Software the Agile Way....

It has been always asked what is a typical day look like for Scrum Master and I would say it is not the same every day. Here's why: Lets say it is 2 weeks sprint then during the first day SM is busy facilitating the Sprint planning and ensuring the team members have committed the stories which they find it fully confident. 2nd day onwards, SM is talking to PO to ensure the for the coming backlog refinement/grooming meeting there is clear requirement defined with clear expectations. SM is lucky if he/she has knowledgeable PO who not only understands the Scrum but also understand why it is so important to have clear requirement defined. This can give SM to sit relaxed, however if this is not the case then SM's most of the time goes in coaching PO and impractical world it is dependent on the person who is playing the PO's role. lets say during backlog grooming meeting, we discussed some requirement which is understood and some which have gaps identified by team then ...

Daily Stand-up Meeting- Are team members committed to the goal of the Sprint ? This should be verified by showing the taskboard to team possibly a Kanban board and let the team team provide their opinion on where they stand. Additionally, show them the burndown chart trend on the daily basis in the meeting, if the chart is deviating from ideal graph. Sprint Planning Meeting           2.  Are the team members doing some pre-planning and preparing themselves for the planning meeting. This should be verified by checking that team is very sure about the user stories and they know what stories to be delivered and how. Sprint Refinement/Grooming Meeting     3.  Are the user stories are prepared well prior to this meeting? Are the user stories understood to PO before explaining to team? This  can be verified by ensuring that sizing of the stories are happening for the planned stories for this meeting. Sprint Review ...

You write emails, facilitate meetings, participate in conference calls, create reports, devise presentations, debate with your colleagues… the list goes on. According to the 7 Cs, communication needs to be: Clear -  What is your purpose in communicating with this person? If you're not sure, then your audience won't be sure either. Concise - S tick to the point and keep it brief.  Concrete - There are details (but not too many!) and vivid facts, and there's     laser-like focus. Correct -C orrect communication is also error-free communication. Coherent -  All points are connected and relevant to the main topic, and the tone and flow of the text is consistent. Complete -  In a complete message, the audience has everything they need to be informed and, if applicable, take action. Courteous -  Courteous communication is friendly, open, and honest. Source -  http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

Tips for Effective Ice-Breakers ·          Keep it simple. ·          Make it fun. ·          Be creative. ·          Consider various types of Ice-breakers--don't just stick to "questions." ·          Consider your audience. ·          Be aware of time constraints ·          Keep in mind technology requirements. Consider using an ice breaker when: ·          Participants come from different backgrounds. ·          People need to bond quickly so as to work towards a common goal. ·          Your team is newly formed. ·        ...

Establish and clearly communicate objectives and outcomes to focus your participants and clarify what’s in and out of scope. The purpose of your meeting should determine the right attendees. Are you trying to brainstorm, solve problems or share information? Invite key stakeholders, decision-makers, and influencers when making cross-functional decisions that impact organization-wide processes. Unsure if a participant should join your meeting? Ask! People may come with their own agenda so clearly define the list of topics that need to be covered in the meeting. Make sure you allocate enough time to address each topic listed. If you have a packed agenda, consider scheduling two separate meetings. Want people to wait to ask questions at the end? Specify in your agenda when questions are welcomed, so people don’t interrupt you or try to jump ahead in the presentation. How many times have you received a calendar invite for a meeting that is set to take place in 30 minutes? If it’s not...

Values diverse opinions Cultivates a culture of trust Develops other leaders Helps people with life issues Encourages Sells instead of tells Thinks you, not me Thinks long-term Acts with humility Source- http://www.skipprichard.com/9-qualities-of-the-servant-leader/

WHAT ARE FACILITATION SKILLS? One of the most important sets of skills for leaders are facilitation skills. These are the "process" skills we use to guide and direct key parts of our organizing work with groups of people such as meetings, planning sessions, and training of our members and leaders. Facilitation has three basic principles: A facilitator is a guide to help people move through a process together, not the seat of wisdom and knowledge. That means a facilitator isn't there to give opinions, but to draw out opinions and ideas of the group members. Facilitation focuses on  how  people participate in the process of learning or planning, not just on  what gets achieved A facilitator is neutral and never takes sides facilitating actually means: Understanding the goals of the meeting and the organization Keeping the group on the agenda and moving forward Involving everyone in the meeting, including drawing out the quiet participants and controll...