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Retrospectives: Yesterday’s News or Tomorrow’s Headlines

Retrospectives: Yesterday’s News or Tomorrow’s Headlines

By: Robbie Mac Iver

Improving

May 29, 2013
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  1. Retrospectives: Yesterday’s News Or Tomorrow’s Headlines! Retrospectives: Yesterday’s News Or

    Tomorrow’s Headlines! The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year – John Foster Dulles Robbie Mac Iver, Principal Consultant
  2. Signs Your Retrospectives Are Just… “It’s a group hug!” “It’s

    ALWAYS been like that!” No one’s talking… Talking but not capturing ideas Someone calls it “Lessons Learned” Everyone HATES going to the retrospective! Team NOT Improving! The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 2
  3. Objectives for Today Provide Tools You Can Start Using Now

    Define a Framework and a Process Identify Keys to Success The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 4
  4. Reflecting to Improve Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now,

    bump, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. -- A. A. Milne Winnie the Pooh The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 5
  5. Create a Learning Organization The Mac Iver Group, LP ©

    2005-2013 6 Reflect Reflect Reflect Adapt Adapt Adapt Experiment Experiment Experiment
  6. Outputs Outputs • Actions! • Team Agreements • Experiments •

    Learning • Inspiration A Retrospective Framework The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 7 Framework Technique Framework Technique Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions Have a PLAN for Your Retrospective! Have a PLAN for Your Retrospective!
  7. Framing the Conversation Identify Team Situation Determine How to Present

    it to the Team Prepare to Guide the Conversation Facilitate an Outcome The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 8
  8. Scrum Board – Sprint 1 - Day 6 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 9
  9. Scrum Board – Sprint 1 - Day 7 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 10
  10. Scrum Board – Sprint 1 - Day 8 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 11
  11. Scrum Board – Sprint 1 - Day 9 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 12
  12. Scrum Board – Sprint 1 - Day 10 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 13
  13. Framing the Conversation Identify Team Situation Determine How to Present

    it to the Team Prepare to Guide the Conversation Facilitate an Outcome The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 14
  14. Framing the Conversation Identify Team Situation Determine How to Present

    it to the Team Prepare to Guide the Conversation Facilitate an Outcome The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 15
  15. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 2 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 16
  16. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 3 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 17
  17. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 4 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 18
  18. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 5 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 19
  19. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 6 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 20
  20. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 7 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 21
  21. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 8 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 22
  22. Scrum Board – Sprint 2 - Day 9 The Mac

    Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 23
  23. It Takes Planning and Preparation Visuals are Powerful RESPECT Team’s

    Privacy The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 26 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions
  24. It Takes Planning and Preparation Plans for the Sprint Planning

    Meeting Daily Standups Review/Demo Team Interactions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 27 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions
  25. It Takes Planning and Preparation Co-located Team Members Communicate by

    e-Mail The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 28 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions
  26. It Takes Planning and Preparation “I saw Wendy was on-line

    at 11pm last Sunday and pulled her into chat…” “She told me the sprint ends Tuesday and she is really stressed getting everything done in time.” The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 29 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions
  27. It Takes Planning and Preparation Did you meet the sprint

    goal? Was the product owner available? How do you feel about this past sprint? What do you know now that you wish you had known in the planning meeting? The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 30 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions
  28. It Takes Planning and Preparation Generate curiosity Stimulate reflective conversation

    Are thought-provoking Surface/question assumptions Invite creativity Generate energy for taking action Evoke more questions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 31 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions Characteristics of Powerful Questions Characteristics of Powerful Questions
  29. It Takes Planning and Preparation Why, How, What Who, When,

    Where Which, Yes/No Questions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 32 Inputs Inputs • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions • Diaries • Photos • Observations • Feedback • Powerful Questions Least Powerful Most Powerful Source: The Art of Powerful Questions – Vogt, Brown, Issacs www.theworldcafe.com/pdfs/aopq.pdf
  30. Guide the Conversation Situation Possible Questions Anticipated Responses Follow-Up Questions

    Alternative Outcomes The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 33
  31. Sample Situations Team Member(s) Miss Meetings Stories Accepted, But Not

    “Done” Dominant Voice Makes “Team” Decisions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 34 What Questions Would You Ask? What Questions Would You Ask?
  32. Keys to Meaningful Retrospectives Have a (Flexible) Plan Leverage All

    Available Inputs The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 35
  33. Individual or Team Issues? The Mac Iver Group, LP ©

    2005-2013 36 “I saw Wendy was on-line at 11pm last Sunday and pulled her into chat…” “She told me the sprint ends Tuesday and she is really stressed getting everything done in time.”
  34. Individual or Team Issues? George… Frequently does work not on

    the sprint backlog Reviews every line of code checked-in -- makes changes without telling anyone Works mostly behind closed doors Often misses team meetings Takes days to respond to questions from other team members The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 37
  35. Coaching Opportunities The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 38

    Growing Better Agile Teams, Team Practices, Team Learning Whole Team Coaching Growing Better Agile Team Members Growing Better Agile Team Members Growing Better Agile Team Members Individual Coaching Retrospectives are Whole Team Coaching Opportunities Retrospectives are Whole Team Coaching Opportunities
  36. Keys to Meaningful Retrospectives Have a (Flexible) Plan Leverage All

    Available Inputs Coach Whole Team The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 39
  37. Alternate Framework Techniques The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013

    41 Framework Technique Framework Technique
  38. A Good Place to Start What Should We Start Doing…

    Things that help us What Should We Stop Doing… Things that hurt us What should We Continue Doing… Things that are working The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 42
  39. Four Questions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 43

    Source: Linda Rising – www.lindarising.com Choose an Experiment for Each Iteration Choose an Experiment for Each Iteration
  40. Continuous Retrospective What Makes Me Happy? What Makes Me Sad?

    What Ideas Have I Had? Who Should I Thank? Supplements or replaces diary The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 44
  41. Values to Action Pick a Value How does your team

    exhibit this? How could your team exhibit more of this? The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 46 Courage ▪ Respect ▪ Commitment ▪ Openness ▪ Focus Courage ▪ Respect ▪ Commitment ▪ Openness ▪ Focus We Believe in <Value>, Therefore We… We Believe in <Value>, Therefore We…
  42. Find Your Strengths A Good Team Member Does Whatever it

    Takes to Help the Team The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 49 A Good Team Member Deliberately Volunteers His Strengths to the Team Most of the Time Source: Marcus Buckingham - Go Put Your Strengths to Work Which of These Do You Want? Which of These Do You Want?
  43. Do You Know… What Percentage of the Time, Do Most

    People Spend Using Their Strengths? The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 50 Source: Marcus Buckingham - Go Put Your Strengths to Work How Can We Change This? How Can We Change This?
  44. Speed Boat The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 51

    Source: Source: Faster Slower Shallow Medium Deep
  45. Keys to Meaningful Retrospectives Have a (Flexible) Plan Leverage All

    Available Inputs Coach Whole Team Vary Techniques The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 53
  46. Do Emotions Play a Part? The Mac Iver Group, LP

    © 2005-2013 54 Open, Honest, Candid Conversations Open, Honest, Candid Conversations
  47. Facilitate to Control Emotions Leading by Example Creating Safe Environment

    Listening – Actively Observing – Team Behaviors Empathizing – Feelings Are OK Encouraging Shared Responsibility Asking Open Ended (Powerful) Questions The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 55 Controlling Emotions Starts With YOU! Controlling Emotions Starts With YOU! Reference: http://www.iaf-world.org
  48. Keys to Meaningful Retrospectives Have a (Flexible) Plan Leverage All

    Available Inputs Coach Whole Team Vary Techniques Discuss Events Not People The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 57
  49. Retrospectives Are Actionable Prioritize Improvement Ideas Select 2-3 Ideas Define

    Action Items Assess in Next Retrospective The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 58
  50. Keys to Meaningful Retrospectives Have a (Flexible) Plan Leverage All

    Available Inputs Coach Whole Team Vary Techniques Discuss Events Not People Take Action The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 59
  51. What is YOUR Next Step? The Mac Iver Group, LP

    © 2005-2013 60 What One Thing Will You Do Differently in Your Next Retrospective? What One Thing Will You Do Differently in Your Next Retrospective? Write It Down Right Now! Write It Down Right Now!
  52. ▪ Agile Leadership ▪ Agile Training ▪ Agile Transition ▪

    Coaching ▪ Mentoring ▪ 10+ Years Agile Techniques ▪ 10+ Years Project Leadership ▪ 20+ Years Information Technology Robbie Mac Iver The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2013 61 ▪ Past President/Advisor National Board of Directors ▪ Founder Houston Chapter ▪ Stage Producer – Agile 2010, Agile 2011 ▪ Presenter – Agile 2010 ▪ Stage Producer – Agile Executive Forum 2011 www.robbiemaciver.com [email protected] @robbiemaciver robbiemaciver