Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Vasco Duarte, Agile Coach, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Product Owner
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Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Every week day, Certified Scrum Master, Agile Coach and business consultant Vasco Duarte interviews Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches from all over the world to get you actionable advice, new tips and tricks, improve your craft as a Scrum Master with daily doses of inspiring conversations with Scrum Masters from the all over the world. Stay tuned for BONUS episodes when we interview Agile gurus and other thought leaders in the business space to bring you the Agile Business perspective you need to succeed as a Scrum Master. Some of the topics we discuss include: Agile Business, Agile Strategy, Retrospectives, Team motivation, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Backlog Refinement, Scaling Scrum, Lean Startup, Test Driven Development (TDD), Behavior Driven Development (BDD), Paper Prototyping, QA in Scrum, the role of agile managers, servant leadership, agile coaching, and more!

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    BONUS: Unlocking the Secrets to Thriving Workplaces and Agile Leadership | Vasco Duarte

    BONUS: Unlocking the Secrets to Thriving Workplaces and Agile Leadership with Vasco Duarte In this insightful BONUS episode, Vasco Duarte is interviewed by Bill Fox for an episode on the Forward Thinking Workplaces Podcast. Vasco is a visionary leader in agile and lean software development. Vasco shares his revolutionary approach to fostering innovation, creating dynamic workplaces, and leading teams to success. His strategies are designed for leaders looking to elevate their organizations by focusing on people, purpose, and efficient work processes. Tune in for practical advice on how to unlock your team’s full potential and thrive in today’s fast-paced work environment. Creating Environments for Natural Innovation “Innovation is a natural human quality; it flourishes when you don't make an effort to prevent it.” Vasco emphasizes that innovation isn’t something leaders need to force. Instead, it happens organically when the right environment is in place. He encourages leaders to shift away from rigid structures and towards creating motivating spaces where creativity can thrive. By doing this, teams naturally become more innovative and solutions-driven. “The only way innovation does not happen naturally is if we make an effort to prevent it from happening.” Motivated Individuals: The Key to Project Success “Build your projects around motivated individuals and trust them to deliver their best.” Vasco highlights the importance of centering projects around motivated individuals, giving them the trust and support they need to succeed. According to him, leaders should focus on empowering people, unleashing their full potential. When teams feel trusted and valued, they bring more energy and creativity to their work. “If you trust people and give them the space to perform, they will achieve things you didn't expect.” The Power of Community and Purpose “Aligning purpose with autonomy and mastery leads to engaged and high-performing teams.” Drawing from Dan Pink’s model of autonomy, mastery, and purpose, Vasco stresses the role of community and clear purpose in building engaged teams. He explains how people are naturally motivated when they understand the purpose of their work and have the freedom to master their skills. This alignment creates a strong sense of belonging and shared goals within the team. “When people have a sense of community and purpose, they bring their best selves to work.” Defining Boundaries to Foster Innovation “Clear boundaries create a flexible framework where innovation can thrive.” Vasco believes that well-defined boundaries are essential to encouraging innovation. Far from being restrictive, these boundaries offer a structured yet flexible framework that helps teams feel secure while exploring new ideas. When teams know the limits but also have room to experiment, they perform better and innovate faster. “Boundaries are not barriers; they provide the structure that allows innovation to flow freely.” Streamlining Processes with "#NoEstimates" “Focus on delivering value efficiently by reducing waste in your processes.” One of Vasco's most transformative ideas is his “No Estimates” approach to software development, which encourages focusing on value and reducing waste. This method ensures that teams spend their time wisely, enhancing productivity without the guesswork of traditional estimations. It's all about respecting everyone's time and effort while delivering maximum value. “Stop wasting time on estimates and start focusing on delivering real value to your customers.” Leadership Aligned with Employee Purpose “Leaders must understand and align with the purposes of their employees to drive team success.” Vasco shares valuable leadership advice, urging leaders to connect with their team members on a deeper level. By understanding employees' individual purposes and goals, leaders can foster more

    49 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    How Open Feedback Can Transform a Product Owner's Approach, And Help Agile Teams Succeed | Karla Merza

    Karla Merza: How Open Feedback Can Transform a Product Owner's Approach, And Help Agile Teams Succeed The Great Product Owner: The PO As A Facilitator For The Team Karla describes a Product Owner who was open to feedback and continuously sought collaboration with the Scrum Master and the team. This PO’s willingness to engage in discussions and act on feedback fostered a productive and collaborative environment. They consistently asked how they could better support the team, demonstrating empathy and a strong commitment to continuous improvement. The Bad Product Owner: When The PO Protects The Team Too Much! In contrast, Karla shares a story of a Product Owner who unintentionally held back the team by poorly writing epics and user stories. This PO tried to shield the developers from unnecessary involvement but ended up creating more confusion. Fortunately, they were open to feedback, and with coaching, they learned the importance of involving the team in discussions to avoid miscommunication. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Karla Merza Karla joins us from Romania. She is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments. You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn: Karla Merza LinkedIn

    19 min

  3. 3 DAYS AGO

    Balancing Deadlines Commitments and Agile Team Well-Being as a Scrum Master | Karla Merza

    Karla Merza: Balancing Deadlines Commitments and Agile Team Well-Being as a Scrum Master Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Karla explains that a successful Scrum Master must balance the team's morale with delivery commitments. By adjusting her approach to meet the needs of a new team right before PI planning, Karla helped them take responsibility and deliver successfully. This example shows the importance of fostering both autonomy and accountability within teams. Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Adjusting Retros to the Team's Mood Karla doesn’t have a go-to retrospective format but prefers to adapt the format based on the team’s vibe. She uses tools like Metro Retro to find suitable formats and checks in with the team’s mood before deciding how to proceed. For example, during stressful periods like release deadlines, Karla switches to lighter, surprise retrospectives to relieve stress and maintain engagement. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Karla Merza Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments. You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlamerza/

    15 min

  4. 4 DAYS AGO

    Driving Change In Agile Teams Through Open Conversations and Experiments | Karla Merza

    Karla Merza: Driving Change In Agile Teams Through Open Conversations and Experiments Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Karla shares her experience working in a company with little understanding of Scrum. Through open-ended questions and proposing a three-month experiment, she helped the team embrace Agile principles. By fostering a culture of openness and collaboration, Karla was able to boost team morale and encourage leadership to actively engage with their teams. Self-reflection Question: How can you encourage more open communication within your team to drive change? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Karla Merza Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments. You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn.

    15 min

  5. 5 DAYS AGO

    How Poor Communication By Leaders Can Destroy an Agile Team | Karla Merza

    Karla Merza: How Poor Communication By Leaders Can Destroy an Agile Team Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Karla shares a story of a team struggling with internal conflicts caused by poor communication around promotions. This lack of transparency led to disengagement and frustration among team members. Karla emphasizes the importance of collaboration between leaders and Scrum Masters to ensure clear communication and maintain team morale. Featured Book of the Week: "Emotional Agility" by Susan David Karla recommends "Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life" by Susan David, a book that helped her as a technical person to understand the emotional side of work. The book explores how to navigate emotions effectively in leadership and personal growth. It has been instrumental in Karla's journey, teaching her how different leadership styles can either empower or hinder teams. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Karla Merza Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments. You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn.

    15 min

  6. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Importance of Separating Yourself from Project Failure as a Scrum Master | Karla Merza

    Karla Merza: The Importance of Separating Yourself from an Agile Project Failure as a Scrum Master Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this episode, Karla shares her challenging experience as a junior Scrum Master managing two teams in a large corporation. She reflects on how the teams were overwhelmed due to leadership decisions and her struggle to handle the situation. Karla emphasizes the need for Scrum Masters to separate personal responsibility from the project’s failure and offers valuable tips for staying motivated in tough situations. Self-reflection Question: How do you handle situations where a project’s failure feels personal to you? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Karla Merza Karla joins us from Romania and is an Agile Professional with 10 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in empowering diverse teams and organizations worldwide. From optimizing Agile practices to enhancing tool usage, she is dedicated to expanding knowledge and driving efficiency in multicultural environments. You can link with Karla Merza on LinkedIn.

    17 min

  7. OCT 19

    BONUS: AI-Driven Agile, Speeding Up Feedback Cycles for Better Product Iteration, And More AI Transformations | Jurgen Appelo

    BONUS: AI-Driven Agile, Speeding Up Feedback Cycles for Better Product Iteration, And More AI Transformations with Jurgen Appelo In this BONUS episode, leadership expert and entrepreneur Jurgen Appelo joins us to dive into the transformative power of AI in today’s workplaces. Creator of the unFIX model and author of Management 3.0, Jurgen shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing team collaboration, creativity, and innovation. This engaging conversation covers practical examples, personal stories, and thought-provoking ideas for anyone interested in leveraging AI to thrive in their career and business. AI and the Future of Collaboration "AI gives me more time to focus on the things I really enjoy." Jurgen kicks off by discussing the major changes AI is bringing to how teams collaborate and get work done. He highlights how AI tools like ChatGPT are enhancing feedback loops in product development, allowing teams to gain insights faster and more efficiently. Jurgen shares how he's used AI to improve his own writing, helping his editor focus more on storytelling rather than grammar corrections. For teams, AI is already making client interactions smoother and boosting productivity. "AI gives teams more time to focus on creativity and innovation by automating repetitive tasks and improving workflow efficiency." AI as an Assistant or Creative Partner? "We need to learn to delegate to AI."  Jurgen dives deeper into his personal experience of managing multiple AI systems to develop a library of use cases and patterns. He sees AI as a powerful assistant, capable of generating creative ideas and enhancing human work, but stresses that we’re still in the early stages. To truly maximize AI’s potential, people need to learn how to delegate tasks to AI more effectively, while AI systems evolve to help us think beyond our usual patterns. "Delegating to AI allows us to break free from old habits and explore new creative possibilities." AI’s Role in Personal Development "AI is a general-purpose technology, like the internet was in the beginning."  AI may have a vast potential to enhance personal and professional growth. However, many of its future applications are still unknown. He compares AI to the early days of the internet, a tool with endless possibilities yet to be fully realized. Right now, AI can help individuals automate simple tasks, but it has the potential to do so much more, including reshaping how we approach learning and career development. "AI could revolutionize personal development by helping people organize and prioritize their learning journeys." AI and Creativity: Can It Be a True Collaborator? "AI can give you instant feedback on whatever you create."  Jurgen discusses how AI can enhance creativity within teams, providing immediate feedback on ideas and helping teams refine their concepts without leaving their desks. He mentions real-world examples, such as using AI to generate designs and suggestions in creative fields, giving people access to insights they might not have considered otherwise. "AI can act as a creative collaborator, offering immediate, actionable feedback that pushes innovation forward." The Exciting Future of AI in the Workplace "I’m an optimist—AI frees us up to do more of what we love."  Looking ahead, Jurgen expresses optimism about AI's potential to change the way we work. While AI will inevitably displace some jobs, he believes it will also enable people to focus on tasks they truly enjoy. AI levels the playing field between small entrepreneurs and large enterprises by making high-quality tools accessible to everyone. This shift will create new opportunities and competition in the market. "AI will free up time for the tasks that matter most while leveling the playing field for entrepreneurs and businesses alike." Resources for Further Exploration Looking to dive deeper into the AI revolution? Jurgen recomme

    43 min

  8. OCT 18

    Why Sharing Product Ownership Leads to Better Product Results | Jelena Vucinic

    Jelena Vucinic: Why Sharing Product Ownership Leads to Better Product Results Read the full Show Notes and search through the world’s largest audio library on Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: Sharing Product Ownership with the Team In this episode, Jelena highlights the qualities of a great Product Owner (PO) who excels by sharing product ownership with the team. This PO had deep knowledge of the product but also understood that they didn’t need to know everything. By involving the team in product decisions and creating a sense of co-ownership, the team became more engaged and motivated to deliver better results. Jelena emphasizes that this collaborative approach helps the team to fully understand customer needs and take pride in the product’s success. The Bad Product Owner: Two Anti-Patterns, The Controller and The Organizer Jelena identifies two common anti-patterns in Product Owners: The Controller and The Organizer. The Controller tries to make every decision, leading to a bottleneck and stifling team creativity. On the other hand, The Organizer focuses more on coordination and administration but lacks a deep understanding of the product. This PO is often disconnected from the team’s efforts and the product vision. Jelena suggests fostering better collaboration and encouraging Product Owners to involve the team in decision-making processes, particularly through practices like mobbing, which can help integrate the PO more closely with the team and the product. About Jelena Vucinic Jelena is a self-conscious perfectionist and an everlasting optimist. She is deeply curious about the way people interact. After listening attentively, she likes to ask open questions that often help to reflect and improve collaboration. Jelena believes that every single person makes a difference, and she is dedicated to helping teams and leaders unlock their potential. You can link with Jelena Vucinic on LinkedIn.

    18 min
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4.7
out of 5
178 Ratings

About

Every week day, Certified Scrum Master, Agile Coach and business consultant Vasco Duarte interviews Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches from all over the world to get you actionable advice, new tips and tricks, improve your craft as a Scrum Master with daily doses of inspiring conversations with Scrum Masters from the all over the world. Stay tuned for BONUS episodes when we interview Agile gurus and other thought leaders in the business space to bring you the Agile Business perspective you need to succeed as a Scrum Master. Some of the topics we discuss include: Agile Business, Agile Strategy, Retrospectives, Team motivation, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Backlog Refinement, Scaling Scrum, Lean Startup, Test Driven Development (TDD), Behavior Driven Development (BDD), Paper Prototyping, QA in Scrum, the role of agile managers, servant leadership, agile coaching, and more!

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