program selection system

What is an Agile coach? What is not agile coaching? How do I start and grow as an Agile coach? A short introduction by Erik Lundh, founder of Agile Coaches Guild, and member of a cross-disciplinary team that currently trains a significant number of agile coaches for a large international development organization. Professional coaching organizations define coaching as helping people use the knowledge they already have. Agile coaches, however, often have to double as teachers bringing in knowledge to the team. And some of us, proud to call ourselves seasoned agile coaches, nevever stand between the team and the people they have to work with. Most agile coaches cherish the moment when the team take over and fly! What are the necessary skills for an agile coach? Of course we need to master how to do and coach key agile techniques like TDD, pair programming, continuous integration, refactoring etc. We need to help teams and their partners to be successful with low-fi, getting-things-done style planning and retrospectives. But we also need to understand the different personalities (and their dynamics) of individuals and teams. How teams form and respond to changes. How different personalities interact. How different people learn.

We also talk about having the courage to not stick with the team. Being a successful agile coach is often a transitional relationship with a team. Seasoned coach or beginner? Join us in a conversation on what agile coaching is today and what it should be!

Agile Coaches Guild is an international network of people interested in the art and improvement of agile coaching.