Responses

Q. Who is that delightful child ...

Q. Who is that delightful child speaking at the beginning of your audio book?
— Tom, Ann Arbor, USA ()

Hi Tom, that is my daughter Zoë who came to my desk while I was editing my audio book, to ask me about something completely unrelated to what I was doing. Her voice got accidentally recorded and just seemed to fit the spirit of the book. So I repurposed it :)

Q. I am currently struggling as a scrum master ...

Q. I am currently struggling as a scrum master with defining value and therefore knowing what to prioritise. We're working on people processes and experiences at work rather than being a software or digital team. In general our work comes out of a broader people plan so has gone through an initial prioritisation process. We're doing design thinking to understand for our people what is most valuable. What I'm struggling with is when the team is at capacity how we prioritise between adding value to piece of work a, or piece of work b. Thanks.
— Rachel, Swindon, GBR ()

Hi Rachel. I had a few questions like this one—essentially questions seeking free consulting :/ Please understand that even if I wanted to offer free consulting (I actually don't) it would be useless to you because I have no idea of your context, your product, your workers, your managers, directors, executive, the relationships between them, and all the other myriad variables. My advice would be worse than useless. Instead I offer you a wonderful book by Peter Block — perhaps the closest you'll get to meaningful free consulting. It's called The Answer to How is Yes. Even if you don't read the book, read the introduction on the Good Reads page. It may get you thinking differently about how you ask questions. To others, be warned that similar consulting questions will receive the link to this book in response. It's honestly the best I have to offer.

Q. The best things in life are all inefficient ...

Q. The best things in life are all inefficient. How do you reconcile inefficiency and 'optimization/lean/agile' in your life and maybe even commercial work? And to what end? I haven't really figured it out but found a clue in the "timeless way of building". Curious: What do you think?
— Neal Taylor, Cambridge, GBR ()

Hi Neal. I haven't read A Timeless Way of Building but it sounds as if you have, so in some ways you are answering your own question here. I have however owned a copy of Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language for a few decades now, and occasionally I will dip into it (hardly a book to read cover to cover!) From those dippings I can say that this writer/thinker is streets ahead of most people in the Agile space and I would highly recommend his work. I don't suppose Alexander would say he's "figured it out" either, but he is certainly, like you, on a journey of discovery. The world doesn't stay still so "optimising" it is rather a fool's endeavour. Just think big while enjoying the small. joy

Q. I've been thoroughly enjoying reading your KJV reflections ...

Q. I've been thoroughly enjoying reading your KJV reflections as you know, and found it fascinating/disheartening (not quite sure which, if either!) that despite all the stories, teaching, sharing of wisdom and opportunities for learning over thousands of years, we still seem doomed to repeat our failings as humans.
My question therefore, is how might we break these cycles? I appreciate there's lots, so feel free to pick one like a lust for or abuse of power, or worshipping celebrities (false deities?) As a species, do we lack sufficient critical thinking (and feeling) or is our collective moral compass fundamentally broken? Or as an alertnative question, Is there a systemic intervention that could put us on a new path to truly flourish once and for all?
— Brett, Malvern, GBR ()

Hi Brett. Firstly thank you for reading my KJV posts. I think I may have a committed readership of about six people :) so each of you is highly valued! I like your question, and it is a big one, so thank you for offering me the choice of picking just one thing that causes continued failing and destruction. It has to be the violation of the second commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image". From the worship of power and money, through charismatic cult leader worship, all the way to current day leadership worship in the corporate world we consistently miss the bigger picture. God is greater purpose, Love, if you prefer. Any other form of worship is small, too small to lift the world above itself. Gravity, both physical and spiritual has a downward pull. We need something greater than ourselves to stay lifted.
I don't know if there is one systemic intervention to fix this. Probably not. But it starts with awareness in each of us. If we ask, 'what did I worship today?' and answer honestly we may be surprised. We may be rather disgusted too :/ I address this topic in my 2015 artcle False Gods, for what it is worth.

Q. After 4 years working in a company as a product manager ...

Q. After 4 years working in a company as a product manager (charity sector) our digital team has worked hard to move towards an agile mindset and championed user centred and service design with success in some areas and unresolved conflict in others. A new director has positioned a restructure which splits out core functions from the digital team (content teams and delivery managers) and when I questioned this, the response was that prioritisation of digital was the most complained about area within digital and creative and even though there are some successes, a restructure is needed to solve the issue. I replied that I didn't believe the restructure would solve cultural and siloed ways of working, only increase this problem, as some business areas wouldn't invest in the right capacity to make the system work effectively but it would break years of good work and investment in the areas of success. I feel I may be shouting into the void...
I won't go into too much detail about the restructure, I guess my question is, should I see it through and stay at the organisation even though I don't agree with the direction of travel or should I just jump ship?
I love working there and my colleagues (my area is one of success) and feel like I could influence the change but I'm concerned it may be a waste of energy?
— Jane Kelly, London, GBR ()

Hi Jane. This is another of those free consulting questions ;) Fair enough, as I didn't specify the nature of the questions to be asked, but as I responded to Rachel (above) without context, deep context, any advice I give you will likely be useless or worse than useless. But even so, on this part of the question, "should I see it through and stay at the organisation even though I don't agree with the direction of travel or should I just jump ship?" I will offer my reflection of 29th May, Dignity which focuses on the topic of personal integrity. Only you can know what to do though.

Q. I like going to the office. I enjoy WFH too ...

Q. I like going to the office. I enjoy WFH too, learned to like it during 2020/2021. I am about to join a fully remote company, and my next role clashes with my belief that I need to work with others in a shared space at least a few days a week. I also hear/see/read people clamoring to never set foot in an office again...I think over time the novelty will wear out :) and we'll settle in a more fluid, but not all office/all remote model. Exceptions to the norm will exists, just like they do now. And well, that's what I think. What do you think about this?
— Seba, USA/ARG ()

Hi Seb. I don't have much of an opinion on this, but I do know I enjoy remote working (and teaching) much more than I thought I ever could. Humans need human contact, physical contact, and without it I believe we would wither. Much mental illness was caused during the last two years exactly because of this isolation. The question I ponder these days though is this: does our human-to-human contact have to be at work? I think maybe not. So long as we find ways to be with others, in community, in harmony, in collaboration, in love then I reckon all will be well. Work can exist in virtual spaces, as it seems to be doing right now—existing, and even thriving.

Q. Last week I was thinking about leadership and power in my work ...

Q. Last week I was thinking about leadership and power in my work, and I have this question: do we ask more to people with power? I know I do and I get frustrated often. What do you think about this? What can I do? Thank you for thinking with me,
Lina, Buenos Aires, ARG ()

Hi Lina. Interesting question. I haven't thought about it before. Thinking now, I'd say probably yes. But isn't that fair? People don't end in positions of power accidentally, they usually strive to get there. Being asked to perform then seems reasonable. That's not to say we should give up our own responsibilities because we have a "leader". We should not. Any relationship is improved by a negotiated agreement, by setting clear expectations in both directions. If you find yourself getting frustrated, maybe you have skipped that step?

Q. I'm interested in your thoughts about the topic of "not doing" ...

Q. I'm interested in your thoughts about the topic of "not doing". Traditional agile frameworks seem to be oriented to doing more, faster, better, etc. How can we move towards "doing less" or even "not doing" as the corner stone of authentic agility? Thanks.
— Francesco, Seville, ESP ()

Hi Francesco. Beautiful question. Thank you. I am a big fan of doing as little as possible. Kent Beck's question "How little can I do and still create great software?" is one that inspires me. I have twice written on the joys, and benefits of doing less. Take a look if you have time: My Wasted Life and Procrastination. I doubt those articles will answer your question, but maybe it will change the "How" to a "Let's", and then action—or better yet, total inaction ;)

Q. I was wondering if I could get a signed copy of your book ...

Q. I was wondering if I could get a signed copy of your book, The People's Scrum :)
Hassan, Leeds, GBR ()

Hi Hassan. My book can be purchased in both electronic and paper form here. A signed copy may take a week or two to be sent. Another way to buy a signed copy is to attend one of my in-person classes.

Q. I am currently struggling with finding a scrum job in the UK ...

Q. I have enjoyed reading a lot of your stories, thank you for sharing your full self with us. I am currently struggling with finding a scrum job in the UK. I recently relocated here to be with my family who have been here for close to 2 years. I keep hearing I don't have the relevant experience required and I have been a scrum master for about 2-3 years now. It's getting really frustrating. My question is, are there scrum master volunteer roles I can do to learn a bit more and gain work experience while I continue searching for paid employment?
Magnus, St Albans, GBR ()

Hi Magnus. You are not the first person to ask me this question over the years. I'm rather disconnected from the corporate world these days, so not in a position to personally make recommendations. However, there is an amazing Whatsapp collective, Breakfast Bridge that has grown up over the past 3-4 years. Click the link to read their full vision statement. You'll see they have many splinter groups. The one you should consider joining is BB Shadowing: For those who want to create shadowing opportunities and those who want to shadow other agilists. There is also Breakfast Agile Jobs where new positions are posted. Good luck on your journey!

Q. What insights would you give to a younger version of yourself ...

Q. Thanks for the space to ask questions. You seem to navigate the space between remaining curious and open to new ideas while being perfectly at peace having your own opinion and perspective. Hence the question. What tools and/or insights (if any) would you give to a younger version of yourself to enable contentment?
Chris, Guildford, GBR ()

Hi Chris. Synchronistically, a few minutes before opening your email I had been talking with my nine-year-old daughter (perhaps as a surrogate nine-year-old self) about contentment. For me it is simple, and just one thing. I would tell my younger self, as I told my daughter: take the smaller portion for yourself, and give the larger to the other—no matter how much you crave it, and no matter what "it" is. For it is in the surrender of your covetousness, the release of desire, the letting go of self that true happiness lies. I'd like to have discovered that a decade or two before I actually did.

Q. What does being human-centric mean for you? ...

Q. I've not had the opportunity to ask you this on a call but very curious to know your thoughts: What does being human-centric mean for you?
— Brett Jarman, Malvern, GBR ()

Hi Brett. Thanks for the challenging question. I have used that term in the past (I recall describing Francis Laleman that way, here) but it is not one I usually choose, considering it a vague nominalisation. There is a similar term in the field of psychotherapy, "person-centred", which strikes me in the same way. I quote from bacp.com,
"Person-centred counselling is one of the humanistic modalities or approaches. It was founded in the 1940s by the American psychologist Carl Rogers who believed that, given the right conditions, a person can reach their full potential and become their true self, which he termed 'self-actualisation'. This actualisation process is innate and accessible to everyone."
I don't quote this to endorse the term. Indeed the quote itself is dense with more nominalisations... "humanistic modalities", "full potential", "true self", "self-actualisation", even "innate", which are all meaningless jargon, except to the person writing it. Until we take time and thought to unpack these terms they will only be trance-inducing nominalisations, leading us to bland assumptions. This is why I like your question. It pushes me beyond assumption and lazy language.
So to unpack the term "human-centric" I suppose it would mean a particular focus on the wholeness of an individual, looking beyond their job-title, role, or external presentation. It is a recognition that each one of us (human beings) is a complex mix of emotions, thoughts, ideas, opinions, experiences, passions and fears, and to care for another requires us to acknowledge this and approach the other with compassion, regardless of what we may think about (or of) them based on initial, facile data and our own assumptions. To be human-centric is to love without condition, to have a genuine concern for the welfare of the other, no matter who they are, what they have done in the past, or how utterly different to ourselves they might be.

Q. I am exploring the Agile Coaching Certification, ICP-ACC ...

Q. Hi Tobias, Hope you are well. I was your student in 2021 Jan for the CSM certification program. I am exploring the Agile Coaching Certification, ICP-ACC. Do you run session for this one and can you point me to some resources please.
— Vidya Raghuraman, London, GBR ()

Hi Vidya. I am not certified as a coach, and don't really identify with the term. I facilitate, mentor, catalyse, collaborate, reframe, untangle, or simply engage in dialogue, but I don't coach. I leave that to others. The best place I know of in the UK to learn coaching skills is through the many classes offered by Adventures With Agile. So to you, Vidya, and to anyone seeking to enhance their coaching skills and certifications, please follow the link to learn more, and engage with the lovely people at AWA. Many blessings for your journey.

Q. If you could change just one element of the Scrum Guide ...

Q. If you could change just one element of the Scrum Guide, what would it be?
— Brett Jarman, Malvern, GBR ()

Hi Brett. I have an immediate answer to this. The 2020 version of the Scrum Guide introduced the term "accountability". This is a terrible word, smacking of old-style management, with all its rewards, punishments and oppression. I've written about the difference between accountability and responsibility in the past, The Accountability Trap and Accountability & Agreement. Essentially the core difference is in the preposition: we are responsible for but we are accountable to. To who? Well it's usually to someone higher up the corporate hierarchy than we are, some person of power. This is not what we seek in Scrum though. We seek an egalitarian approach to work, a team-centric approach where we take responsibility for our work and the only 'accounting' is to one another, on a daily basis, keeping each other true, honest and committed. The failure of accountability as a driving concept is beautifully expressed by Pasi Sahlberg of the Finland school reform program: "Accountability is something that is left when responsibility has been subtracted." The writers of the Scrum Guide seem to have forgotten the concept of responsibility as a driving force in systems of self-organisation and self-management. Responsibility, through the values of commitment, openness and respect, was implied in earlier versions of the guide, but this implication is written out with the explicit use of the term 'accountability'. It is a great shame, and a blot on what is otherwise a beautiful document.

Q. You've written that your previous marriage failed ...

Q. You've written that your previous marriage failed. How did you know that it was time to call it quits? How do you know when it is time to stop trying and accept our failure?
— ()

Hi Francesco, and thanks for asking such a vulnerable question. The short answer to this is that you don't know; there is no knowing, there is only intuiting, which is prone to error, especially when we are out of touch with our own needs, and how they are being met in any given situation. For my own place and time, I intuited correctly, but it took me several (quite distressing) years to reach that point. I'll add though, that just because I intuited correctly, and have no regrets on the decision, doesn't mean I carried it out well. I did not. I left a lot of hurt and sadness in my wake, and if I could do it over again I would do it differently, with more love, more kindness, less self-righteousness. I'm not sure that looking at a marriage collapse as 'failure' is useful. Perhaps it is just enhanced learning due to changes in circumstance, desire, or state of awakening. We talked on this, you and I, and as I said, I have no advice to offer, only love. Whatever you decide to do, I am sure you'll do with kindness and care. It seems to me there would be no other way for you, and I wish you well.

Q. Are you able to offer a discount for CSM? ...

Q. I have recently graduated from The School of Code in Birmingham and I loved working in a collaborative team and discovering agile methodologies. Coding was fun and I liked the problem solving skills. But not for me... all day, everyday. I ideally want a people focused/soft-skilled role in tech. I met Bella Bardswell at a tech event who put me on to your CSM course. Course looks great but is too expensive for me at the moment because I am unemployed. Are you able to offer a discount or recommend another route for CSM?
— Matthew Miller, Birmingham, GBR ()

Hi Matthew. My online CSM classes are handled by a partner, so I cannot offer discounts on those. I am starting upin-person CSM classes in London in 2023, and happy to talk with you (or anyone) about reduced prices in situations of financial difficulty. So please do get in touch using the contact information on that page.

Q. Do you believe you've experienced a 'spiritual awakening' ...

Q. Do you believe you've experienced a 'spiritual awakening', similar to that outlined here: the-5-stages-of-spiritual-awakening?
— Brett Jarman, Malvern, GBR ()

Hi Brett, sorry for the long delay. I found this a difficult question to respond to. The phrase "spiritual awakening" has always struck me as an elitist concept, requiring some sort of commitment to one or another Eastern philosophy. It is not a term typically found among western Christians, where the simpler term "stay awake" would be more common. Jesus asks his disciples (and indeed all of us) to stay awake, stay watchful. That to me is more aligned with my own world view. We are not just spirit, we are mind and body too. Staying awake in all ways is altogether a more powerful and (to me) a more meaningful concept. I wrote something on that here: Complacency. I believe we all have a responsibility to stay awake and alert in the face of the manipulations and coercions we are daily subjected to by governments, the media (both social and mainstream) and especially the capitalist/free-market system itself, convincing us we are unworthy and unattractive so we may be sold worthiness and beauty in product form. Spiritual awakenings set us apart, and are themselves products of the capitalist system. Community awakenings would be something I'd feel more aligned with.

Q. Is there a writer who has influenced your writing the most? ...

Q. I really enjoyed today's newsletter. I particular enjoyed the writing style. Is there a writer who has influenced your writing the most?
— Toby, Croston GBR ()

Hi Toby. Thank you for this question, it had me thinking back over years. If I had to name just one writer it would be Kurt Vonnegut, who I certainly tried to emulate in my very early writing attempts in my 20's, but perhaps it was more a blend of Vonnegut, E.M. Forster, Paul Gallico, Rose Tremain and Edward Lear, and further coloured by popular sub-culture books of my youth such as The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. The theological aspects of my writing are strongly influenced by John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, Robin Myers and especially by Walter Wink. My library is probably an equal blend of fiction and theology, with just a smattering of business books—my favorite being Artful Making by Lee Devin and Robert Austin. It was that work, and the wonderful Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire that influenced by own book, The People's Scrum, written in 2013.

Q. What should a scrum master do first week of job ...

Q. What should a scrum master do first week of job—keeping in mind it's his/her first scrum master job. Thank you.
— Rasmi B, Bengaluru IND ()

Hi Rasmi. Whether it is your first job, or your 50th, my advice would be the same: assume nothing, fix nothing, teach nothing and offer no advice, just observe, listen, and ask questions; maybe facilitate a retrospective to gather data on the way things are, but do not come in with your own agenda. The biggest mistake new scrum masters make is to assume to be experts, or to think they have the answers before understanding the question. Stay humble, and remind yourself you are there in service to the teams, and to the greater good. Be open to learning from those you work with. Stay curious.