The Daily Standup

Setting and Managing Expectations - Mike CohnMy first Scrum project was incredibly successful, yet it was almost a failure.
All of the technical aspects of the project were going extremely well. We were ahead of schedule, stress and scalability tests showed that we'd exceed uptime and reliability goals. Everyone on the team was having fun and doing their best work.
The problem was that user expectations had been growing faster than the functionality being developed.
The project was call center software to be used by hundreds of nurses initially, scaling to thousands. Nurses would use the system to triage patients, provide advice, dispatch emergency personnel when needed and so on.
In monthly sprint reviews with the nurse users, I was routinely shocked by what they’d come to expect, some of which wasn’t even technically feasible. With about three months left on the year-long project, I realized my focus had to change. From then on, I spent almost all of my time on expectations management.
I met with nurses in each of the call centers and described exactly what would and would not be in the delivered system. I toned down their expectations about the system’s impact on world peace, global warming, and personal weight loss.
Had I not done this, the product would have been perceived as a failure.
Since that project, I have been acutely aware of the importance of expectations management to the overall success of any project. Setting and managing expectations is perhaps even more important when an organization seeks to adopt or improve its agility.
With agile improvement efforts, I find it helpful to set and manage expectations about four things:
 

• How quickly teams will improve
• How long it will take to gain additional predictability from the team’s new way of working
• How there will almost always come a time when turning back looks easier than sticking with it
• The level of involvement in the transition that will be necessary from various stakeholders and organization leaders

By properly setting expectations you can avoid the problem of having an otherwise successful transition or project sunk by unrealistic expectations,
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How to Say No Without Killing InnovationHave you also felt stretched too thin, saying “yes” to everything and watching your product get bloated and unfocused? I’ve been there. As a PM, you know that saying no isn’t just necessary it’s your secret weapon for driving meaningful product impact.But let’s be clear: saying no doesn’t mean stifling ideas or shutting down innovation. It’s about strategically selecting what to build, and confidently explaining why others don’t make the cut.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Scrum IS a Delivery Framework - NOT a Ceremonial CultThey say Scrum is easy to understand, hard to master.
I’d say it’s easy to misunderstand, and even easier to fake.Let’s not talk about standups, reviews, or retrospectives just yet.
Let’s start deeper — from the inside out.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Teacher Reveals Heartbreaking Reason Behind Her Ocean-Themed ClassroomOne teacher was used to her father's support in everything from big dreams to classroom decor, but after his sudden death in March 2025, that steady presence was goneHow to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Symptoms Of Moving Without a VisionIn the absence of a clear and shared vision, every team, leader, and individual will fill that gap with their own beliefs, experiences, and expectations. It may appear to be “diversity of opinion,” but in practice, it often results in misalignment. Every strategic conversation becomes a clash of narratives.This fragmentation of understanding is just one of many symptoms of a lack of product vision. Based on my experience leading product teams at Locaweb, Conta Azul, Gympass, and Lopes — and more recently, supporting companies as a product advisor — I’ve seen how the absence of vision impacts the entire organization.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Small Changes That Made Our Daily Stand-Ups More UsefulDaily stand-ups are a cornerstone of agile software development — but often they’re seen as a burden or a distraction. Why? Because they frequently devolve into long status reports that bore participants and add little real value.
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The Agile Family Tree: Theme, Epic, Feature and User Story Explained“Let’s group this into a theme, break it down into epics, then into features and finally user stories.”Sure. Cool. Great.Just one question: what does any of that actually mean?If you’ve ever nodded along in a backlog grooming session while secretly wondering whether an epic is bigger than a feature or the other way around — you’re in good company.It’s time we cut through the jargon and talk real Agile clarity.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Is Your Team Heading For a Win? It’s officially the end of summer here in the U.S. Part of me is sad. Cooler temps mean it’s time for me to hang up my wakeboard and store my boat for the season.
But part of me welcomes the move to falling leaves, long sleeves, and Major League Baseball playoffs. I’m a big Dodgers fan, and I’m hoping they make it to the post-season again this year.
But even if my team doesn’t go, I’ll still watch the playoffs and World Series–both because I’m a fan and also to see if I can predict the winning team. And while I’m no Nostradamus, I do have a bit of a superpower. After just one or two innings, I can often tell who is going to win the game.
Why? Because it’s usually clear that one team is trying just a little bit harder. They’re not pitching any better or getting more hits–they’re just more engaged.
They’re running down every foul ball, even when it’s already crossed into the stands. They’re moving toward every hit, only backing off when a teammate yells, “Mine.” From the superstars to the backup right fielder, everyone on the field is looking for ways to contribute, even when it’s outside their role.
It’s a thrill to watch teams like this: Teams who have put their individual egos aside to win the game.
 
I’ve seen the same thing happen with successful agile teams, too.
Agile teams thrive when team members let go of their egos and do what needs to be done. Agile teams struggle when people stay too rigidly in their most comfortable role–a programmer who refuses to do anything but code or an architect who won’t come down from the ivory tower to dirty his or her hands with actual code.The Best Agile Teams Operate without Ego“Agile teams thrive when team members let go of their egos and do what needs to be done.”I’m not saying that everyone needs to be a generalist–that would be like having your pitcher also play first base! What I am saying is if that first baseman has to field the ball, I expect the pitcher to hustle over and cover first to make the out. And if the testers are behind or someone has run into a roadblock, I expect to see anyone who is able help out.
On high-performing teams, each person plays their part as best as they can, and looks for opportunities to back up their teammates when they need help.
On these teams, it seems as if everyone starts each day thinking: “How can I best help the team win today?”
When team members have a winning attitude, I’m willing to bet they’re on the move from good to great.How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Teen Gets Adopted After Almost 15 Years In Foster CareAn Arkansas teen’s life was changed forever when he was adopted after almost 15 years in foster care.Cozy, 19, had been in foster care for 5,429 days and was the longest-waiting person in the Arkansas foster care system, per local news outlet KARK.com. Tim and Anna Dietrich adopted Cozy on Monday, Aug. 25.Anna works for the nonprofit Project Zero, which helps connect foster children with permanent homes. She met Cozy through the organization, per the outlet. “The Lord made it very clear that we were supposed to all-out adopt him. We're supposed to give him our name, give him our family, give him our whole hearts," she said in a press conference filmed by TVH 11. How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/

Happy Patriot Day - Just ServeThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) members participate annually in the National 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, also known as Patriot Day, by organizing and joining various community service projects through initiatives like JustServe.org. These activities, which can take place on September 11th or during the broader month of September, include tasks like cleaning parks, assembling hygiene kits, and making blankets, transforming a day of tragedy into one of unity and doing good. How to connect with AgileDad:- [website] https://www.agiledad.com/- [instagram] https://www.instagram.com/agile_coach/- [facebook] https://www.facebook.com/RealAgileDad/- [Linkedin] https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehenson/