What do you do if you're unsure how to choose the right continuing education program in Agile Methodologies?

Having experience, greater understanding of various agile methods During the course of implementation, agile coaches need to work with several teams, different personalities and go thru various challenges which could be unique. There has been changes how organisations are adopting to agile. Agile coaches has to evolve, rise their ability to respond and be able to coach at different levels.

There are a lot of learning programs but not all are for you. If you're a product owner in a team that follows Scrum, then CSPO or PSPO would be the right certifications for you to begin with and not SAFE certifications. Similarly, if you're working as a Scrum Master in an organization that follows SAFE then CSM won't be the right certification for you, but a SAFE Scrum Master would be the right program for you. Try to analyze your current situation. That doesn't mean limiting yourself to the current role but doing an assessment of what can help you the best. You are the best person to assess your needs.

As an agile practitioner embrace a life long learning habit as there are many new concepts all the time and you need to stay current. Assess your aspirations from a role perspective and invest in relevant training. example if you are used to working in team level agile and wish to learn scaling agile across teams enterprise level , seek certifications from SAFe or S@S etc. If you are a scrum master and wish to move towards an agile coach role , invest in coaching certifications from IC Agile , SAFe SPC, CAL-E etc. Most important thing, be honest about where lies your passion and follow that path.

Regardless of the role you choose, whether you're looking to work on your skills or, as a coach, help a team improve theirs, my advice is to use a maturity model along with assessments that allow you to identify weak points, and thus follow an orderly and consistent professional growth process. As a recommendation, apply what you learn as much as possible so that it doesn't remain merely theoretical knowledge, but rather turns into learning.

Look at different ways to improve the team's capabilities in order to meet the demands of a project that calls for a workforce that is flexible and adaptable. Examine courses, workshops, and training programs that emphasize building resilience, agility, and adaptability in the workplace. To get advice and support, think about speaking with professionals in the field or employing coaches who are trained in these areas. You can find the most effective ways to improve the adaptability and flexibility of your team by investigating these options.

I would firstly conduct thorough research on various continuing education programs available for Agile methodologies. Look for reputable institutions, training providers, and certification bodies that offer courses and workshops tailored to our needs.

There are a lot of certifications, courses, training programs as well as free resources available in today's world. When there are so many options available, one can get overwhelmed and make a wrong decision. While doing this research, always keep your goals and current skills in mind. Study the syllabus of the program, connect with the past participants/learners on LinkedIn, and try to get an understanding of the program from them. At times, you might not require a fancy program, and a free YouTube channel might do miracles for you. While at times, you might be already aware of the concepts that are taught in the program but you will still have to do it for brushing up your skills or in order to get the certification for your resume.

In my 5 years immersed in agile methodologies, when choosing a continuing education program, verifying its credibility is crucial. I start by researching the program's reputation, looking for reviews or testimonials from past participants. Checking the credentials and background of the instructors to ensure they have real-world agile experience is key. I also seek recommendations from trusted colleagues or mentors in the agile community. Engaging in forums or social media groups focused on agile practices can provide insights and opinions on various programs. A sprinkle of humor when asking around can make the inquiry process more engaging and can elicit more candid feedback.