Beyond Story Points: A Practical Guide for Grown‑Up Agile Teams
Story points aren’t the problem. They were created with good intent. A soft way to guide planning without the stress and politics of time estimates. Ron Jeffries, one of the or...
Agile coaching and Scrum
Practical guidance for Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, facilitators, and teams.
So You Think You’re Agile?
The Ladder That Separates the Pretenders from the Practitioners““We work in two-week sprints.” Cool. That’s not agility.” I’ve heard it a hundred times. Maybe a thousand. Teams...
The Story Point Illusion: Why "Per Person Velocity" is a Corporate Fairy Tale
The first time I heard someone talk about “per person story points,” I laughed. Surely, it was a joke. Like someone suggesting we measure teamwork by how many push-ups each pers...
Respect: The Missing Ingredient in Your Agile Transformation
Why respect isn’t just a soft value — but your system’s only real chance at speed.Shinjuku Station is the busiest railway station in the word. 4 million people passing through i...
Learned Helplessness: The Hidden Barrier to Agility
Why your team isn’t stepping up—and what you can do about it. You’ve probably seen it. You’re working with a team that’s been told: “You are now self-managing!” Freedom! Auto...
Are Your Most Respected Practices Now Your Greatest Risk?
Why old rituals won’t protect you—and how to outgrow your sword worship.A samurai in his armour in the 1860s. Hand-colored photograph by Felice BeatoImagine a world shaped...
The Story Points Trap: How We Lost Sight of Real Value
“How many story points do you complete per sprint?” “What’s your team’s velocity?” “Why isn’t it improving?” If you’ve heard these questions before, you know they’re usually we...
One Game. One Lesson. A Lifetime of Impact.
Why Games in Coaching Work So Well““Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin” About 15 years ago, I had a learning experienc...
How to Respond When Teams Say Their Work Doesn’t Fit a Fixed Sprint
““Working against hard deadlines—as opposed to continuing until the task feels complete—is the classic engineering approach.” – Mary Poppendieck” Scrum Masters and Agile Coach...
Want High-Performing Teams? Focus on Motivation That Lasts
In our agile profession, where adaptability and speed are often hailed as the keystones of success, lies an often-overlooked element that quietly dict Access this content wi...
Does a 60-Hour Workweek Make You a Productivity Beast—or Just Burnt Out?
Lately, there’s been a surge of voices—especially from billionaire founders—arguing that we all need to buckle down, grind harder, and clock in more hours if we want to be truly...
Why Laughter Is a Better Indicator than Velocity
And Why False Metrics Mislead UsMutt & Jeff by Bud Fisher, June 3, 1942Imagine losing your wallet at night and searching under the streetlight—not because you know it’s there, b...
PATI: The Fast-Track to Empowered Teams and Better Decisions
Ever feel stuck in endless approval loops? Like your team’s brilliance is trapped behind layers of outdated command and control? You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault. Agile ...
Better Feedback, Stronger Teams: The Magic of Wise Crowds
Collaboration across departments? Here is a way to do it! Access this content with a premium subscription This post is only available to premium subscribers. Join today to ...
Agile Transformations Fail in Isolation—Here’s How to Make Them Thrive
Have you ever watched a massive organization try to “go Agile” only to see it fizzle out faster than you can say scrum master? Maybe you’ve witnessed leadership sending teams of...
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