stakeholders in their own language. Through experience, he discovered that the traditional iron triangle (fixed time, scope, and resources) is a fiction in agile environments. His key insight is that while you can fix two sides of the triangle, attempting to fix all three undermines agility. He suggests building cases for critical needs like technical debt and ensuring all voices are heard when determining what's possible.
Self-reflection Question: How do you handle situations where stakeholders demand certainty in all three aspects of the iron triangle?
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š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Anuj Ojha
Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven.
You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his companyās website Benzne.com.
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Anuj Ojha: Transforming Agile Team Meetings, Less Time, More Value
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
When Anuj started working with a team that believed asynchronous communication could replace their Daily Scrum, it sparked a journey of meaningful transformation. The team was frustrated with meeting overload and took bold steps to evaluate and modify their meeting structure. They questioned the value of Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives, ultimately creating a more focused approach to meetings. A significant breakthrough came when they removed managers from the Daily Scrum, leading to more effective communication and increased quality time for actual work. The team's success came from creating a backlog of improvements and integrating these directly into their sprint work.
Self-reflection Question: How might your team benefit from critically evaluating your current meeting structure and making bold changes?
Featured Book of the Week: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni was a game-changer for Anuj, offering a model for understanding team dynamics. The author's five-level model proved especially valuable during challenging periods, providing insights applicable to teams across all domains. The book's framework helped Anuj better understand and address the fundamental dysfunctions that teams commonly face.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Anuj Ojha
Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven.
You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his companyās website Benzne.com.
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Anuj Ojha: From Process Police to People Partner, Self-Accountability and Self-Awareness for Scrum Masters
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
In this insightful episode, Anuj shares a powerful story of personal growth as a Scrum Master. Initially caught up in the mechanics of Scrum, he found himself trying to control situations and please everyone while rigidly adhering to the Scrum Guide.
Through a three-step journey of self-awareness, feedback-seeking, and actualization, Anuj discovered that his true challenge lay in understanding himself and his purpose. He learned to shift his focus from velocity and burndown charts to delivering value, and from being process-oriented to being people-oriented. This transformation led him to become more of a listener than a talker, embracing conflict as a natural part of growth.
Self-reflection Question: How might your current focus on processes or metrics be affecting your ability to connect with and serve your team members?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Anuj Ojha
Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven.
You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his companyās website Benzne.com.
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BONUS: How To Build Trust and Manage Conflict, With Maria Arpa
In this BONUS episode, we dive deep into the art of building trust and managing conflict in the workplace with Maria Arpa, an expert mediator and creator of the Dialogue Roadmap. Maria shares powerful insights on transforming workplace dynamics through compassionate communication and authentic dialogue.
Understanding Power Dynamics in the Workplace"What we don't talk about openly, most people end up acting out."
Power imbalances exist in every workplace and cannot be ignored. Maria emphasizes the importance of exposing and addressing these power dynamics openly, particularly the unspoken contracts that govern our interactions. These implicit agreements often drive behavior and can lead to conflict when left unaddressed.
The Dialogue Roadmap: Moving Beyond Debate"We give children prizes for debating societies. We don't give children prizes for collaborative behavior."
The Dialogue Roadmap offers a structured approach to authentic conversation that moves away from the traditional debate model. Maria explains how our societal conditioning toward debate and competition can hinder genuine communication and collaboration.
Creating Safe Spaces for Difficult Conversations"You can't have these conversations while you're trying to do the work and meet a deadline."
One key aspect of effective conflict resolution is creating dedicated spaces for challenging conversations. Maria emphasizes that these discussions cannot happen effectively while trying to meet deadlines or during regular work activities.
The Power of Empathic Connection"Empathy drives change. It drives change from the inside out."
Building trust starts with establishing empathic connections. Maria shares how this approach drives change from the inside out, rather than trying to force external changes.
Managing Conflict as a Resource"Conflict, when approached compassionately, is our biggest free resource that opens the door to creativity."
Rather than viewing conflict as a problem to be solved, Maria suggests seeing it as a valuable resource for positive change. When approached compassionately, conflict can open doors to creativity and innovation.
Language and Trust-Building"Words can be windows or walls... language is the software in our brains that we use to tell us what to do."
The words we choose can either build bridges or create barriers. Maria introduces the concept of "enforcement mentality" and its impact on workplace relationships.
In this segment, we refer to the episode with Michelle Pauk on the importance of language in our work.
Practical Tools for LeadersMaria shares several practical approaches for leaders to build trust and manage conflict:
Slow down conversations using techniques like the metronome
Use phrases like "If I understand you, what you really want me to hear is..."
Create opportunities to restart conversations with "This isn't the conversation I meant to have. Can I start again, please?"
Maintaining Accountability Without Enforcement"You can say 'What conversation should I be having with you?' - how the person answers tells you everything you need to know."
Creating accountability without falling into an enforcement mentality requires clear communication about expectations and consequences. Maria emphasizes the importance of making contracts explicit and inviting people to take ownership of their responsibilities.
About Maria Arpa
Maria Arpa is an expert mediator, counselor, and advocate for meaningful workplace change, and the creator of the Dialogue Roadmap - a communications tool that moves away from accusative/blaming ways of communicating to a much more compassionate and collaborative way of working. In her book "Mindfulness at Work", Maria offers powerful strategies to transform stressful, conflict-ridden workplaces into environments of harmony and collaboration.
You can connect with Maria Arpa on LinkedIn, or visit Maria Arpaās Workplace Huddle website.
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Season Hughes: From Defensive to Collaborative Product Ownership
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
The Great Product Owner: Building Team and Customer ConnectionA great Product Owner demonstrates deep care for both the product and the team members, understanding their challenges and experiences. Season highlights how exceptional POs actively advocate for customer involvement in sprint reviews and consistently conduct customer interviews, creating a strong bridge between the development team and end-users.
The Bad Product Owner: The Defensive QuestionerSeason describes a challenging situation where a Product Owner would respond to team proposals with defensive "why" questions, creating an atmosphere where developers felt they needed to justify their suggestions. This approach led to team defensiveness and reduced collaboration, highlighting the importance of asking questions in a way that promotes understanding rather than creates tension.
Self-reflection Question: How do you ensure your communication style encourages collaboration rather than defensiveness?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Season Hughes
Season is a strategist and creator who empowers customers and teams to excel. From designing clever, fandom-inspired apparel at Tomorrowland Transit Authority to coaching high-performance teams, Season is passionate about delivering value and driving growth. Now focused on ecommerce success, Season's mission is to turn goals into epic adventures.
You can link with Season Hughes on LinkedIn.
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Season Hughes: How To Be A Data-Driven Scrum Master Or Agile Coach
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Season approaches Scrum Master success by regularly referring back to the Scrum Guide and measuring progress against its principles. She emphasizes the importance of collecting data and measuring key indicators like self-management, which she tests by occasionally stepping back from daily Scrum meetings to observe team autonomy. Season also stresses the value of one-on-one conversations to understand individual goals and assess team event effectiveness.
Self-reflection Question: How do you measure the effectiveness of your role as a Scrum Master beyond just following ceremonies?
Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Lean CoffeeSeason recommends the Lean Coffee format for retrospectives as it puts control directly in the hands of participants who decide the discussion topics. This approach naturally increases engagement and ownership of the retrospective process. She emphasizes the importance of including warm-up activities to set the right mood and ensuring everyone speaks early in the session, while also following up on previous retrospective actions.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Season Hughes
Season is a strategist and creator who empowers customers and teams to excel. From designing clever, fandom-inspired apparel at Tomorrowland Transit Authority to coaching high-performance teams, Season is passionate about delivering value and driving growth. Now focused on ecommerce success, Season's mission is to turn goals into epic adventures.
You can link with Season Hughes on LinkedIn.
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Season Hughes: Understanding the "Why" Behind Agile Transformation
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Drawing from her consulting experience, Season shares valuable insights about leading successful Agile transformations. Rather than simply implementing Scrum, she emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational motivations by asking crucial questions like "Why do you want this change?" and "What does success look like?"
She outlines a comprehensive approach that begins with foundational training using the Scrum Guide, followed by Liftoff workshops to establish team foundations, working agreements, and regular check-ins to support continuous improvement.
In this segment, we refer to the Liftoff book, by Diana Larsen and Ainsley Niles.
Self-reflection Question: What steps are you taking to understand and align with your organization's transformation goals?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Season Hughes
Season is a strategist and creator who empowers customers and teams to excel. From designing clever, fandom-inspired apparel at Tomorrowland Transit Authority to coaching high-performance teams, Season is passionate about delivering value and driving growth. Now focused on ecommerce success, Season's mission is to turn goals into epic adventures.
You can link with Season Hughes on LinkedIn.
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Season Hughes: Transforming Workgroups into High-Performing Teams
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
Season shares insights about a common anti-pattern she's observed across organizations: calling a group of people a team doesn't automatically make them one. She discusses how many supposed teams are actually workgroups - collections of independent contributors rewarded for individual rather than collective achievements. Season provides specific criteria to distinguish between workgroups and real teams, emphasizing the importance of shared goals and collaborative success metrics.
In this segment, we also refer to the One-Team, One-Goal (OTOG) article by Vasco.
Featured Book of the Week: The Scrum GuideSeason emphasizes the fundamental importance of The Scrum Guide as essential reading for Scrum Masters. She stresses that since Scrum Masters are accountable for coaching Scrum, they should regularly revisit the guide and stay current with updates. She specifically highlights how many Scrum Masters might miss crucial elements like "product goals," demonstrating why continuous engagement with this foundational document is vital for effective Scrum coaching.
Self-reflection Question: How often do you revisit and reflect on the fundamental principles in the Scrum Guide?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Season Hughes
Season is a strategist and creator who empowers customers and teams to excel. From designing clever, fandom-inspired apparel at Tomorrowland Transit Authority to coaching high-performance teams, Season is passionate about delivering value and driving growth. Now focused on ecommerce success, Season's mission is to turn goals into epic adventures.
You can link with Season Hughes on LinkedIn.
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Season Hughes: How A Product Cancellation Tests a New Scrum Master's Growth
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
As a new Scrum Master, Season faced a challenging situation when her team learned their product would be canceled. Initially, she made the mistake of telling team members they could skip daily standups if they had higher priorities, leading to unexpected low attendance. During the retrospective, she transformed this challenge into a learning opportunity by helping team members reflect on their personal growth and lessons learned. This experience taught her the importance of maintaining team ceremonies while providing individual support during difficult transitions.
In this segment, we talk about ORSC, a systems inspired team and relationship coach training.
Self-reflection Question: How would you maintain team engagement and motivation when facing a product cancellation?
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Season Hughes
Season is a strategist and creator who empowers customers and teams to excel. From designing clever, fandom-inspired apparel at Tomorrowland Transit Authority to coaching high-performance teams, Season is passionate about delivering value and driving growth. Now focused on ecommerce success, Season's mission is to turn goals into epic adventures.
You can link with Season Hughes on LinkedIn.
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BONUS: How to create psychological safety at work with Mehmet Baha
In this BONUS episode, we talk about the essential elements of creating psychological safety at work with Mehmet Baha, one of Facebook's first European employees and a renowned psychological safety expert. Drawing from his extensive experience and new book, Baha shares practical tools, inspiring examples, and thought-provoking insights that can help transform workplace culture.
This episode builds on Mehmetās guest blog post on the concepts we discuss. You can find Bahaās guest blog post on psychological safety here.
The Power of the 16-32-64 FrameworkThe conversation begins with Baha introducing his innovative "16-32-64" framework, a comprehensive approach that combines head (cognition), heart (emotion), and hands (practice). This framework provides 16 inspiring examples, 32 practical tools, and 64 questions designed to foster psychological safety in the workplace. Baha explains how this interactive approach encourages readers to reflect and take action, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with professionals worldwide in developing these thought-provoking questions.
"When I was writing the book, I thought about how I could make this interactive. How can I make readers take action? So, I realized that questions are a powerful tool to help readers to reflect and take these ideas into action."
Debunking Psychological Safety MythsBaha addresses three major misconceptions about psychological safety that often hinder organizational progress. He emphasizes that psychological safety isn't just about being nice or avoiding difficult conversations, nor is it solely about encouraging conflict. Through real-world examples, including a compelling story about a mining company leader who transformed workplace safety through psychological safety principles, Baha demonstrates how this approach can drive tangible business results.
"According to research, when employees feel that their opinions count, we see happiness, reduction in turnover and more productivity."
Practical Tools for Immediate ImplementationThe discussion explores two powerful tools from Baha's collection of 32 practical approaches. The first tool, "Movers, Movables, Immovables," (from Jason Littleās Lean Change Management) helps leaders navigate resistance to change by identifying different employee groups and focusing on achievable wins. The second tool, the "Green Card" technique, demonstrates how one director successfully transformed a silent team into an engaged workforce by explicitly encouraging dissent.
"Don't spend so much of our time with resistance. Find the movers, and find the small-wins."
The Journey of Self-ReflectionBaha emphasizes the critical role of self-reflection in developing psychological safety. He outlines a progression from awareness to action, stressing that leadership transformation begins with self-awareness and requires consistent application of knowledge.
"Everything in life starts from within. Without leading ourselves, we can't lead others."
Recommended Reading For Further StudyBahaās Guest Blog Post: https://scrum-master-toolbox.org/2025/02/uncategorized/how-facebook-scaled-psychological-safety-mehmet-baha-shares-their-journey/
Bahaās Book: "Creating Psychological Safety at Work: The Essential Guide to Boosting Team Performance" by Mehmet Baha (Available on Amazon)
Free Resources: solutionfolder.com/free-resources - access video series on psychological safety
About Mehmet Baha
Mehmet Baha is a psychological safety expert and one of Facebook's first European employees, with over 24 years of experience working with top organizations. He delivers global talks and learning sessions, equipping leaders with practical tools and strategies to foster trust, innovation, and collaboration, creating safer, more inclusive workplaces worldwide.
You can link with Mehmet Baha on LinkedIn.
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Substack Week: AI in Product Management, Enhancing Product Development Through Artificial Intelligence with Toni Dos Santos
In this Substack Week episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming product management with Toni Dos Santos, co-author of The Product Courier newsletter. From automating routine tasks to enhancing strategic decision-making, Toni shares practical insights on leveraging AI to build better products faster and more efficiently.
From Music to Banking to AI Product Management"I wanted to work in that area to find ways to put innovation to service to the consumers, and making it as invisible as possible."
Toni's journey into AI and product management began in an unexpected place - the music industry. After working as a music producer, his interest in innovation led him to banking, where he discovered the untapped potential of data analytics. His experience working with machine learning and deep learning in banking laid the foundation for his current work with generative AI in product management. The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 sparked his deep dive into applying AI to product management challenges.
Revolutionizing User Story Creation with AI"User stories are a big pain for many product managers, particularly junior ones... The idea is that you provide the AI with a PRD or description of the product, and it's going to write user stories based on best practices."
Toni explains how AI can transform the process of writing user stories by automating the initial drafting while preserving the essential collaborative aspects. He emphasizes that while AI can handle the mechanics of writing, the real value comes from using it as a springboard for deeper discussions with the team. The technology can suggest edge cases, highlight potential gaps, and provide a structured foundation for further refinement.
AI as a Tool for Understanding User Needs"Use all the transcripts, the feedback from user interviews that I have, feed it to AI and retrieve from it the key pain points, the major patterns that it identifies."
Rather than replacing human insight, AI serves as a powerful tool for analyzing user feedback and identifying patterns. Toni shares practical examples of using AI to:
Process and analyze app store reviews at scale
Identify clusters of users with similar pain points
Extract key themes from user interviews
Validate qualitative findings with quantitative data
Strategic Role of AI in Leadership"For product leaders, they should be the ones thinking how AI will affect their work because to define a strategy, to define a roadmap, AI can summarize tons of data, tons of information that you cannot do yourself."
Toni challenges the notion that AI primarily impacts lower-level tasks. He argues that AI's ability to process vast amounts of information makes it particularly valuable for leadership roles. Leaders can use AI to:
Prepare more effective meetings with relevant agendas
Create alignment across different departments
Practice important presentations and interviews
Generate and evaluate strategic options
Best Practices for Getting Started with AI"The best resource is to go into it... get ChatGPT, Gemini, whatever, and just dive into it and try and get learning and start practicing right away."
For product managers looking to incorporate AI into their workflow, Toni emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience. He recommends:
Starting with practical experimentation rather than just theoretical learning
Understanding AI's limitations (20% error rate) and always double-checking outputs
Treating AI interactions as conversations rather than one-off prompts
Focusing on areas where AI can augment rather than replace human judgment
Resources For Further StudyBOOK: Bret King, Bank 3.0: Why Banking Is No Longer Somewhere You Go But Something You Do
Toniās Product Courier Newsletter
The AI focused episode with Marshall Goldsmith
AI Course by IBM: Armin Ries, free AI course by IBM
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Toni Dos Santos
Toni is a seasoned B2B product strategist with 15+ years of experience, having guided over 250 SMEs and large enterprises. As a former SaaS founder, Toni specializes in accelerating time-to-market, driving sustainable product growth, and aligning product strategies with business goals. His tailored approach empowers leaders to prioritize impactful solutions and boost revenue.
You can link with Toni Dos Santos on Substack.
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Substack Week: The Shared Ownership Challenge, Understanding Clear Accountability in Engineering Teams With Rafa PƔez
Welcome to our Substack Week, where we interview thought leaders who publish newsletters on Substack to help you find inspiring voices that drive our community forward. In this episode, we explore the concept of shared ownership and its pitfalls with Rafa PƔez, an experienced engineering leader with insights on creating clear accountability in teams.
The Pitfalls of Shared OwnershipIn engineering teams, shared ownership often manifests as ambiguity in responsibility and accountability. Rafa shares a personal experience where assigning two engineers to lead an initiative resulted in nothing getting done, as each assumed the other would take action. This phenomenon highlights how shared ownership without clear accountability can lead to missed deadlines, poor quality deliverables, and team conflicts.
"It might not be my fault because I thought the other person was available, I thought the other person had more time to actually work on that initiative."
Understanding the Bystander EffectThe bystander effect, a psychological phenomenon first identified by social psychologists, explains why people are less likely to take action when others are present. In a team setting, this manifests as members assuming someone else will take responsibility, leading to collective inaction. This effect can significantly impact team productivity and project outcomes.
"Because there are more people there, someone thinks that someone else will take care of that thing, whether it's a project, initiative, or any other action."
The DRI Framework: Creating Clear OwnershipThe Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) concept, popularized by Gitlab and Apple, addresses the accountability gap by ensuring one person is clearly responsible for each significant initiative. This framework emerged after a failed project launch where no clear ownership led to quality issues. The DRI approach creates clear lines of responsibility while maintaining collaborative team dynamics.
"You can have multiple DRIs for different aspects, but at the end, it needs to be one responsible for the overall project."
Implementing DRI SuccessfullyFor leaders implementing the DRI framework, several key considerations are crucial for success. DRIs should be assigned thoughtfully based on skills and experience, with senior team members often better suited for these roles. The framework must be supported by a culture that empowers DRIs to make decisions while maintaining team collaboration.
"DRIs need to be empowered to make decisions. If they are not empowered to make decisions, this role is not going to work because they're going to feel frustrated."
Avoiding Common Anti-patternsWhen implementing the DRI framework, leaders should be aware of potential anti-patterns that can emerge. These include DRIs becoming bottlenecks, erosion of team collaboration, and overuse of the framework for minor tasks. Success requires finding the right balance and ensuring the framework enhances rather than hinders team dynamics.
"Another issue or anti-pattern is the erosion of collaboration - some people might get the wrong concept about DRIs and say 'I don't need to collaborate anymore.'"
Building a Culture of AccountabilityCreating a successful culture of accountability requires clear communication about the DRI role and its implications. Leaders must ensure DRIs are supported while maintaining team collaboration and avoiding the framework becoming overly bureaucratic. The focus should be on enabling effective decision-making and clear ownership while preserving team dynamics.
"Consider the skills when assigning DRIs, support people in this role, and remember that DRI is an organizational agnostic framework that adapts to the organizations we are within."
Resources For Further StudyThe Gitlab handbook article about the DRI concept
The book: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
The Engineering Leader newsletter by Rafa PƔez
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Rafa PƔez
Rafa is a Software Engineer and Engineering Leader with over 20 years of experience, including more than 7 years in leadership positions within fast-paced startups. Based in Spain, he works remotely as an Engineering Manager for Remote. Previously, Rafa worked for companies such as Cabify and Funding Circle. He is passionate about leading high-performing teams and scaling platforms and engineering organizations.
You can connect with Rafa PƔez on Substack.
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Substack Week: Engineering Strategy, Bridging Technical Excellence with Business Success With Aleix Morgadas
In this Substack Week episode, we explore the critical intersection of engineering strategy and business success with Aleix Morgadas, an engineering strategy consultant focusing on sociotechnical aspects of high-stake business challenges. Aleix shares insights from his experience helping organizations align their technical capabilities with business objectives, while offering practical approaches to developing and implementing effective engineering strategies.
The Genesis of Engineering StrategyPersonal experience sparked Aleix's journey into engineering strategy when he joined a large company and found himself grappling with strategic decision-making in engineering. He identified a crucial gap: while strategy was well-established in product and business domains, engineering organizations often lacked strategic frameworks for participating in key decisions. This realization led him to start writing about his struggles and insights, helping others navigate similar challenges through his newsletter.
"I found that engineering was missing a way to be part of the decision making process, and we needed to be clear on the problems and challenges that engineering organizations face."
Breaking Down the Four-Step ProcessDrawing inspiration from Richard Rumelt's work on strategy, Aleix presents a comprehensive framework for developing engineering strategy. The process emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational context and identifying shared challenges before taking action.
"Solve the shared pains - that's why we need to uncover those pains in the first place."
The framework consists of four key steps:
Context Understanding: Begin by defining your business context, as strategy must align with your specific environment and circumstances
Problem Identification: Focus on understanding current organizational pains and creating alignment around which problems to solve
Direction Setting: Break down larger goals into manageable increments while ensuring actions don't compete with each other
Strategy Execution: Create space for teams to work on strategic initiatives while maintaining autonomy
The Power of Bottom-Up StrategyAleix challenges the traditional top-down approach to strategy development, advocating for a more inclusive process that brings together perspectives from all levels of the organization. This approach recognizes that teams and top-level management often have different visions that need to be reconciled for effective strategy implementation.
"Strategy does not need to be designed top-down. Teams and top-level management have different visions, and we need to be able to bring those together."
Implementation and ExecutionSuccess in engineering strategy requires more than just planning - it demands thoughtful execution and ongoing adaptation. Aleix emphasizes the importance of learning through action and starting with minimal effort initiatives to gain momentum.
"By doing you learn, and doing is critical for strategy. Start with the least effort action you have in mind."
Recommended Resources For Further StudyThe book: Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt
The blog post: North Star Framework Template & Activity Library
The Jobs to be done Framework
TEMPLATE: The engineering strategy template by Aleix
VIDEO: Aleixās Engineering Strategy Journey Talk
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Aleix Morgadas
Aleix Morgadas is an engineering strategy consultant specializing in sociotechnical aspects to overcome high-stake business challenges. He regularly shares his knowledge through his blog while leading Teamperature, a SaaS product focused on assessing Team Cognitive Load for healthier teams. He also publishes the Engineering Strategy newsletter on Substack.
You can link with Aleix Morgadas on Substack.
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Substack Week: Bridging the Gap Between Agile Teams and Leadership With Josh Anderson
In this Substack Week episode, we explore the critical challenges and opportunities in the relationship between Agile teams and organizational leadership. Josh Anderson shares insights from his extensive experience in technology leadership and discusses how both sides can work together more effectively.
Understanding the Business-Team Divide"We are part of the business, but many teams separate it out say, 'Oh, that's over there, that's not us.' No, that is us."
One of the most common challenges in organizations is the perceived divide between "the business" and development teams. Josh emphasizes that this separation is an anti-pattern that needs to be addressed. Teams must understand how they create value for customers and how their work connects to the organization's broader mission. The key is asking fundamental questions like "Why do we exist?" and focusing on delivering real value to customers rather than just building features or fixing bugs.
The Art of Communication with Leaders"You have to reach across the aisle... speak in language that they understand, and of course the other side of the aisle has to understand that you may not understand all of the financial acumen or other things that they're throwing out."
Effective communication requires both sides to make an effort to understand each other. Josh highlights the importance of:
Using common language that everyone understands
Being willing to ask for clarification when needed
Explaining technical terms and concepts clearly
Focusing on business value rather than process details
Understanding that it takes approximately seven repetitions for new concepts to be fully absorbed
Learning from Anti-Mentors"That experimental database of things I need to try is getting actively shrunk. So I'm starting to just cross off things. Okay, don't do that, don't do that, don't do that."
Josh introduces the concept of "anti-mentors" - learning valuable leadership lessons from challenging experiences with ineffective leaders. This approach helps:
Build a clear understanding of what not to do
Narrow down the field of potential leadership approaches
Create a stronger foundation for experimentation with new methods
Transform negative experiences into positive learning opportunities
The Leadership Laboratory"Constantly experiment with things. But be super inclusive about those experiments that you're going to run and say, 'Hey, this is who we want to be.'"
Josh emphasizes treating leadership development like product development, using experimentation and feedback loops to improve continuously. Key aspects include:
Setting clear expectations about experiments and intended outcomes
Including team members in the process of change
Giving changes enough time to show results
Being open to adjusting based on feedback
Creating a safe environment for trying new approaches
Recommended Resources For Further StudyThe book: Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet
Josnās The Leadership Lighthouse Newsletter on Substack
The Meta-Cast Podcast with Josh and Bob Galen
And take a look at KAZI.IO - Josh's consulting business
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Josh AndersonWith over two decades of experience in technology leadership, product innovation, and operational excellence, Josh has worked with many businesses and helped transform them into high-value, product-driven organizations. Josh is also a fellow podcaster at the Meta-Cast with Bob Galen.
You can connect with Josh Anderson on Substack.
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Substack Week: Why Product Management is Broken and How to Fix It With Anton Zaides
In this SPECIAL Substack Week episode, we dive deep into the current state of product management with Anton Zaides, a seasoned software engineer and leader. Anton shares his perspectives on why product management is fundamentally broken and offers practical solutions for organizations looking to improve their product development processes.
The Journey to Engineering Leadership"I started to search for content from other engineering managers and focused on practical insights."
Anton's journey spans 15 years in software engineering, from game development to DevOps and scaling startups. His transition to leadership revealed a gap in practical leadership content, which inspired him to start sharing his own experiences. Drawing from his four years as an engineering leader in a startup, Anton noticed patterns in product management that needed addressing, leading to his viral article on the topic.
The Broken State of Product Management"My team was working on a feature, that got canceled the day after it was released."
Product management faces several critical challenges in today's technology landscape. Anton identifies key issues including the development of unused features, increasing software complexity, and misaligned incentives that discourage innovation. Through his conversations with industry professionals, he discovered these problems were widespread, with teams frequently building features that get canceled or go unused. Despite following Agile methodologies, many organizations fail to properly evaluate feature impact, leading to wasted resources and frustrated teams.
Product Managers vs. Program Managers"The PM spent only 5% of his time on talking to customers."
One of the core issues Anton identifies is the transformation of product managers into glorified program managers. In many organizations, product managers spend most of their time managing JIRA tickets and dependencies rather than engaging with customers and driving innovation. The pressure to deliver on predetermined roadmaps, often dictated by executive teams, leaves little room for challenging assumptions or testing ideas with minimal scope. This shift away from customer interaction and strategic thinking has reduced the product manager's role to primarily managing internal processes.
Fostering Better Product Management"PM's should be like a founder for the product business."
To improve product management, Anton advocates for several key changes:
Offloading program management responsibilities to the team
Trusting product managers to make strategic decisions
Requiring specific industry knowledge and experience
Encouraging face-to-face customer interactions
Moving product managers closer to commercial roles
Involving engineers in customer conversations
Organizational Structure and Communication"The more links you have in the communication chain, the worse the information gets communicated."
Anton proposes a shift towards a more functional organizational structure where Product and Engineering work together more closely. He emphasizes the importance of direct communication between technical teams and customers, warning against over-reliance on data alone. The solution involves bringing everyone closer to the business side and creating stronger networks between organizations and engineers.
Practical Implementation Tips"Get engineers to visit customers."
Key recommendations for improving product management include:
Involving engineers in customer and sales conversations
Giving engineers visibility through release messaging and communications
Establishing strong collaboration between engineering leaders and product managers
Ensuring product managers have deep domain expertise
Creating opportunities for direct customer interaction
Treating product managers as business owners rather than project managers
Recommended Resources for Further StudyAntonās Article that we review in this interview: āProduct Management is broken, a change is comingā
John Cutleās article on Product Managerās Responsibilities
Antonās Article on how to work effectively with your Product Managers
A book recommendation: Empowered by Marty Cagan
An episode of Lenny's podcast with Brian Chesky
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Anton Zaides
Anton Zaides is a seasoned software engineer and leader with 15 years of experience. From game development in Unity3D to leading DevOps and scaling startups, Anton's journey is marked by rapid growth. In 2023, he began sharing insights for engineering managers, amassing 15k newsletter subscribers in under a year. He writes a newsletter called "Leading Developers" that provides practical insights for engineering managers.
You can link with Anton Zaides on Substack.
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BONUS: The Future of Agility, Insights from Industry Research with Simon Powers
Is Agile really dead? What does this wide research from industry reveal?
In this detailed, and insightful episode, we explore the current state and future of agility with Simon Powers, founder of The Deeper Change Academy. Simon shares insights from his comprehensive survey conducted between October and December 2024, which included 311 survey responses, 15 case studies, and 8 in-depth interviews with senior leaders.
The Current State of AgilityThe research reveals that while there's been a decline in traditional agile roles and certifications since October 2023, approximately 70% of organizations continue to invest in agile practices and transformations. However, these initiatives are often being rebranded and restructured, moving away from traditional "agile transformation" terminology.
"Organizations are still embracing agility and moving forward with change, but what they're doing is that the names they're using are changing. People aren't necessarily being employed as agile coaches, but the agile coaching responsibilities are still required within organizations."
Leadership Development and Organizational StructureA critical finding shows that leadership development in many organizations has stalled, creating two distinct organizational patterns:
Organizations focused primarily on operational efficiencies, resulting in decreased agility
Companies that have embraced coaching as a management tool and invested in leadership development
"The culture is very different depending on where you sit. When you're constantly competing against a head count of a developer versus that of a coach, you're less able to take the necessary risks, talk to the right people, do bolder experiments, and have more of an effect within the organization."
The Impact of Funding ModelsThe research identified that the funding model for agile initiatives significantly impacts their success. Centrally funded transformation efforts tend to be more successful than those funded through departmental headcount, as they provide greater authority and ability to drive change across the organization.
"Where people are hired or paid for within the head count, the overwhelming majority - like 90% of people who are in that position - are reporting that they do not have the authority to actually carry out the roles that they have responsibility for."
Collaboration and Remote WorkThe survey revealed interesting insights about optimal collaboration patterns in the post-pandemic era:
The sweet spot for office presence appears to be 2-3 days per week
Full remote work can significantly reduce collaboration effectiveness
Physical presence remains important for developing leadership skills and team dynamics
"Being at home 100% of the time is a big reduction of collaboration and working on things and growing these skill sets that are needed in leadership as well as within the teams."
Future Trends and ChallengesLooking ahead, the research highlights several key areas that will shape the future of agility:
Team structures remain a critical factor in software delivery capability
The need for better strategy tools at senior leadership levels
The importance of breaking down silos in software development
The continued evolution of agile practices to meet increasing complexity
"Organizations are going to need to sort out these problems that we've been slowly solving through agility for the last 20 years. We're just going to be continuing on, but what flavor? I don't know."
About Simon PowersSimon Powers is the founder of The Deeper Change Academy and author of "Change: A Practitioner's Guide to Enterprise Coaching." With over 20 years of leadership experience, Simon empowers HR leaders and department heads to create thriving, human-centered workplace cultures through tailored coaching, strategic advisory, and transformational programs.
You can link with Simon Powers on LinkedIn.
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Mateusz Komander: From Business Analyst to Product Champion, The Impact Of Vision In The PO Role
Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.
The Great Product Owner: The Empowered Business AnalystMateusz shares an inspiring example of a Business Analyst who embodied the ideal Product Owner traits despite not having the official title. This proxy PO took genuine ownership of the platform, demonstrated strong decision-making abilities by saying "no" to stakeholders when necessary, and actively supported the team's ideas. Their success came from maintaining a clear vision for the product while remaining open to experimentation.
The Bad Product Owner: The Vision-less Decision MakerThe most significant anti-pattern Mateusz observed was a Product Owner lacking a clear vision for their product. This absence of vision made decision-making challenging and complicated the PO's ability to gain support for their ideas. The team struggled with last-minute requirements and a short-term roadmap that didn't provide adequate guidance. To address this, Mateusz suggests using simple visualization tools, focusing on product goals, and maintaining a clean backlog aligned with a 6-month roadmap.
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
š„In the ruthless world of fintech, success isnāt just about innovationāitās about coaching!š„Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, sheās caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isnāt just about the productāitās about the people.
šØ Will Angelaās coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to Peopleāthe gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue.
Buy Now on Amazon
[The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]
About Mateusz Komander
Mateusz, is a Scrum Master at Heineken, and brings expertise from biotech and airline industries, excelling in Agile delivery and transformations. Skilled in Management 3.0, he fosters self-managed, innovative teams. Mateusz just launched a podcast on organizational transformation, Mateusz highlights how understanding team dynamics beyond the Scrum framework enhances collaboration and effectiveness.
You can link with Mateusz Komander on LinkedIn.
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