Recently, I shared with you part of the “Storming Agile Teams” workbook introduction. Today, you are about to read about the challenges that I have faced and what I think should be our role during this phase of the team’s development journey.
Our Role
As Scrum Masters or Agile Coaches, our role is central to the team’s transformation process. In my opinion, we should be leading the team’s change process in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, composed of at least one representative from each group who has a quantifiable and measurable need in helping the team move forward in its development journey. Here are examples of roles that I have seen being part of a team’s transformation process:
- The Team’s direct Supervisor or Manager
- The Team’s Scrum Master or Coach
- The Team’s Product or Service Owner
Optional roles, depending on the context:
- If there is a strategic coach in place and the team’s transformation could have an impact on an Agile project of greater scale, then I strongly suggest asking this person to be part of the team’s transformation project.
- Interconnected Teams Scrum Masters or Coaches that could have an input about the team’s transformation process.
- Interconnected Teams Direct Supervisor or Manager that could have an input about the team’s transformation process.
- Any additional role that could help the team.
Installing Common Sense
Further than that, I truly believe that “Installing Common Sense” should be our motto. Guiding individuals, teams and organizations to understand that being Agile means using common sense every single step of the way.
I also believe in the benefits of connecting people through thoughtful and genuine collaboration as our main purpose when playing the role of continuous improvement agent. But please, don’t get me wrong by thinking that this is an easy task. Even with practice, it might be hard to apply everyone’s common sense to any situation, especially when the only authority you have over people comes from your ability to influence the way they see life with a different perspective and help them embrace change as part of their journey.
But let us face it, it is a huge challenge to lead by example and try to inspire others to inspect and adapt. It requires courage, self-awareness, humbleness, love and hope that the best will come if we do it together. But it is so great to see people’s faces illuminating after an aha moment has made them realize that the effort is worth giving it a try.
Multidimensional Storming Challenges
The Storming phase of a team’s development journey has a special characteristic: it could be the most terrifying mirror that you have ever been in front of. So you should always be aware of that to stay a step ahead of every single situation. Remember that the team is going through conflicts that could be causing people pain, suffering and stress. Our role is crucial in order to create conditions to help the team heal as soon as possible.
What I think matters the most, is that you pay attention to your feelings and emotions first, before jumping into any possible intervention with the team, because that will help you raise self-awareness and allow you to increase your level of self-control.
Our job and main responsibility
Our job is also to manage conflicts between team members and to mentor them, as well as the team’s supervisor, the stakeholders and the organization, about dealing with conflicts in a constructive way. It is also our responsibility to help the team and its entourage to build real T.R.U.S.T.
TeamWork
Rely
Unique
Success
Together
Conclusion
That is what I think our role is in the team’s transformation process. We are at the heart of it, and yes, it is up to us to make a difference and change the world, one team, one collaboration at a time.
Take Action
Does that resonates with you?
Then here is my invitation with two options:
- Get your workbook Pre-Ordered here, I’ll do my best to keep writing and get it done before the end of Winter 2018.
- Tell me what’s your view of our role and your comment might be included in the final version of the workbook.
Thank you for being there for me, for supporting my journey in many ways, and for making me a better human being.
All the best wishes,
Jesus
References
Forming Agile Teams, Jesus Mendez, http://www.jesusmendez.ca/books/forming_agile_teams
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