Page 31 - Business Coaching #11 - JUN 2021
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Some started as developers. Some as worked on over the years. I realized that
project managers. Others as executives. most of the times my teams didn’t succeed
Some, like me, started as UX professionals. wasn’t because they lacked the skills or
How and wherever we started, each of us understanding necessary. It was because
took different paths on our way to becoming their organizations and teams weren’t
Certified Agile Coaches–just as you and designed or didn’t behave in ways to enable
those who follow you will take your own. their success. A personal transformation was
taking place. I was becoming more interested
HOW I GOT HERE? in designing great work environments than
Like many agilists my age, the publication designing great products. I learned that
of the Agile Manifesto for Software becoming a Certified Agile Coach was my
Development was an earth-shattering event. new path.
Suddenly, after years of leading software
development teams and drowning in That was 2015 and my journey intensified
monstrous requirements documents, ever- with studying, reading, meeting, practicing,
changing scopes of work, cost overruns, and slowly building my vision of what an
and missed deadlines, there was a brand Agile Coach should be. In February of 2021,
new blueprint that humanized the work and I reached my goal: earning both Certified
imagined a different world for development Enterprise Coach and Certified Team Coach
teams. certifications.
Fast forward a number of years and And while I’m very proud of
numerous flirtations with many agile what I’ve accomplished and
practices and frameworks and I had another very thankful for those who
earth-shattering experience. This time have helped me, I know that
it was reading Coaching Agile Teams by my agile journey is far from
Lyssa Adkins. Just like the Agile Manifesto over.
before it, Coaching Agile Teams completely
reinvisioned the way that teams could
and should work together. It was my first WHAT I LEARNED?
introduction to the role of Agile Coach and I’ve learned a lot about myself over these last
how the role could play a critical part in a six years. Most significantly, I’ve learned that
team’s and an organization’s success.
to be a better coach, you have to be a better
person. I’m fond of saying that the roles of
After reading the book, I spent a lot of Scrum Master and Agile Coach make you a
time reflecting on the ups and downs and better person. If they don’t, then you’re not
successes and failures of the teams I
doing it right.
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