When I started my journey as an Agile Coach, I had my doubts about my capabilities. I was thinking what I am going to say? I was wondering if anyone will listen to me? Am I just rambling about things and annoying them? Maybe I am not the good fit for this role, there must be a person more qualified than me.
We all get doubts about our capabilities and question our qualification. Since the time I started my journey as an Agilist, be it, Agile Coach or Scrum Master, I have put rest to these questions. There are reasons we should not be worrying about any of these.
- The journey is theirs. The Agile journey is for the team and the organization.
You join their journey, they are not joining yours. Our foremost concern should be to help them navigate through this curve. Help them understand the Agile practices and navigate them to find the new normal to do the things differently.
- Celebrate efforts, celebrate growth, not just results
As somebody said, fun is in the journey not in the destination. Celebrate as we, as a team or as an organization, move forward. Don’t just expect results and celebrate only when they are met. Make the journey for them fun filled.
- Discover their way of doing things
One of the best things you can bring to the table as an experienced coach to think differently and merge your experience as an Agilist to their of way doing things. You will be surprised that they will be more open to your ideas as that will create less disruption and resistance. With this, be ready to discover new things as you move along.
- Be honest, humble and transparent.
When you join an organization to transform their ways of doing things in new ways, one thing we need to understand that we do not join to please anyone. We have to be honest, transparent and humble at the same time.
The above article is based on the session delivered by Luke Lackrone at Agile2015 #Awkword Coaching New Agile Team.