Category Archives: training

Get to know the co-chairs for next April’s Scrum Gathering in San Diego. This episode features Vic (@AgileCoffee) speaking agin with Kim Brainard (@agilebrain1). In July, the Scrum Alliance selected Kim and Vic to serve as co-chairs for next April’s Global Scrum Gathering in San Diego. For more info on the gathering, visit scrumalliance.org/sgcal.  

In memory of Jean Tabaka. Recorded at the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gathering in Orlando, FL, this episode features nine voices. Vic (@AgileCoffee) was joined by eight fellow participants (all working with Agile/Scrum teams) to discuss some highlights of the gathering. Guests list: Stuart Young (@Stuartliveart) Laura Powers (@poweredbyteams) Kim Brainard (@agilebrain1) Stuart Fish (@fishstua) Jamie Crews (@jamie_crews) Anderson Hummel (@anderson_hummel) Scott Dunn (@sdunnrocket9) David Gardner Karaoke pics: coming soon Vic rocks the karaoke stage?

Here in the USA, the summer travel season is heating up. Before you head off to exotic destinations, I want to let you know about a special opportunity right here in our area.  Esther Derby and Don Gray are offering their outstanding workshop, Coaching Beyond the Team, in Costa Mesa, Sept 13 & 14.  I feel this course will be invaluable for those of you in a scrum master or coaching role. The early bird price ends July 1. Details on the course below from Esther. Have a great summer, Vic Learn how to coach beyond the team Agile coaches and Scrum…

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Recorded at the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gathering in Orlando, FL, this episode features nine voices. Vic (@AgileCoffee) was joined by fellow participants (all working with Agile/Scrum teams) to discuss some highlights of the gathering (and CSP Fast Pass). Guests list: Brett Palmer (@brett_palmer) Aaron Kopel (@aakopel) Jason Tanner (@JasonBTanner) Leon Sabarsky (@LeonSabarsky) Anderson Hummel (@anderson_hummel) Things we’d mentioned: Peter Green’s Lean and Agile Adoption with the Laloux Culture Model Scrum Gathering Rio June 23-25, by Scrum Alliance CSP FAST PASS: the fast track to becoming a Certified Scrum Professional® (on twitter at @CSPFastPass)

If you’re looking for a way to randomize a group and match them with scenarios for role play, I suggest trying dominoes.

I’ve recently been speaking on the topic of pair-coaching, and in developing my workshop, I’ve been tinkering with using double-nine wooden dominoes. The face of a domino tile is divided into two ends, each with a number of pips (dots)… or no pips at all. In the case of double-nines, the values range from 0-0 to 9-9.

Set of 55 "double nine" dominoes by Pressman
Set of 55 “Double Nine” dominoes by Pressman
a set of Double Nines will contain a total of 495 pips (dots) across all 55 tiles
a set of Double Nines contains a total of 495 pips (dots) across all 55 tiles

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In the days leading up to the Global Scrum Gathering (Orlando, FL), the Braintrust Consulting Group organized a two-day “Training from the BACK of the Room” (TBR) workshop just up the road from the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. It was a fast-paced, high-energy two days with Sharon Bowman and 32 attendees, set in a large, comfortable room perfectly suited for a unique train-the-trainer experience. I hadn’t previously met Sharon, but a year or so earlier I’d bought her book (Training From the Back of the Room!: 65 Ways to Step Aside and Let Them Learn), and I’d since begun dabbling…

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Recorded at Sharon Bowman’s two-day Training from the Back of the Room (TBR) workshop in Orlando, FL, this episode features nine voices. Vic (@AgileCoffee) was joined by fellow participants (all working with Agile/Scrum teams) to discuss how TBR aligns with the training and coaching we do in our workplaces, communities and families. Guests list: Abid Quereshi (@abidquereshi) Lonnie Weaver-Johnson (@Lonniewj) Tomas Rodriguez (@sINNplify) Mario Mendez (@sINNplify) Fred Madrigal (@sINNplify) Stuart Fish (@fishstua) David Gardner Anderson Hummel (@anderson_hummel) We discussed the following topics: TBR and Scrum workshops Brain-based learning in 1:1 coaching context Agile Manifesto and TBR Are training and coaching…

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“… and the Oscar for best podcast goes to…” Vic is joined by Zach Bonaker (@ZachBonaker) and Larry Lawhead (@LarryLawhead) at the Cape Rey in Carlsbad for a lively morning of Agile and Coffee. In this episode, our Agile heroes discuss: Fallacy of Training Shortcuts: no shu-ha-ri Irony of Agile and Technology Why Scrum?

On July 25th, another successful 5Saturdays program wrapped up at Estancia HS in Costa Mesa, CA, and twelve students shared their takeaways with me on the podcast. These high-school-aged participants talked about the lessons learned over their five weekend sessions, focusing on job readiness and effective communications. Topics discussed include: applications of creative thinking tools for critical thinking facets of agility using Scrum resume-building and interviewing skills One central theme that students spoke of was their interest in using personal kanban in their everyday lives, having recognized its ease and usefulness in planning. I was happy to have met and talked with these…

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A colleague approached me recently with a request. He was about to meet with a new division of his company and lead transformation activities at the team level, so he wanted advice on the best agile games to include. As usual, I turned my advice into a blog post so that (hopefully) others can benefit from my experiences. We all know that games are fun and that humans are hard-wired to play. Like most coaches, I use games, simulations and other learning activities fairly liberally in my engagements, but I want to be clear: I never play games just to…

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20/22