Sometimes metrics can get in the way of a good conversation. — A few weeks back, I had a conversation with a peer coach who was introduced to me. As we chatted, we discussed several aspects of coaching. …

Break free from the framework nonsense. — Creating the right product is like sculpting. The development framework you choose is no different from your selected chisel. True, you can perfect your use of the chisel to shape and refine the raw stone. …

Getting back to “one voice”…and beyond. — I was shocked recently to find myself again facing a plea for role boundary definition and a step-by-step guide. “We need to define all roles and responsibilities in detail. If we don’t do this, our people will not know how to behave, and they won’t know what they can and…

Hint: there is hope. — It is easy to lose hope when necessary change becomes mountainous. Latecomers to agility often find themselves in this situation. But, as this article will reveal, there is a silver lining unique to those who are arriving late. I have been absent from my blogging for most of the first…

Remove your collaboration killers. — It’s clear to me, collaboration isn’t understood in many organizations; in fact, it’s often absent. And a lack of collaboration can be a real barrier when companies begin to adopt more agile ways of working. Without healthy and persistent collaboration, responsiveness to change (agility) is severely limited. I want you…

This was a great year spent helping others in their pursuit of outcomes. — This year started with my goal to help move organizations to a true outcome-orientation. And the companies I worked with made many strides forward. Here are a few examples of what happened: 10 teams learned techniques to stop starting and start finishing value for their customers. 6 teams learned how…

5 ways to unleash your team’s agility. — Scrum is simple. But, wow, it can seem restrictive at times. And at other times, it’s lack of specificity can lead to a misapplication of behavior. After folks practice Scrum for a while, I’ve noticed many begin to question its boundaries. The borders of Scrum start to inhibit the potential…

I am tiring of the fight for this concept. — Consider this: 1) you have one feature in use by a customer, or 2) you have five hundred code-complete features. Which is more valuable? I guarantee many organizations I encounter would go with the code-complete features option as the winner. I know this because they favor staying busy and finishing…

Get ready to embrace change and emerge your path. — Budget season has just ended. You as the Product Manager have been assigned to own a major strategic initiative. As part of the budget process, your stakeholders have provided numerous ideas on how they want you to solve it and are eager to learn when you will be done. Now…