The Agile Skills Library

EP13: Hot Seat Questions: Practicing Powerful Questioning in Agile Coaching

Geoff and Paul discuss “powerful questioning” in agile coaching and introduce a practice technique called Hot Seat Questions. They note the term “powerful questions” is often overused and shouldn’t be forced, but good questions can help shift thinking and open up new solutions. In the exercise, a group designates a “hot seat” where one person shares a coaching scenario for 30–60 seconds; each listener then asks one question that the hot-seat person does not answer, but instead gives feedback on the question’s impact (e.g., “That question was powerful because…” or “It could have been more powerful if…”). They emphasise psychological safety, letting go of the need to know, avoiding leading or rambling questions, and noticing nonverbal cues. They end with a brief example and mention downloadable guidance and a request for reviews. Downloadable content: www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep13-hot-seat-questions 00:00 Welcome and Catch Up 01:06 What Makes Questions Powerful 03:57 Hot Seat Questions Overview 04:58 How to Run the Exercise 07:51 What Powerful Looks Like 09:22 Safety and Letting Go 11:13 Feedback Structure and Observations 12:35 Common Question Traps 15:05 Live Hot Seat Demo 19:19 Wrap Up and Resources

EP12: Exploring the 3D Team Dynamics Model

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, hosts Paul Goddard and Geoff Watts introduce their audience to the 3D Team Dynamics model. They delve into the origin and application of this technique, which helps in assessing and improving team behaviours. The model categorises behaviours into developing, detailing, and disruptive actions, with subcategories for each. The hosts also discuss the concept of a team heat map, which tracks physical movement and airtime distribution within a team. Throughout the episode, they encourage listeners to try out these techniques and provide downloadable content for practical use. Downloadable content: https://www.agilify.co.uk/resources/the-agile-skills-library/ep12-exploring-the-3d-team-dynamics-model/ 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:35 Introducing 3D Team Dynamics 02:23 Developing Actions in Team Dynamics 05:42 Detailing Actions in Team Dynamics 08:47 Disruptive Behaviours in Team Dynamics 11:56 Using the 3D Team Dynamics Data 17:51 Team Heat Map: The Fourth Dimension 21:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

EP11: The Coaching Equation for Successful Change

In this episode of the Agile Skills Podcast, hosts Geoff Watts and Paul Goddard introduce a valuable tool they call the 'coaching equation for coaching change.' This equation helps coaches and individuals effectively implement desired changes by balancing benefits, costs, and the probability of success. They discuss the importance of internalising the benefits, acknowledging costs, and strategies to increase the likelihood of success. The episode also includes practical examples and emphasizes the emotional aspects of motivation. A downloadable canvas is provided to help practitioners put the technique into practice. Downloadable Content: www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep11-the-change-equation 00:00 Introduction to the Agile Skills Library 00:29 Welcome Back to the Agile Skills Podcast 00:39 Introducing the Coaching Equation 04:24 Understanding the Benefits of Change 09:01 Identifying the Costs of Change 13:46 Probability of Success in Change 16:01 Increasing Your Chances of Success 24:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

EP10: Collaborative Prioritisation with 'Pass the Cards' Technique

In this episode of Agile Skills Library, hosts Geoff and Paul introduce a collaborative prioritisation technique known as 'Pass the Cards,' also referred to as '35.' Originally mentioned by Jean Tabaka, the method is designed to engage multiple voices in prioritising product backlog items. The hosts provide detailed instructions on facilitating the game with stakeholders, including using different scales and rounds to derive a collective priority list. They also discuss the importance of having a north star or overall goal, managing subjectivity, and leveraging the technique for enhanced collaboration and effective decision-making. Practical tips and potential variations for the exercise are shared, along with advice for agile coaches and trainers. Downloadble content available at: https://www.agilify.co.uk/resources/the-agile-skills-library/ep10-collaborative-prioritisation-with-pass-the-cards-technique/ 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:10 Overview of the Technique 00:43 Origins and Acknowledgements 01:32 Why Use This Technique? 02:27 Step-by-Step Method 05:24 Facilitation Tips and Common Issues 11:22 Scaling and Group Dynamics 12:52 Learning Points and Practical Applications 16:45 Conclusion and Resources

EP9: The 5-5-5 Technique

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, hosts Geoff Watts and Paul Goddard introduce the 5-5-5 technique, a simple yet powerful method to boost confidence and alleviate imposter syndrome among agile practitioners. The technique involves asking five trusted individuals five specific questions that highlight personal strengths, which they then verbalise back to the requester. This personalised feedback aims to help individuals internalise positive traits, creating a balanced self-perception. This method can be used by individuals or teams to cultivate a more confident and effective agile environment. Downloadable Content: www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep9-555-technique 00:00 Introduction to the Agile Skills Library 00:17 Introducing the 5-5-5 Technique 01:02 Why the 5-5-5 Technique is Essential 02:34 How to Implement the 5-5-5 Technique 04:42 Questions to Ask in the 5-5-5 Technique 06:02 Receiving and Internalising Feedback 10:57 Applying the 5-5-5 Technique in Teams 12:00 Conclusion and Additional Resources