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...
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Agile Compass
A growing collection of articles on agility, innovation, leadership, and product management. Practical insights to help you navigate change and build high-performing teams.
Stop Praising Suffering: Rethinking “Hard Work” and Finding True Productivity
Ever notice how, deep down, a lot of us still believe work is supposed to hurt? Like there’s something virtuous about suffering on the job? Call it a holdover from Calvinism, ca...
The AI Developer Apocalypse Might Be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Software Engineering
There’s a lot of anxiety in the air. AI is coming for developers. Coding assistants are getting smarter by the month. Junior roles are vanishing. Whole classes of developers ar...
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...
How to See the Future Before It Happens
In 2004, during my Silicon Valley days, my mission was straightforward yet challenging: predict markets 5 to 10 years into the future, spot emerging technologies, and craft robu...
Low Performance Is a Leadership Problem, Not a People Problem
The term “low performer” is not just outdated — it’s destructive. Labeling people this way reveals an antiquated view of human beings that not only demotivates employees but ac...
How Apollo 13 Proved the Power of Distributed Leadership
April 13, 1970Apollo 13 is gliding silently toward the moon when, suddenly, the spacecraft shudders with a deafening bang. In Mission Control in Houston, the room falls silent....
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...
The Pitfall Of Customer-Driven Decision-Making (And How To Avoid It)
In the world of business and innovation, there’s a common misconception that listening to your customers means asking them what they want or analyzing the data you have on them....
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 ...