5 Common Mistakes Project Managers Should AvoidWhen you're responsible for leading a new software project, of course it’s impossible to steer clear of every single mistake. But there are plenty of common mistakes project managers fall into that can be easily avoided simply by being mindful of them. Here are five common mistakes PMs make that you should be wary of.
Making Agile Coaching Successful for Your OrganizationSuccessful agile coaching requires a combination of experience, knowledge, and soft skills to help organizations build competence, sustainability, and performance in their agile practices. But it's not all up to the coach. There are a few things you can do to ensure your coaching engagement is set up for success.
Solving Problems and Seeking Solutions on an Agile TeamWhile teams are composed of individuals, all of whom solve problems and make decisions, people on consistently successful teams understand that they can be more effective when the focus is on the team, not the individual. Making the best decisions collectively delivers the most value to customers in the long run.
3 Ideas to Prevent ‘All Talk and No Action’ MeetingsWhen many people are speaking in a meeting but it never translates into meaningful actions later on, it can leave us frustrated. But with some planning and collaboration, we can facilitate ways to make it easier for people to communicate better. Here are three ideas for a little less conversation, a little more action.
Agile Collaboration on Remote TeamsThe first value in the Agile Manifesto is “Individuals and interactions over processes and tools,” and for many teams, being located in the same place facilitates these interactions. However, being part of an effective, collaborative team is less about location than it is about motivation and good practices.
What to Keep in Mind If You Want to Be PersuasiveTo successfully persuade someone of something, it’s important to keep in mind how you come across to others—when you’re trying to persuade and when you’re not. It's a good idea to build up trust and credibility before you need something, listen to others when they're in need, and think about tailoring your message.
Creating a Cohesive Culture in a Distributed OrganizationWhen organizations are distributed across multiple locations, it brings questions about how much each location should have a unique identity relative to the larger company. While a theme of “we are one” is common, it’s better to embrace the differences and work toward being a cohesive group that celebrates diversity.
4 Takeaways from Agile + DevOps East 2018With a week full of sessions, tutorials, training classes, and events, the Agile + DevOps East software conference had plenty of takeaways. Here are four highlights, including discussions about agile estimation, finding your ideal job, some challenges to advancing test automation, and leading self-organizing teams.
