Growing Scrum Masters

Part 2 of our series answering common #agilecoach interview questions.  

John had a bit of a laugh at this question but dutifully answered as best he could. One thing that we are starting to notice through this #interviewquestions series is that many of the questions asked don't really resonate with an experienced #scrummaster or #agile coach.  

Processes are something that you create, as a team and as an organisation, they aren't something you buy off the shelf and adopt. It needs to be created and owned by the #scrumteam for it to resonate and have impact.  

John would think of this question in terms of which #agileframeworks he has experience with and in which application they have succeeded but he wouldn't think to bring packaged processes into the equation. At best, he might describe a process that has proved effective or productive in the past and invite the team to explore what that might look like for them.  

So, what do you do when you are asked this question in an #interview? Our advice is that, like John, you improvise and frame your answer in a way that demonstrates your expertise yet stays true to the #agile values and principles.  

John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.  

If you like the idea of becoming an Agile coach and value a mentored, coach-driven path to certification and skills development, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com and explore how John can mentor and coach you to success.  

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/certified-scrummaster/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, certify and validate your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course pages on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/

 Connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ 

#agile #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement #agility #agiletraining #scrum #scrummaster #scrumalliance #coaching #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoachacademy

#agile has a reputation for putting people first and creating working environments where people can excel.  

It doesn't mean that teams don't have conflicts though and often as the #coach and #facilitator, the #scrummaster is responsible for ensuring that conflict is healthy and respectful.  

So, how does a scrum master manage conflict within a #scrumteam?  

John McFadyen walks us through his thinking on managing conflict within #scrum and provides us with some recommendations to help you get the most out of your team interactions.  

John has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world. He has worked as a scrum master, #agilecoach and #executivecoach on some of the largest, most complex #agiletransformations in Europe and the UK.  

As far as conflicts go, John has worked through heaps of potential roadblocks and helped teams work through the process of discovering great answers to compelling problems.  

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  

If you are a scrum master and want to level up, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  

If you like the idea of mentored and coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on  https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com  

#agile #scrum #scrummaster #certifiedscrummaster #agilecoach #scrumcoach #projectmanagement #agileprojectmanagement #agilescrumtraining #managingconflict #conflictmanagement #scrumteam #scrumenvironments #scrummethodology

We've decided to look at some common #agilecoach interview questions we found on the internet and have John McFadyen answer them for you.  

In this short video, John answers the question, 'how does an agile coach go about choosing the length of a #sprint?'  

A #sprint is a short, sharp burst of effort that the #scrumteam work toward with the goal of achieving a #sprintgoal or predetermined backlog of items that they have committed to completing.  

The amount of work taken onboard for the sprint is decided by the #scrum team during the #sprintplanning phase, in conjunction with a #productowner and #scrummaster.  

But who decides how long the sprint is going to be? How does a scrum master or agile coach help the team determine what length a sprint should be?  

John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. 

He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations.  

If you are curious about becoming an agile coach and would value a mentored, coach-driven skills development path, visit our Growing Agile Coaches training at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/ 

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill or validate your professional skills, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master courses at https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/training/ 

#agilecoach #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agileprojectmanagement #agileproductdevelopment #agilecoachinterview #interviewquestions

The #sprintreview is a great opportunity for the #scrumteam to get together with the #productowner, #stakeholders and customers to review the product or feature that has just been built during the #sprint.  

Ideally, the team walk away with insights into what elements of the product are doing well and which elements need work, whilst the customers walk away with insights into what is holding the team back, what the team managed to achieve and where the team are going next.  

So, how do you get the most out of a sprint review? What can a #scrummaster or #agilecoach do to help create an environment that fosters great communication, interaction and engagement?  

In this short video, we asked John McFadyen what exercises an #agilecoach can run to get the most out of a sprint review. His answer may surprise you.  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  

If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and would value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.johnmcfadyen.com/coaching-and-mentoring/  

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  

#agile #agileprojectmanagement #agiledevelopment #scrum #scrummaster #scrumalliance #sprintreview #sprint

The #sprintreview is an opportunity for the #developers, #scrummaster, #productowner, #productstakeholders and customers to come together and review what has happened in the #sprint and understand where the team are headed next.  

Whilst the scrum master will facilitate this #scrum event, it's the developers that take centre stage and directly engage the customers and stakeholders.  

It's their time to shine and have discussions around the problems they encountered during the sprint, the challenges they overcame, and where their focus will be dedicated in future sprints.  

So, where does the #agilecoach fit in? How much of a role should an #agile coach play in a sprint review?  

In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the role #agilecoaches play in sprint reviews and how they can best serve the team and scrum master.  

John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations   

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ 

If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and would value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ 

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ 

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ 

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching 

#agilecoach #agile #agileprojectmanagement #agility #scrum #scrummaster #scrummastertraining #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre

As an #agilecoach and #scrummaster, you will facilitate a #sprintreview at the end of each #sprint to introduce customers, #productstakeholders and the #productowner to the new product, feature or service that has been created.  

Ideally, the #sprintreview is an open, honest and productive conversation about what the team anticipated would happen, what actually happened and why, and where the #scrumteam are headed next.  

It is  super valuable #scrum event because it provides the team with insights into where the product can be improved and it provides customers and product stakeholders with insights into what potential roadblocks and obstacles the team are facing and how that may be impacting their performance.  As the team mature, the #sprintreview becomes more productive, creative and collaborative but it can trip the team up in the early days.  

In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the most common mistakes he witnesses in sprint reviews and provides some insights into how teams can host sprint reviews that rock.  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ 

If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ 

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ 

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ 

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching 

#agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrum #scrummaster #sprintreview #sprint #johnmcfadyen #agilecentre #scrumcoach

A #sprintreview is generally a great time for the #scrumteam.  

The #productowner, #productstakeholders, customers and #developers all come together to review what has been built over the #sprint and how well that serves customers and stakeholders.  

In a perfect world, there is high-5's and backslapping taking place the moment your review is over but sometimes, we get it wrong and the #review can be a tough place to be.  

A great #sprintreview consists of open, honest conversations about what the team attempted, what was actually delivered and where the team are going next.  

So, what do you do as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach when the #sprintreview contains negative feedback from customers, stakeholders and the #productowner?  

How do you move forward from there?  

In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through a negative sprint review and how a great scrum master or agile coach will guide the team following negative feedback.  

John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a scrum master and an agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a thing or two about sitting through tough reviews.  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/  

If you like the idea of becoming an Agile Coach and valued mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/  

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/  

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/  

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/  

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to Coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching  

#agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #scrum #sprintreview #productstakeholders

A #sprintreview is an awesome opportunity for the #productowner, #scrummaster, #developers and #stakeholders to come together and review what has been attempted, what has been achieved, and what the future will look like.  

It is a big deal. It gives the team great insights into what customers and #productstakeholders love about the product and what still needs to happen for them to consider the #product iteration a great success.  

So, how do you ensure that the #sprintreview is a success? How do #agilecoaches prepare for a #sprintreview and how do they approach the presentation of updates and the discussions around the work that has been done?  

In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the thinking and preparation an #agilecoach undertakes before a sprint review.  

John has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and #agilecoach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he's been in heaps of sprint reviews and knows how to guide them well.  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIN at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ 

If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development, visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ 

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ 

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/agile-courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ 

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching 

#agile #agilecoach #agilecoaching #scrummaster #sprintreview #sprintreviewplanning #scrumcoach #agileproductdevelopment

John McFadyen is one of the most positive, optimistic yet grounded people I know. He somehow manages to balance all the variable that come with working in uncertain, volatile and complex environments with a positive outlook that views every setback as an opportunity.  

We tried to stump him with this question and his early hesitation in the video made us think that we had achieved our goal, but he quickly bounced back with such a great answer to this question that we continue to admire his spirit and be inspired by the decisions he makes.  

In this short video, John briefly examines what could be his greatest regret as an #agilecoach and delivers a great piece of insight into how his positive mindset prevents him from having regrets.  

If you work as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, you'll find his answer refreshing and inspiring. We know we did.  #agile #scrum #scrummaster #agilecoach #agileprojectmanagement

In an #agile environment, there are multiple teams and multiple individuals working in specialist roles. Often, those #scrum teams integrate with traditional #projectmanagement teams that work in other departments of the organisation.  

Combined with this, are a blend of #agile leaders and traditional managers who make decisions, set strategy, and manage elements of the product development process.  

There are a lot of moving parts and a lot of things that can go wrong.  

As an #agilecoach or #scrummaster, you work predominantly with the #scrumteam but you do work with other teams across the organisation as well as individuals, managers and leaders in the organisation to get things done.  So, what are the things that are going to trip you up? 

What are the things that you need to be aware of and develop a strategy around?  

In this short video, John McFadyen walks us through the two things that generally trip him up as an #agile coach.  

John McFadyen has worked on some of the highest performing #scrum teams in the world as both a #scrummaster and agile coach. He has also worked at the coalface of some of the UK and Europe's largest, most complex #agiletransformations so he knows a great deal about working in complex environments.  

For more information on John McFadyen, visit https://www.johnmcfadyen.com or connect with John on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmcfadyen/ If you like the idea of becoming an agile coach and value mentored, coach-driven skills development then visit our Agile Coach Academy on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/agile-coach/agile-coach-academy/ 

If you like the idea of becoming a scrum master, visit our Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrummaster/ 

If you are already a scrum master and want to upskill, visit our Advanced Certified Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/advanced-certified-scrummaster/ 

If you have several years' experience as a scrum master and want to both validate and certify your professional skills, visit our Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course page on https://www.agilecentre.com/courses/scrum-master/certified-scrum-professional-scrum-master/ 

If you have identified #coaching as a valuable skill to develop, visit our on-demand Introduction to coaching course page on https://academy.agilecentre.com/courses/introduction-to-coaching 

#agile #agilecoach #scrummaster #scrumteam #agileprojectmanagement