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Two Scrums Up

Technology Podcasts

Learn how your team can reach their full potential. Our Agile advice, anecdotes, and research-based practices can be applied to all teams with and without Scrum. Let us help you build equity-minded and people-first, high performing teams.

Location:

United States

Description:

Learn how your team can reach their full potential. Our Agile advice, anecdotes, and research-based practices can be applied to all teams with and without Scrum. Let us help you build equity-minded and people-first, high performing teams.

Language:

English


Episodes

Unlocking Flow State on Teams

6/8/2021
It’s the Season 2 finale, we’re at the top of the mountain, and Sarah Rose and John are here to show you the view. Accompanied by multidisciplinary designer and founder of /ayd, Charis Alexander, they explore the question of what is really at the heart of driving ourselves and our teams towards more meaningful achievement? Together, they’ll guide you through the ways in which cultivating psychologically safe, equity-minded teams is a precursor to Flow State which, in turn, is the foundation of peak performance. In fact, the entanglement between these concepts is such that one experience may not be possible without the other. ___ Referenced this week: https://layd.life/ Journal of Leisure Research, 24Finding flowCareer Development InternationalCreativity and Innovation Management 19Management in Education, 27Journal of Happiness Studies5Administrative Science Quarterly50_____ Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.______ Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:49:48

FeedForward: Feedback Models for Growth

5/25/2021
What is the right way to engage in feedback conversations? In this episode, John and Sarah Rose challenge traditional, default modes of feedback, including telling it how it is, blaming, and constructive criticism—all of which are unidirectional and assume one “right” answer. Instead, your intrepid hosts guide you out of the binary realm of one truth and walk you step by step through alternative models that contribute to building a feedback culture for growth. _____ Referenced this week: Exploring the relationship between learning and leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.Leading adult learning: Supporting adult development in our schoolsHow the way we talk can change the way we work: Seven languages for transformation. Managing diversity at work: Does psychological safety hold the key to racial differences in employee performance?Situation, Behavior Impact Model_____ Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn._____ Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:40:40

Powerful Praise and The Pitfalls of Prizes

5/11/2021
Beware the default mode of prizes and back-pats lest you drain the power from praise. Trite and nonspecific praise can at best offer minimal value, and at worst create a system of winners and losers. We know it’s common to under-communicate genuinely positive, appreciative, and admiring regard for our coworkers in a powerful way. That's why Sarah Rose and John are jumping into the deep end of the praise pool and focusing this episode on sharing 3 tactical checkpoints to examine, reform, and transform your team’s practice of praise. _____ Referenced this week: Exploring the relationship between learning and leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.Leading adult learning: Supporting adult development in our schoolsHow the way we talk can change the way we work: Seven languages for transformation. Managing diversity at work: Does psychological safety hold the key to racial differences in employee performance?_____ Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.____ Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:34:58

Team Autonomy: A Necessity, Not Just a Nicety

4/27/2021
Scrum teams perform at their best when given the trust to be self-managing, the freedom to decide how their work gets done, and clear goals for the sprint ahead. But what are the limitations on autonomy and what does it look like to protect it in the face of pressure from different stakeholders? In this episode, Sarah Rose and John discuss autonomy’s nemeses—like the micromanager and the illusion of democracy—in order to finally set the record straight: Scrum team members are not order-takers, overtime heroes, or planning poker lobbyists. There are clear ways to support team autonomy and obstacles that can be removed right away IF you know where to look! ---- Referenced this week: Controlling the uncontrollable: ‘Agile’ teams and illusions of autonomy in creative work. (Hodgson & Briand, 2013). Knowledge worker team effectiveness: The role of autonomy, interdependence, team development, and contextual support variables. (Janz, Colquitt, & Noe, 1997).Individual autonomy in work teams: The role of team autonomy, self-efficacy, and social support. (van Mierlo, Rutte, Vermunt, Kompier, & Doorewaard, (2006).Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:50:02

An Equitable Seat at the Scrum Team Table

4/13/2021
We could talk about the core Scrum values ‘til the cows come home — Focus, Openness, Commitment, Courage, and Respect! HOWEVER, what does it look like to reflect and act on those core values from the perspective of an ally? Sarah Rose and John share their own experiences as allies and times they wished they had an ally. Through those experiences, they analyze the critical impact of recognizing different voices on a team as a way to make sure no team member remains invisible. ---- Referenced this week: Black Futures [ONE WORLD] (Jenna Wortham & Kimberly Drew, 2020) ---- Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:37:44

Protocols: Our Highway to the Comfort, Risk, and Danger Zones

3/30/2021
Making the most of collaborative time is challenging. Whether it's designing, brainstorming, planning, or learning, discussion protocols offer structured processes to support focused and productive conversations, build collective understanding, and drive equitable team improvement. In this episode, Sarah Rose and John divulge the secret sauce of protocols and, as a treat, try out a long-time favorite that you can take back to your team: Zones of Comfort, Risk, and Danger! ---- Referenced this week: John's Zones Sarah Rose's Zones Protocols: Zones of Comfort, Risk, and DangerMicrolabs for Exploring EquityOpeners and Other ProtocolsProtocol Library ---- Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:52:14

Participation, Power dynamics, and Engaging diverse perspectives, with Linda Rosenbury

3/16/2021
How might we practice what we know to be true in theory: in SCRUM, the more team members who are able to exercise their voice, the better the final product will be. In this episode, we learn from Linda Rosenbury— superintendent of schools in Washington State and Doctoral Student at Harvard's Educational Leadership Program. Linda's experience working with adults from diverse racial, socio-economic and linguistic backgrounds crystallizes specific strategies for engaging all voices to participate so teams talk during meetings instead of later at the Slack water cooler. ---- Referenced this week: Linda RosenburyHumble Inquiry ___ Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at. Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy. Use 'I'. Speak your truth. Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:33:03

Vulnerability, Making Mistakes, and Being Wrong

3/2/2021
Vulnerability, making mistakes, and being wrong are critical to our teams’ success! As leaders across Scrum roles, in modeling our own vulnerability through seeking help, sharing fears, admitting mistakes, or admitting failure we invite the same in our team. In this episode, we reflect on our mistakes, argue about the separation of work and home, and discuss how an atmosphere of vulnerability opens the door to creativity, learning, and growth. ---- For further learning... Innovation is not enough: Climates for initiative and psychological safety, process innovations, and firm performancePsychological safety and learning behavior in work teams ---- Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at.Share the mic. Respect Use 'I'. Speak your truth.Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:47:58

Overcoming Scrum Team Silence

2/16/2021
When silence becomes a pattern on a Scrum team — mayday! — we have a problem. Identifying different types of employee silence and understanding how to address them is the first step towards reviving team voice. Whether it’s fear, embarrassment, a narrow sense of ethical responsibility, or lacking room to speak up, learn how silence can be destructive and how to work with your team to move past it. ---- For you to use right away: Read: Destructive role of employee silence in organizational success.Listen:How to Build Psychological Safety with Amy Edmondson---- Show Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at.Share the mic. Respect Use 'I'. Speak your truth.Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn. ---- Feb 2021: Alley is hiring! More info at https://alley.co/careers ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:42:07

New Season; New Norms

2/2/2021
Season 2 begins with an exuberant welcome to new co-host, Sarah Rose Belok! Learn why clear and upheld norms can steer teams beyond unproductive behaviors to do their BEST work (even teams of two!). John and Sarah Rose model how to identify and finalize a set of norms, by working through their own norms for the podcast. ---- Podcast Norms Be transparent about where we're at.Tell me where your head is at.Share the mic.Respect each other's privacy.Use 'I' statements.Speak your truth.Ask WHY.We make decisions together. We will make mistakes, tell me when so I can learn.---- Practical resources to use right away: Norms ConstructionThe Power of Protocols: An educator's guide to better practice

Duration:00:39:39

SEASON TWO IS COMING....

1/5/2021
A quick(ish) update on the show -- enjoy!

Duration:00:09:51

Psychological Safety

12/29/2020
There's a huge difference between being told this is a safe space and a space actually being safe. In this episode, Sarah Rose Belok unpacks how psychological safety can be fostered, honored, and maintained on a team. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:38:30

User Story Mapping

12/22/2020
All the agility in a project isn't worth its salt unless the end result is usable. User Story Mapping can help. Friend of the show, Jaimie Olmstead, explains how to navigate a team through their product user's journey to build a backlog, identify any missing items, and paint a complete picture of a project plan. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:47:20

Delivering Delight: Going Beyond the MVP

12/15/2020
Scrum champions the MVP: deliver the minimum rapidly so you can iterate as soon as possible. But what about those moments when we find enough time to not only deliver an MVP but throw in a little extra delight to boot. Learn how Alley's Director of Development Operations Ben Bolton manages to deliver maximum value in an MVP package. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:46:18

What to Know When You're New to Scrum

12/8/2020
Standups. Backlogs. Fibonacci numbers? Getting up to speed with Scrum can be a challenge. This week, Senior UX Developer Kaitlin Bolling shares her tips and shortcuts to going from a Scrum zero to a Scrum hero! ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:33:48

Closing Time: What to Do at Sprint's End

12/1/2020
Projects are full of many big decision points, but what about the small decisions we make every day. In this episode, Ken and John discuss the choices we make to fully close out a sprint. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:34:29

Contracts & Scrum

11/24/2020
How can you navigate the natural tension between scoped bodies of work and the agility of Scrum? Alley Partner and Chief Strategy Officer, Brad Campeau-Laurion, discusses the nuts and bolts of contracts in an Agile environment. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:27:09

Ruthless Prioritization

11/17/2020
Scrum relies on doing the most important work first, but how can you prioritize two competing deliverables for a single team? In this episode, D. Scott DiPerna walks us through ways to make tough decisions less daunting and how to more courageously deliver on our product backlog. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:33:11

Emergency Procedure

11/10/2020
Delivering Agile projects isn't about having an emergency-free experience - far from it. But, by taking the time to develop and document emergency procedures on your team will guarantee that when the fire drills start, everyone will know what to do and how to quickly move beyond them. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:33:45

The Power of Spikes

11/3/2020
Sometimes, the best way to move fast is to go slow. Taking a breather to more closely research or investigate a stakeholder request before doing the work can help a project in the long run. On this episode, Pattie Reaves and Allan Collins walk us through how to best map out the way forward before charging headlong into code. ---- Do you want to learn more about Scrum? Follow us! Twitter / Facebook: scrumsup | Instagram: twoscrumsup Find out more about Alley at https://alley.co

Duration:00:37:33