Comments on: Coaching: Like People http://anarchycreek.com/2009/08/17/coaching-like-people/ Towards a Way of Excellence Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:38:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: GeePawHill http://anarchycreek.com/2009/08/17/coaching-like-people/comment-page-1/#comment-183 GeePawHill Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:33:34 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=432#comment-183 Thanks for the book link! It's winging its way to me as I type. Thanks for the book link! It’s winging its way to me as I type.

]]> By: Elderclei Reami http://anarchycreek.com/2009/08/17/coaching-like-people/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Elderclei Reami Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:32:28 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=432#comment-178 Sebastian makes a good question. IMHO, good managers and scrum masters area leaders and good coaches. It must be this way, otherwise, you are micromanaging, telling people what to do, instead of letting them decide, make mistakes, learn and become team. In contrast, all too often, corporations make so much pressure in managers (and scrum masters) that they cannot avoid micromanagement. Personally, I think this is as classical mistake, and sign that the corporation didn't really buy in the idea of agile (or lean or pragmatic or whatever). Sebastian also has a point on how the coach can help the team. Surely, there are several levels and expertise, but a good coach can really help when he realizes how to make the correct thought-provoking questions :) A good XP coach has XP values and principles in his heart, and is able to make questions that lead the team to accept XP practices and to adapt them when they are not working well. I would recommend any wannabe coach, or scrum master, like myself to read a lot about coaching. I am currently reading David Clutterbuck's Coaching the Team at Work (http://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Team-Work-David-Clutterbuck/dp/1904838081/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250645318&sr=1-7) which is very insightful. Although it is not about Scrum or Agile, each page is making me think back and realize why some actions of mine did't quite produce the desired results. Cheers. Sebastian makes a good question. IMHO, good managers and scrum masters area leaders and good coaches. It must be this way, otherwise, you are micromanaging, telling people what to do, instead of letting them decide, make mistakes, learn and become team. In contrast, all too often, corporations make so much pressure in managers (and scrum masters) that they cannot avoid micromanagement. Personally, I think this is as classical mistake, and sign that the corporation didn’t really buy in the idea of agile (or lean or pragmatic or whatever).

Sebastian also has a point on how the coach can help the team. Surely, there are several levels and expertise, but a good coach can really help when he realizes how to make the correct thought-provoking questions :) A good XP coach has XP values and principles in his heart, and is able to make questions that lead the team to accept XP practices and to adapt them when they are not working well.

I would recommend any wannabe coach, or scrum master, like myself to read a lot about coaching. I am currently reading David Clutterbuck’s Coaching the Team at Work (http://www.amazon.com/Coaching-Team-Work-David-Clutterbuck/dp/1904838081/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250645318&sr=1-7) which is very insightful. Although it is not about Scrum or Agile, each page is making me think back and realize why some actions of mine did’t quite produce the desired results.

Cheers.

]]> By: Sebastian Hermida http://anarchycreek.com/2009/08/17/coaching-like-people/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Sebastian Hermida Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:14:40 +0000 http://anarchycreek.com/?p=432#comment-177 Mike, Have you seen places where managers or scrum masters are coaches? Do you think it's a better fit for this role? I find that depending on the coach's background, her/his contribution to the team varies. If you get a technical person, she/he can show you how to pair, write tests, help you check your code in at least twice a day. That's great. But maybe planning or retrospectives are not this person's forte. Get someone from a project management background, and planning is great but the team really does not understand why pairing is important or how to write tests. It's difficult to "walk the talk" and show by doing at all levels of coaching. What would you recommend for coaches that want to get better at all stages? Mike,

Have you seen places where managers or scrum masters are coaches? Do you think it’s a better fit for this role?

I find that depending on the coach’s background, her/his contribution to the team varies.

If you get a technical person, she/he can show you how to pair, write tests, help you check your code in at least twice a day. That’s great. But maybe planning or retrospectives are not this person’s forte.

Get someone from a project management background, and planning is great but the team really does not understand why pairing is important or how to write tests.

It’s difficult to “walk the talk” and show by doing at all levels of coaching.

What would you recommend for coaches that want to get better at all stages?

]]>