LeadingAgile SoundNotes: an Agile Podcast

By Dave Prior, Agile Consultant & Certified Scrum Trainer

What's LeadingAgile SoundNotes: an Agile Podcast about?

LeadingAgile's resident Scrum trainer Dave Prior, hosts a weekly podcast that covers all sorts of topics about Agile, Scrum, Organizational Transformation and Leadership. No matter if you're new to Agile development or an Agile veteran, Dave and his guest are sure to make you think about Agile in a whole new way! Alexa knows us as Leading Agile Sound Notes.

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LeadingAgile SoundNotes: an Agile Podcast episodes:

04.04.2024
How to Align Your Product-Driven Organization to the Customer Experience
A big part of becoming a truly product-driven organization is getting better at understanding the needs of your customers, and improving your products to meet their needs. In this video, Mary, Dave, and Lance take on the topic of customer...
04.02.2024
Product Development: Using Systems Thinking to Achieve Better Business Outcomes
We’re back with an all-new episode of SoundNotes where we discuss the nature of products. What are they? How are they different from services and experiences? And does it really even matter? Watch this week’s spirited conversation to see how...
03.28.2024
Using Value Stream Maps to Identify Improvement Opportunities
In this third installment of our value stream mapping series, Mary shows Lance and Dave how to apply the technique of value stream mapping to your business architecture and capabilities so that you can make more informed, intentional, data-driven decisions...
03.21.2024
Quantifying Waste Reduction Using Value Stream Maps
Dave Prior is back again with Lance Kind and Mary Lloyd to talk about value stream mapping. In the last installment of this miniseries, the team gave a high-level introduction into what a value stream map is and why they’re...
03.14.2024
An Introduction to Value Stream Mapping
Dave Prior sits down with LeadingAgile consultants Mary Lloyd and Lance Kind to discuss value stream mapping. What is it? Why use it at all? And when should you use this technique? Together, they answer these questions, dig into an...
02.29.2024
Avoid These Common Cloud Transformation Mistakes
In this episode of SoundNotes, Dave sits down with Dennis Stevens to discuss cloud transformation and why you might want to step back, take a deep breath, and come up with a more strategic and planful approach to moving to...
02.22.2024
Empathy, Trust, and Alignment: Stakeholder Management Tactics for Agile Leaders
In the face of change, many people inside large organizations are often left with more questions than answers. Do I have the ability to lead my team through this? Do I possess the necessary skills? Will my role become obsolete?...
01.25.2024
4 Truths You Need to Know to Make Agile Work
A couple years ago, Mike Cottmeyer did a webinar series on the fundamental building blocks of agility. These days, we’re calling these building blocks the physics of agile. Today, Mike and Dave get together to discuss the four laws that...
01.18.2024
A Systems Approach to Organizational Change
Large organizations that want to stick around and maintain their competitive edge have to stop treating everything in their business like a distinct set of processes. How your technology is architected, your organization is designed, and your teaming strategies, resource...
01.16.2024
What Do You Do with Underperforming Team Members?
Carrying work over from one sprint to the next is a thorn in the side of many scrum teams. And often, it’s due to one or two team members who aren’t quite carrying their fair share of the weight. We...
01.11.2024
A Better Way to Approach Culture Change
Mike and Dave sit down to reflect on 2023 and discuss some of the biggest revelations we had as a company. Together, Mike and Dave explore how LeadingAgile is already applying our latest learnings to our client engagements and the...
01.04.2024
What Do ScrumMasters Do All Day?
Thinking about becoming a ScrumMaster? Or maybe you recently got your CSM Certification, and you’re still trying to get your footing. Check out this quick podcast to learn what ScrumMasters do all day and gain some insights into the softer...
12.21.2023
Bringing Agile Home for the Holidays
In this episode of SoundNotes, we’re having a little fun discussing how you can apply the roles, ceremonies, and artifacts of Scrum to get more out of this holiday season and improve your goal-setting for 2024. Contacting Vic Bonacci If you’d like...
12.14.2023
How to Get Started with a Career in Agile
As Agile becomes more mainstream and commoditized, breaking into the industry is harder. Companies value certifications differently, and expectations are all over the place. Even when you find a job that looks promising, finding a way to stand out and...
11.30.2023
How to Create Clarity and Unlock the Flow of Value in Large Organizations
Business Agility is all about creating strategic alignment between different parts of your organization. One of the ways that we help our clients create strategic alignment is by implementing a four-tiered governance model that has a dedicated strategy team, or...
11.16.2023
Bringing Balance to the Agile Culture Conversation
Culture eats strategy for breakfast was a quote from the legendary management consultant and author Peter Drucker. If that’s true, then what does it mean when there are competing views on culture? What type of culture gets to eat strategy...
11.02.2023
What Do You Do When One Dev is Slowing You Down?
Most developers aren’t waking up in the morning and wondering how they’re going to mess up the sprint today. There’s usually a reason why they can’t get their work done on time. Still, if one developer isn’t meeting their commitment,...
10.26.2023
How to Make Home-Office Hybrid Scrum Teams Work
During the height of the pandemic, many teams learned how to work from home. As people start heading back to the office, many teams are in this weird in-between space where things aren’t always what they need to be to...
10.18.2023
What Do You Do When Your Product Owner isToo Busy?
Sometimes you have a product owner that’s wearing too many hats, traveling, or spread across too many teams. This can leave the rest of the people on your team feeling lost, or it can cause the ScrumMaster to take on...
10.12.2023
How to Overcome Specialized Roles in Scrum and Why it Matters
In this short podcast, two CST's, Dave Prior and Vic Bonacci, sit down to discuss specialized roles in Scrum. They dig into why that's a problem, how it impedes Agile, and explore some ways to get your team more cross-functional....
10.05.2023
Exploring the Pros and Cons of Product Goals
In 2020, the Scrum Guide introduced the idea of the Product Goal, but left out anything about Vision. Was this move better or worse for Scrum teams?In this short podcast, Vic Bonacci and Dave Prior, our two resident CSTs, sit...
09.28.2023
An Introduction to Sprint Goals
In this episode of SoundNotes, our two in-house CSTs get together to talk about the importance of sprint goals. They dive into everything from what they are, why they’re important, and how to go about creating them—even in the absence...
09.15.2023
Balancing Culture With the Need to Produce Results
Why are so many Agile coaches and ScrumMasters getting laid off? Is it because Agile is disappearing? Or is it because they’ve gotten so dogmatic about the rules and ceremonies surrounding Agile that they’re more of a burden then they...
07.20.2023
Exploring Kanban in an Enterprise Environment
Join us for today’s podcast where we dive into the world of Kanban and Agile methodologies to unravel the thought process behind large organizations who want embrace Kanban. If you’re considering Kanban, or you’re currently grappling with workflow challenges, this...
06.15.2023
Are Dependencies Meant to be Managed or Broken?
Mike and Dave sit down to have another debate with ChatGPT about dealing with dependencies in Agile. Mike asserts that dependencies kill Agility and that they’re meant to be broken. ChatGPT says that it’s all about managing dependencies and that...
06.08.2023
From Practices to Principles: The Right Way to Scale Agile
Mike Cottmeyer debates ChatGPT and sits down with Dave to discuss what it really means to scale Agile. Over the course of the podcast, Mike and Dave explore the difference between Agile principles and practices, cloud migration, and what the...
06.01.2023
Agile Metrics: Enabling Change with Data Modeling & Forecasting
Our guest, Troy Magennis, has been described as a national resource in the Agile community. He’s a published author and frequent speaker on forecasting and modeling Agile projects. Today, Troy joins us to discuss how many of the metrics the Agile...
05.04.2023
How to Truly Succeed with Agile Transformation
When organizations set out to adopt Agile, they always have a business reason. It’s never just because they really love Scrum, or SAFe, or LeSS. But when the teams start doing all the Agile things, and they’re met with resistance...
04.27.2023
The Future of Agile Transformation & Change Management
Today, the market for Transformation is a transition period. We see some companies looking for the next big thing, and others going back to what they know. Is this a sign that Agile is waning? Is it evolving? Or is...
04.13.2023
How to Unlock the Benefits of Agile & Get the Most Out of Training Your Teams
Agile practices don’t automatically lead to Business Agility. In the presence of dependencies and organizational impediments that the teams have no ability to change, going through the motions of Scrum or SAFe isn’t going to lead to greater Business Agility...
04.03.2023
Unpacking the SAFe Debate. Is it Agile or Something Else?
People have debated whether or not SAFe is Agile for as long as it’s been around. LeadingAgile CEO, Mike Cottmeyer, joins Dave on this episode of SoundNotes to explore the roots of small team Agile and to discuss how SAFe...
01.13.2023
Using Intention-Driven Communication
There’s a layer to communication that is most important for understanding: intention. It’s the most often overlooked aspect because it’s hard to decipher if people are saying what they mean or if you actually understand what they’re saying. By hunting for...
11.09.2022
Maximizing the Value of Agile Metrics
During Transformation, we need a way to measure its performance and improvements to the organization so that leaders continue to support the initiative. Metrics need to be used to help teams get better over time and drive the right kinds...
10.19.2022
Emotional Systems Theory and Leadership
In this episode of SoundNotes, Len Greski joins Dave to discuss leadership and emotional systems. Len is a Principal Consultant at LeadingAgile and he has a background in sociology. As Len explains, “The most difficult challenge in delivering great products...
10.07.2022
Getting Your Leaders on Board With Agile Transformation
This week’s podcast was created as a response to a question we were recently asked by some of our CSM/CSPO course students. This one is for all the team members and Scrum Masters, the people on the ground who see...
10.06.2022
An Executive walks into a Daily Scrum
So an Executive walks into a Daily Scrum and demands Team Member X who must immediately begin work on something that is not part of the Scrum Team’s commitment for the Sprint. If you are a Scrum Master, this has either...
08.31.2022
When the Team Doesn’t Want to Do Agile
This week in SoundNotes, Chris Barton joins me to talk through a problem that shows up one way or another in every single CSM class I teach… How do I get my team to want to do Agile when they don’t...
08.16.2022
Leading in Ambiguity
In this week’s episode of SoundNotes, LeadingAgile Senior Consultant, Matthew Oatts joins me to talk about what to do when you are placed in a leadership role, but not given a lot of clarity on what you are specifically supposed...
08.16.2022
Industrializing the Agile Transformation Process
Agile Transformation is more than just installing Agile processes or Agile principles. It’s more than simply training your team on Agile methodology. But if that’s the case, then what is the actual path to becoming an Agile organization? You must create...
06.30.2022
Creating win-win opportunities for Junior Talent Regan Jenkins & Lien Nguyen
Finding, supporting, and retaining people with skills and talent is never easy. Over the past few years, between the pandemic and the great resignation, it has become even more challenging. What attracts the next generation of talented change agents? How...
06.22.2022
Understanding Change Management with Melissa Oberg & Dennis Stevens
What is PSTIR? PSTIR is an acronym for a change management model we use at LeadingAgile to explain our approach to creating lasting change. It stands for Prepare, Socialize, Tailor, Implement, Reinforce and it is a series of collaboration and implementation activities...
06.16.2022
Corporate Communications in Agile with Tim Zack
In this episode of SoundNotes, Dave is joined by LeadingAgile Chief Marketing Officer Tim Zack. Tim offers his unique perspective on how to communicate within an organization during an Agile Transformation to influence lasting change. The biggest part of an...
06.02.2022
Knowing the Answer is Not Enough with Mike Cottmeyer
This week on SoundNotes our Founder and CEO, Mike Cottmeyer, joins Dave to discuss why simply showing up and having the answer for the customer is not enough. During this conversation, Mike explains the process he follows when engaging with...
05.12.2022
Getting Started at LeadingAgile with Matthew Oatts
This week LeadingAgile Senior Consultant Matthew Oatts joins Dave for a different kind of interview. This is the first of two interviews we will be posting with Matthew and they both focus on what it is like to work here...
04.07.2022
First Principles
At LeadingAgile our approach to helping organizations transform the way they work is deeply rooted in First Principles. These are core beliefs we all have in common that shape the way we work. People who work here come from different...
03.31.2022
Is Your Software Getting Better or Worse?
Lance Kind, Daryl Kulak, and George Walters join for this podcast episode about software. Daryl and George describe how they help companies answer the question: Is your software getting better or worse? LeadingAgile Studios team mission is to help companies...
03.17.2022
All About Spikes
Spike solutions are one of the ways extreme programming teams "figure out answers to tough technical or design problems". Their use has evolved over the years and as they've been adopted by Scrum Teams. There are also many teams out there...
03.03.2022
Growth Mindset: Criticism
This is the fourth episode in our series of podcasts about Fixed vs. Growth Mindset. Using the book Mindset by Carol Dweck as a jumping-off point, Mary Kaufmann and Dave Prior dig into the topic of criticism. The conversation focuses on...
01.20.2022
Growth Mindset: Effort
This podcast is our third in a series of conversations focused on Fixed vs. Growth Mindset. Leveraging the work in Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, Mary Kaufman and Dave Prior explore the differences between having a fixed mindset and a growth...
01.06.2022
Working with Product at LeadingAgile
Working with the Product folks at LeadingAgile is different than a lot of other Product Management gigs. In this interview, LeadingAgile’s Andrew Young joins Dave to talk about what it’s like working with the product group at LeadingAgile, why we...

What's LeadingAgile SoundNotes: an Agile Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LeadingAgile SoundNotes: an Agile Podcast episodes:

How to Align Your Product-Driven Organization to the Customer Experience

Product Development: Using Systems Thinking to Achieve Better Business Outcomes

Using Value Stream Maps to Identify Improvement Opportunities

Quantifying Waste Reduction Using Value Stream Maps

An Introduction to Value Stream Mapping

Avoid These Common Cloud Transformation Mistakes

Empathy, Trust, and Alignment: Stakeholder Management Tactics for Agile Leaders

4 Truths You Need to Know to Make Agile Work

A Systems Approach to Organizational Change

What Do You Do with Underperforming Team Members?

A Better Way to Approach Culture Change

What Do ScrumMasters Do All Day?

Bringing Agile Home for the Holidays

How to Get Started with a Career in Agile

How to Create Clarity and Unlock the Flow of Value in Large Organizations

Bringing Balance to the Agile Culture Conversation

What Do You Do When One Dev is Slowing You Down?

How to Make Home-Office Hybrid Scrum Teams Work

What Do You Do When Your Product Owner isToo Busy?

How to Overcome Specialized Roles in Scrum and Why it Matters

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Product Goals

An Introduction to Sprint Goals

Balancing Culture With the Need to Produce Results

Exploring Kanban in an Enterprise Environment

Are Dependencies Meant to be Managed or Broken?

From Practices to Principles: The Right Way to Scale Agile

Agile Metrics: Enabling Change with Data Modeling & Forecasting

How to Truly Succeed with Agile Transformation

The Future of Agile Transformation & Change Management

How to Unlock the Benefits of Agile & Get the Most Out of Training Your Teams

Unpacking the SAFe Debate. Is it Agile or Something Else?

Using Intention-Driven Communication

Maximizing the Value of Agile Metrics

Emotional Systems Theory and Leadership

Getting Your Leaders on Board With Agile Transformation

An Executive walks into a Daily Scrum

When the Team Doesn’t Want to Do Agile

Leading in Ambiguity

Industrializing the Agile Transformation Process

Creating win-win opportunities for Junior Talent Regan Jenkins & Lien Nguyen

Understanding Change Management with Melissa Oberg & Dennis Stevens

Corporate Communications in Agile with Tim Zack

Knowing the Answer is Not Enough with Mike Cottmeyer

Getting Started at LeadingAgile with Matthew Oatts

First Principles

Is Your Software Getting Better or Worse?

All About Spikes

Growth Mindset: Criticism

Growth Mindset: Effort

Working with Product at LeadingAgile