Welcome Readers
Here you'll find insightful articles, tips, and templates on agile coaching and visual thinking techniques, all designed to help you succeed. Whether you're looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices, gain insights from thought leaders in your industry, or simply expand your knowledge, my blog has something for everyone.
Visual Thinking, Facilitation, and Retrospective Masterclass at HM Land Registry
The masterclass at HM Land Registry was a rewarding experience, both for the participants and for myself as a facilitator. By embracing Visual Thinking, Liberating Structures, and effective retrospectives, teams can unlock their full potential and drive continuous improvement. I look forward to seeing how the participants will apply these skills in their work and the positive impact it will have on their teams and projects.
Steve's Padel Journey: A 2024 Recap
Discover how padel newcomer Steve and his partner Martin dominated the courts in 2024. Follow their exciting journey, from beginner tournaments to championship wins.
Visual facilitation and thinking with the Office for National Statistics
A sneak peek at our visual facilitation training with ONS, sketching, simplifying concepts, and applying visual thinking in complex contexts.
5 minutes with… Steven Sampson-Jones
In our exclusive "Five Minutes with Steven Sampson-Jones," gain a unique perspective into the world of an accomplished Visual Facilitator and Public Sector Consultant. Steven's journey from the House of Commons to leading pivotal projects reflects a commitment to transformative and people-focused project management. The article delves into his insights on the importance of adaptability, the challenges facing delivery managers, and his experience leading the product development of Universal Credit during the pandemic. For an in-depth exploration of Steven's career, advice for aspiring professionals, and his aspirations inspired by the Brawn GP Formula 1 story,. Discover the dynamic and impactful narrative that defines Steven Sampson-Jones' contributions to the realm of delivery and project management.
Impact Effort Matrix
Dive into our guide on the Impact Effort Matrix tailored for agile product and service delivery. Learn how to identify strategic moves, steer clear of time-wasting tasks, and efficiently seize quick wins. Streamline your approach and elevate your delivery journey with precision and impact.V
Metaphors for Inspiration
Ready to embark on an inspiring journey of strategic planning? Join us in this blog as we explore metaphors that breathe life into successful business endeavors. Uncover how elements like the landscape, time, and milestones become the storytellers of your roadmap to success. Plus, we've whipped up a Now Next Later Roadmapping Poster Template to make your strategic planning a breeze. Let's transform your business journey into an exciting and rewarding adventure—because success is a journey, not just a destination!
Navigating Team Success: The Iceberg Retro Expedition
Dive into the fascinating world of teamwork with our Iceberg Retro Poster, a tool designed to uncover the essence of collaboration. Beyond the obvious, it unveils hidden gems, success strategies, and approaches to tackle challenges. Join us in this exploration, delving into each metaphorical element – from lifebuoys to submarines – and discover how they hold the keys to building a resilient and successful team. Are you prepared to set sail on the journey to success? Let's navigate these waters together!
Unleashing Creative Courage: Two Exercises to Ignite Innovation
Unleash the power of creative courage with these two dynamic exercises designed to fuel innovation and break free from conventional thinking. Dive into the New Product Idea Generator, where breakfast meets beloved furniture, or explore the Unexpected Combinations exercise, pushing the boundaries of imagination. Discover how these activities can transform your team's mindset and foster a culture of innovation. Read on to unlock the secrets of creativity and ignite the spark of fresh ideas.
Magical Business Insights: A Harry Potter SWOT Adventure
Step into a world where business strategy meets wizardry in our latest exploration. We're weaving the magic of Harry Potter into the classic SWOT analysis, turning your strengths into Elder Wand-like advantages and transforming weaknesses akin to Harry's broken glasses. Join us as we don the Sorting Hat to uncover opportunities and shield our businesses from lurking threats, much like fending off Dementors. Get ready for a magical journey where every business challenge is a chance to discover your inner wizard!
Innovative Approaches to Test Your Ideas: Prototypes and MVP Strategies
Unlock the secrets to successful product development with inventive prototypes and Minimal Viable Products (MVPs). From clever simulations to community-driven crowdfunding, these strategies redefine how ideas come to life. Ready to revolutionize your approach? Dive into our exploration of cutting-edge techniques for testing and refining your next big thing.
Uncovering Scrum Anti-Patterns with Burn-Down Charts
Unleash Scrum Success with Burn-Down Charts
Burn-down charts 🔥📉 are more than meets the eye. They're your secret weapon to detect and fix Scrum anti-patterns. Late task acceptance, slow progress, scope creep—these are the common culprits. Dive into our blog to uncover their root causes and learn how to tackle them effectively. Enhance your charts with extra data, foster teamwork in chart updates, and avoid the subtask counting trap. Elevate your Scrum game—read more now!
Estimation Game - Cup of Tea
In the world of project planning, there's a game-changing approach known as Agile Estimation Games. These interactive exercises can transform the way you estimate task duration and resource allocation. They foster collaboration and provide fresh insights into how different team members perceive the same tasks. Interested in boosting your project planning skills? Dive deeper into the world of Agile Estimation Games to uncover their secrets and potential benefits.
Fruit Salad: A Creative Scrum Estimation Scale
Dive into the world of agile project management and uncover the innovative "Fruit Salad" estimation scale. Explore how this unique approach can revolutionise your scrum planning and make task estimation a breeze.
Unleashing the Power of Miro: A Recap of Miro Distributed 23
Uncover the power of Miro's AI and App integrations in this session. Learn how to step up project delivery and support user-centred design. Explore how Miro generates user stories, acceptance criteria, and mind maps. Experience the ease of automated affinity sorting for research analysis. Discover Miro's wire-framing apps for mocking up ideas and testing low-fidelity prototypes.
The Simpsons Halloween Special Retrospective: A Spooky Review
Have you ever wondered how to make your team's retrospective meetings more exciting and engaging? Well, we've got a treat for you! In this blog post, we're taking a deep dive into the world of The Simpsons Halloween Special Retrospective.
No need to worry about complicated jargon or elaborate terminology – we're keeping it simple and fun. So, grab your favorite Halloween candy and join us as we explore a unique and entertaining approach to retrospectives.
From setting the stage with a simple icebreaker to generating insights that can transform your team's performance, this retrospective method is all about making your meetings more productive and enjoyable. Stay tuned as we reveal the tricks and treats of this spooktacular adventure in team improvement. 🎃👻
Manual of Me - Discover and Communicate How You Work Best 🧠
Ready to enhance your self-awareness, boost empathy, and promote inclusivity in your workplace? Dive into the world of the "User Manual of Me." This powerful concept is changing the way we collaborate, and the benefits are too good to miss. Learn how to create your own manual and unlock your true potential in the full blog post. Don't wait—start your journey of self-discovery today!
Look Back, Look Forward: The Hot Air Balloon Retro
When it comes to Agile retrospectives, it's easy to get stuck in a routine. But what if we told you there's a fun and insightful way to spice things up? Enter the Hot Air Balloon Retro! Imagine your team floating in a hot air balloon, basking in the sunshine, and then think about how that flight parallels your team's journey. It's a simple yet powerful way to reflect on your past and look ahead to the future. Curious to learn more? Keep reading to discover how this creative approach can take your retrospectives to new heights! 🎈✨
Spice Up Your Agile Workshop: A Saville Heat Pepper Scale Icebreaker
Feeling the heat in your Agile workshop? 🌶️ London's not the only place with sizzling temperatures! Try this fun icebreaker with the Saville Heat Pepper Scale. It's as easy as 1-2-3:
Explain the spice scale (1=mild, 10=hot).
Let participants pick a number.
Connect that heat level to an Agile topic.
Discover hot Agile topics, get conversations flowing, and keep things spicy! 🔥
Discover hot Agile topics, get conversations flowing, and keep things spicy!
The 8 Misunderstood Stances of a Scrum Master
In Agile's intricate dance, a Scrum Master's part goes far beyond jotting down meeting points. While documentation matters, the Scrum Master's essence lies in orchestrating discussions that fuel innovation, foster collaboration, and drive constant growth. By embracing this holistic role, Scrum Masters can propel their teams toward unprecedented heights.
More Than a Scheduler: The Agile Enabler
While scheduling ceremonies is pivotal, the Scrum Master's prowess transcends calendars. They lubricate the gears of Agile machinery, championing unhindered collaboration and swift obstacle removal. Their impact reverberates beyond the realms of time management, spanning the entire spectrum of Agile evolution.
Adaptation over Rigidity: The Agile Balancer
Though Scrum principles are a compass, unwavering rigidity can stifle agility. Agile-hearted Scrum Masters harmonize structure and adaptability, steering teams toward the sweet spot of innovation. With their guidance, teams flourish by embracing Agile values while adapting to context.
Stay tuned for more insights from our blog on demystifying the Scrum Master's role.
Leveling Up Your Agile Retrospectives with a Dash of Mario Kart Magic
Just like in the exhilarating world of Mario Kart, where racers navigate treacherous courses filled with banana peels, lightning-fast stars, and the occasional blue shell, your Agile team can apply the same spirit of adventure, competition, and fun to your retrospectives.
Here's a sneak peek into this exciting approach:
Banana Skins: In Mario Kart, banana skins represent unexpected obstacles. In your retrospective, identify these impediments and strategise on how to navigate them.
Blue Shell: The blue shell clears the path for racers. Likewise, in Agile, what path do you need to clear for your next iteration's success?
Star: The Star in Mario Kart is a turbo boost, propelling you forward at lightning speed. How can you maximize your velocity in the next iteration?
Fake Power Up: Not every power-up is beneficial. In Agile, we can be lured by false benefits. Recognize these distractions and stay on course.
Bowser (Last Place): Bowser symbolizes lagging progress. What's causing your team to fall behind, and how can you disrupt this pattern?
Mario (1st Place): Celebrate success! Identify your iteration champions and give credit where it's due.
Get ready to inject some Mario Kart magic into your retrospectives and watch your team's engagement and problem-solving abilities skyrocket.