What is expected from Agile Coach
A Coach should not be Judgmental
When coaching others who are not at your same level of understanding, you must be patient and watch what you say to them. Remember the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Derogatory comments are seldom effective and can hurt your reputation and lessen the respect you receive from the team. They breed contempt and can create an environment of tension for everyone around you. Though it can be hard to bite your tongue, when you are thinking something negative, pause before you speak and think to yourself, “Is this something that will hurt my team or help my team.” If it is the former, it is best to keep it to yourself.
A Good Agile Coach is detached from the Outcome
In order to keep clarity of mind, perspective and focus on your goal of ultimately teaching a team to use Agile, even after you are gone, you must maintain a sense of distance from the outcome of the project. You cannot just “take over” when things get tough, just to get the job done. You must remember that you are there as a guide to teach others, and you are not the one responsible for completing the project. You must teach the team so that when you are gone, they can do it on their own.
A Good Agile Coach is Focused
To be an effective coach, you must remain focused on the task at hand. Do not worry about what is going to happen in the future, and don’t dwell too much on the past. You must focus on the present so that you can adequately assess what is happening and guide the team correctly. And remember, the focus should not be the completed product, it should be that the team is learning valuable information from you.
A Good Coach Present
This is similar to being focused, but it goes a bit further. To be a good coach, you must be in the moment. Quiet the noise in your head and tune in to those around you. Really listen to what is being said and, without judgment, really try to see where others are coming from and understand them. Try putting yourself in their place and seeing things through their eyes. When you are present and available to others, they will respond positively toward you as well.
A Good Agile Coach Holds up a Mirror of Accountability
Without being judgmental or condescending, a good Agile coach can help the team realize just what they are doing that is causing what is happening. A coach can foster self-awareness and help people realize how they can change to create better results. Through this self-awareness, teams can choose what works best and what is right for them.
A Good Agile Coach is Interested
The good Agile coach is more interested in others and their questions than in his self and his knowledge. Listen to what others have to say, and then show them that you are interested in their conversation by asking questions and encouraging discussion. When they are speaking, put other things aside, and let them know that you are really listening, by letting them speak without interruption or correction. This type of respect toward others will build their trust and loyalty toward you.
A Good Agile Coach knows when to Talk
There are times to talk and times to listen, and a good Agile coach knows the right time for each. To show respect to others, after you ask a question, never speak first. Let others have a chance to speak and state their minds. Just keep quiet and invite others statements, questions, and opinions. Then, think before you speak regarding their comments or questions. Be sure that what you say serves to build up the team instead of tear it down.
A Good Agile Coach Pays Attention to the Non-verbal
To really understand people and be a good leader, you must not only hear what they say, but also tune in to their non-verbal cues. A person may not always want to or be able to tell you just how they are feeling, but you can look at things like their posture and how they are gesturing with their hands, crossing their arms, or shaking their head to get a clue in to what they are feeling. If you notice that someone is feeling stressed or put down, you should adapt your coaching style. Maybe you have been too hard on them without realizing it, or maybe they do not understand what you are teaching them. In any case, it is your job as the coach and leader to recognize these issues and try to remedy them.
Agile Coach Should not be Scared to Dig Deep
It is much easier to stay at the rational level in a discussion, and there is useful information to be found at this level. However, to make a real difference on a personal level, you need to get to the underlying emotions: What are the person’s fears, intentions and motivations? Ask feeling-related questions, not logical or rational questions. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of people will help you be a more effective coach.
A Good Agile Coach goes with the Energy of the Team
One of the best ways to encourage learning and development is to allow the team to lead themselves. Let them choose a certain Agile process that they want to work on and work on that first. Because of their natural motivation to learn, there is a higher chance for success. Early successes can build their sense of empowerment and build their momentum for changing more things. Follow their flow, and allow them work at their pace. Go with their energy and spur them on to success.
A Good Coach is not afraid to talk about obvious problem that no one wants to discuss
Sometimes there is an unmistakable tension or friction in the air, and it can cause your team to be less productive. As the coach, you should not let this tension linger, but you should break it by mentioning it and encouraging the team to discuss it. Let them know that you are there to help in any way that you can, but do not force them to talk about it. Just recognizing it can release some of the tension. Once they know that you are aware of the problem and are willing to help, they will feel safer discussing it with you.
Realize, as you become a better leader, that you will not be perfect every day. You are human, and everyone makes mistakes. However, since being a coach is part of your career, you should strive to become better at it, just as you would any other part of your life. If you keep the preceding advice in mind and remember to simply treat others as you would like to be treated, you will be well on your way to becoming a good Agile coach.
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