When learning truly takes hold?
Have you ever been in a session that truly changed you, not just what you know, but how you think and act? I have been reflecting on the moments when learning truly takes hold. The kind that shifts not just what we know, but how we show up. After many workshops, coaching sessions, and experiments…
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Next-Step Canvas
Are you looking forward to taking the next step, let it be a new opportunity or a new year? I have created a Next-Step canvas with four simple questions to reflect on and grow further. Here is a facilitation guide that you can use for yourself, someone else or a team. I am using an…
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PIOSEE for team coaching
I like watching air crash investigations, for me, they are sad to watch as people have died or suffered injuries. However, at the same time, it is fascinating to see how the investigators’ team tries to connect several dots and find the reasons that they can make improvements in the aviation industry to ensure passengers’…
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“How do you want to spend 35-40% of your day at work?” – co-creating a team culture
On average a person spends 8.5 hours per day and according to various studies probably productive for three hours only. How often do you reflect if you are in a growth environment or contributing to an environment where you can grow. An environment where you are learning, experimenting new ideas, and having fun at the…
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ARE Model – How to align roles and expectations in a team
In this post I will be sharing my experience on how I’ve facilitated workshops for several teams to align on roles and expectations. I haven’t come up with a fancy name for it yet! Respecting simplicity so naming it Align(ed) Roles and Expectations (ARE) Model. “We ARE Team” tada! Background A few hundred moon days…
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Talk: Leadership in remote ways of working
The recording of my recent talk with Pakistan Agile Development Society (PADS) AgilePK Islamabad Chapter Title: Leadership in remote ways of working Description: Yes, we are suddenly remote! It is not a choice however driven by COVID-19 pandemic circumstances. it has become the new reality and we need to accept this sad reality and move…
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It is the Psychological, not the Physical distance – working with Distributed Agile Teams
Have you worked with Distributed (Agile) Teams, what was your experience, what did you like most about it and what were the challenges? For me, I have worked with remote teams earlier as well, however, recently I have started working extensively with Distributed Agile Teams and the experience has been so far fulfilling and really interesting.…
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Bring teams together by using Team Heart model
Have you worked with teams who lack understanding of each other and have miss-aligned expectations? In short, they are under-estimating each other’s potential and missing the opportunity to achieve greater things together. Continue reading to know how I experimented… Once I was asked to facilitate a workshop for teams to improve collaboration as they were…
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IWA: How a video call can help to enhance remote working experience?
In a remote working environment, effective communication is key to the success of a team and keeping the people engaged and motivated. The video call is a great alternative for an in-person meeting where communication happens face to face using digital tools. Though it is often challenging to understand the complete body language of the…
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Hot Air Balloon Retrospective Model
Are you using any metaphor in your Retrospective meetings? Using Metaphors in our conversations can help us to understand an object, conversation or action from a different perspective. They can also serve as a powerful tool leading us to think in new or a different way. In this post, I will explain how to use…
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Visualization – Agile Team Facilitation – Mindset
Here is a visualization of Agile Team Facilitation – Mindset (ICAgile ICP-ATF Learning objectives)
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What is the difference between an Agile Coach and a Scrum Master?
From my experience, I see an overlap in the roles of an Agile Coach and a Scrum Master in an organization. Both complement each other and appreciate the Agile values, principles, and practices. However, the scope and influence of each role are different. The Scrum Master is usually assigned to one or a couple of…
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Why is it important to understand the Agile mindset?
Let’s answer this question in two steps, first starting with building an understanding of an Agile mindset. Step 1: What is an Agile mindset? There are two explanations that have helped me to understand it. Definition 1- An Agile mindset is an approach to managing uncertainty (Ahmad Sidky) Fail fast and learn fast that results…
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Talk: Let’s make meetings greater again – An introduction to Agile Team Facilitation
How would you rate the meetings you have attended in the past? 1-5 stars. What did you like and what you wanted to improve? How was the participation and were you able to achieve its objective(s)? How was the decision made? If you want to make your meetings greater again then this session is for…
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My personal reflection on brain-based instruction and effective training design and delivery
In this post, I will compare and contrast what I knew about brain-based instruction and effective training design and delivery before I attended “Training from the BACK of the Room” with what I now know. (I am also a Certified Trainer for this course). What were some assumptions I made about effective instruction that has…
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Car Retrospective Model
Are you using any metaphor in your Retrospective meetings? Using Metaphors in our conversations can help us to understand an object, conversation or action from a different perspective. They can also serve as a powerful tool leading us to think in new or a different way. This post describes a Car Retrospective Model, a model to talk…
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Talk: A nerd’s story from developing software to developing people – An Agile coaching journey
Regional Scrum Gathering, March 2019 India talk (given in the form of a webinar) Replay the talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6CCiv3Z0iY Slides: https://www.slideshare.net/devork/an-agile-coaching-journey-khurram-bhatti-rsg-india-2019 Talk Description In 2003, I started my first internship at a small company. It was simple and yet amazing to integrate different open source products into a working solution to provide customer value. It…
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Talk: How to use Sprint Retrospective to create a continuous improvement culture
The talk covered the following points. Why Sprint Retrospective is key to continuous improvement in your Team and organization? What different Retrospective models you can use? How to Facilitate a Sprint Retrospective meeting For demonstration, We will select one model and do Retrospective for the session. Replay Pakistan Agile Scrum Exchange (PASE) talk recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szkODE9Q004
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Plane Refutro Retrospective Model
Are you using any metaphor in your Retrospective meetings? Using Metaphors in our conversations can help us to understand an object, conversation or action from a different perspective. They can also serve as a powerful tool leading us to think in new or a different way. This post describes a Plane Refutro Model, a model…
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Tree Retrospective Model
In the Agile world, ScrumMaster and Agile Coaches are often referred to as a gardener that helps a seed grow to provide shade and/or a fruitful tree. You need to prepare the ground, remove weed and give enough nutrition for good growth. At workplace, this resembles creating a safe environment for a person to do…
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Balancing “Being Agile and achieving organizational goals”
Reading time (8-10 mins) In this post, I have shared my thoughts about getting value from different frameworks while keeping the focus on achieving organizational goals. Question: What is more important for you and your organization? a) Being Agile (Leadership Agility, Organisational Agility) b) Achieve Organizational goals (More sales, Happy customers and Teams) Please go…
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To estimate, or to not estimate? – How to build a shared understanding of product using estimations
When working in an agile team, what’s the first thought that comes to mind when you hear “Team Velocity”, or “Sprint Burndown”? and yes, both are related to Estimation. I’ve experienced that some agile teams found estimation useful while others considered it less beneficial to the team and process. However, for the management, perhaps it…
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To be, or not to be “Agile” – We have always been Agile Or it is something new?
In this post, I am brainstorming and aligning my thoughts around the word “Agile” as an adjective. I feel this area is like an iceberg and I have only seen the tip, well we have to start somewhere. Let’s explore… Agile is not that is unknown to us, let it be agile software development, agile…
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With these powers combined I am Scrum Master!
It is always exciting to bring back childhood memories. Often, I watch cartoons that I used to watch during my childhood. One of my favorite ones was Captain Planet. and I have been a committed planeteer as well. Since I am working with Agile software development, I wrote a song for our lovely Scrum Masters our…
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GoalStepper model- Dream big and achieve it with small steps and consistency
Dear readers. I have a confession to make. I have set goals in previous years which were not met, sadly. It was an exciting feeling when I planned, however, a sad feeling when time went away, just like that! Have you ever observed a toddler, starts to walk and trembles down. But never loses the…
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Welcome! Agile People Pakistan (APP)
WHY? A vision to spread the awareness of Agile in Pakistan, build a platform to connect Agile practitioners and Agile bodies, share knowledge and help each other to grow. Isn’t Agile about collaboration and not living in silos? It is not yet another group but rather a platform to share what’s happening in the Agile…
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My Agile and Scrum journey so far and its impacts on me
So here are some thoughts about my Agile journey and its impact on me (as part of my CSP application) Some high-level thoughts. Hello, Agile and Scrum My insight into learning and overall understanding and appreciation of Agile/Scrum ideas? What have I really taken to my heart and mind as I embrace Agile/Scrum concepts? How using…
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A facilitation guide – Team Building for Distributed Agile Teams, It is the Psychological, not the Physical distance
A facilitation guide for Team Building for Distributed Agile Teams (DAT). It might be helpful for someone working with remote teams and want to break the ice among teams. My philosophy is that to build innovative software products, a company need to focus and allocate time for building Team(s) as well. Yes, that’s what I think…
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It is the Psychological, not the Physical distance – working with Distributed Agile Teams
Have you worked with Distributed (Agile) Teams, what was your experience, what did you like most about it and what were the challenges? For me, I have worked with remote teams earlier as well, however, recently I have started working extensively with Distributed Agile Teams and the experience has been so far fulfilling and really interesting. …
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GDPR and Software Quality
This is excerpt from my talk on “GDPR and Software Quality” I got a bit curious to learn about EU General Data Protection Regulation a.ka. GDPR and understand its possible impact on software quality from the Process and Test data perspectives. GPDR will be enforced by May 2018. I will write about it in my…
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Towards Agility 