Agile Coach

SmallSlice

Small Slices – the How To

By Emma Sharrock / September 18, 2019 / Comments Off on Small Slices – the How To

Last blog we talked about the power of a small slice. It very  much talked to why they were so important and I provided some examples. Now we’re going to talk about how to do this. There is no shortage of technical advice on this, and simply re-posting what experts like Ron Jeffries, Jeff Patton…

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Choices

The Power of the Small Slice

By Emma Sharrock / August 29, 2019 / Comments Off on The Power of the Small Slice

Recently the focus of my coaching has been working with Agile teams to prioritise work. It’s been challenging. But not because ‘everything is priority #1’, but more because their work is too big. “But they HAVE to be big! It’s BIG work!” is a common answer, but do they? Is it? What would it mean…

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Agile; Standup

No update from me today

By Emma Sharrock / August 18, 2019 / Comments Off on No update from me today

I have a confession to make. Every month when I sit down to write this newsletter, I have the same worry: Do I have anything to say? Is any of it interesting? Relevant? What if I look back on my month and see nothing but crickets? Or not even crickets?? What will I say? I…

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Agile; Strengths

The Super Powers of your Agile Team

By Emma Sharrock / July 19, 2019 / Comments Off on The Super Powers of your Agile Team

*** Warning: Avengers End Game Spoilers in this post *** How talented is your Agile team? Short answer: Very. Longer answer: They most likely possess Super Powers. But did you know this? Recently I coached an extremely talented Agile team – let’s call them The Avengers. They are a high performing DevOps team working in…

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Agile; Standup

June Stand Up – Did you finish it?

By Emma Sharrock / July 9, 2019 / Comments Off on June Stand Up – Did you finish it?

And just like that… the first half of 2019 is done. What a fast six months! How has it been for you? As if the cold Melbourne weather wasn’t enough, I took a few trips to Tasmania to spend time with family and enjoy the Winter Feast of Dark Mofo – literally a celebration of…

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Agile; Strengths

Agile: Start with Talent, Finish with Strengths

By Emma Sharrock / June 26, 2019 / Comments Off on Agile: Start with Talent, Finish with Strengths

Recently I was certified as a Gallup Strengths Coach. This was especially exciting, as for years I had loved the concept of strengths; but even though I am an accredited coach, I was very much an ‘enthusiastic amateur’ when it came to strengths. My love of learning encouraged me to learn more, and passion for…

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Agile; Standup

What do you need to finish to end this FY successfully?

By Emma Sharrock / June 12, 2019 / Comments Off on What do you need to finish to end this FY successfully?

May was a great month for me. How about you? The cooler weather and autumn colours in Melbourne are not just hinting at winter but giving us a live demo! While I love the cool change, I took the opportunity to have a break in some warm weather—something I’ve not done in a long time.…

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4 Agile Myths and how to avoid them

By Emma Sharrock / May 28, 2019 / Comments Off on 4 Agile Myths and how to avoid them

In the past, I used to kick off most Agile capability sessions with some common Agile myths. I rarely do this now as so many of them have been debunked and most participants enter the room with an understanding that surpasses this need. However, in the course of my day to day coaching and training,…

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The Iteration of Why

By Emma Sharrock / February 22, 2019 / Comments Off on The Iteration of Why

The more I examine my NOT to do list, the more I notice the themes in criteria between my peak positive experiences, and also between my negative experiences. It has become a real proving ground for me to hone my WHY. What I’ve noticed is that there is a direct feedback loop between my actions,…

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Agile; Backlog; Time Management

What is on your NOT to do list?

By Emma Sharrock / January 30, 2019 / Comments Off on What is on your NOT to do list?

2019 is off and racing. And so too are all our good intentions for the new year. Gyms are full of people working out, self control post Christmas is at an all-time high. No doubt you have come up with your 2019 plan; things to do, things to learn, people to meet… but are you…

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Agile; Retrospective

How to Hold a Retrospective (and Why Cherry Picking Doesn’t Work)

By Emma Sharrock / October 23, 2018 / Comments Off on How to Hold a Retrospective (and Why Cherry Picking Doesn’t Work)

I often see extraordinary frameworks fail because teams are cherry picking which elements to implement. They want to keep the “doing” elements of the system, and love the rewards and benefits, but they don’t want to implement the “thinking” parts of the system, and dislike challenges or negative feedback. Unfortunately, an incompletely implemented framework such…

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Agile; retrospective

Why the Retrospective is the Heart of Agile

By Emma Sharrock / September 17, 2018 / Comments Off on Why the Retrospective is the Heart of Agile

For those of you who know me, you’ll know that I am an utter Agile tragic. I have woven the structure of Agile into the very fabric of the way that I do life, and I believe that the heart of this is the Retrospective. While there are many other frameworks for DOING, very few of…

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Collaborate to Create (Hint: Don’t Criticise)

By Emma Sharrock / July 17, 2018 / Comments Off on Collaborate to Create (Hint: Don’t Criticise)

As leaders in an increasingly Agile world, it is crucial for us to develop a culture where building on ideas and acknowledging contributions is not just reserved for collaboration sessions. It is about living that culture all the time, and supporting each other to continuously improve. One of the greatest challenges I see when I’m…

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Finishing Flag for Successful Outcome

The 6 Attributes of a Successful Outcome

By Emma Sharrock / June 21, 2018 / Comments Off on The 6 Attributes of a Successful Outcome

When we work in an Agile way, it’s crucial to clearly define a successful outcome for every project. A clearly defined outcome means that each of the millions of daily project micro-decisions will be made through that lens, both consciously and unconsciously. With a clearly defined outcome, some of the iterative deliverables or results might…

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8 Crucial Questions to Ask Your Agile Coach

By Emma Sharrock / April 30, 2018 / Comments Off on 8 Crucial Questions to Ask Your Agile Coach

“Agile” has become a leadership buzzword as it continues to expand from being a strictly IT methodology to a business enabler. As with many new industries that create a sharp upturn in demand for certain skills, there has been a rapid increase in people calling themselves ‘Agile Coach’. It is impossible to become an expert…

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Are You Stuck on Send?

By Emma Sharrock / March 29, 2018 / Comments Off on Are You Stuck on Send?

In my early days in the military, outdoor survival was the most memorable training experience for me. In the harsh Australian bush, it becomes clear very quickly that preparation is key, and as Greek poet Archilochus observed; “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” For…

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