Embracing the Moose: Key insights from Bob Galen on the Agility @ Scale podcast

In our latest episode of 'Agility @ Scale,' I had the pleasure of welcoming Bob Galen ???? , a renowned agile practitioner, trainer, and coach. Bob has been at the forefront of agile transformations since 1990, contributing significantly through his roles at Zenergy Technologies and Agile Moose. This episode was a goldmine of insights into agile coaching, self-mastery, and the importance of mindset in the agile journey.

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Key Insights

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1. The Importance of Coaching Stances:

Bob emphasised the significance of understanding and utilising different coaching stances. He highlighted the Agile Coaching Growth Wheel, which includes stances such as facilitating, teaching, mentoring, advising, and leading. This model helps coaches navigate through various roles effectively, ensuring they provide the right support to their clients.

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2. Self-Mastery and Continuous Improvement:

A recurring theme in our discussion was the concept of self-mastery. Bob underscored that coaches must continuously work on their self-awareness and personal growth. "Walking the talk" is crucial, as coaches need to embody the principles they advocate. Bob shared his approach to professional coaching, where self-mastery is a never-ending journey, much like leadership.

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3. The Role of Mindset:

Bob introduced the idea of holding certain mindsets or 'meta-skills' when coaching. These include curiosity, empathy, and assuming positive intent. He stressed the importance of preparing for coaching sessions by clearing one's biases and entering with a mindset that fosters a positive and productive coaching environment.

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4. Coaching Conversations:

Bob provided a structure for coaching conversations, likening them to a chess game with opening moves, middle game, and end game. This structure helps ensure that coaching sessions are productive and lead to actionable outcomes. He recommended starting conversations in a professional coaching stance and then dancing between stances as needed.

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5. Empathy and Meeting Clients Where They Are:

One of the standout points was Bob's emphasis on empathy. He illustrated the importance of understanding the client's perspective and meeting them where they are, not where the coach wants them to be. This empathetic approach helps build trust and fosters a more collaborative coaching relationship.

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Special Announcement: Self-Assessment Tool

Towards the end of the session, I announced the release of a new self-assessment tool developed by the ScrumCraft team. This tool is designed to help agile practitioners, whether Scrum Masters, Product Owners, or Agile Coaches, assess their current skills and develop a plan for continuous improvement. It's a free offering aimed at supporting the agile community in their personal and professional growth.

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The episode with Bob Galen was rich with practical advice and profound insights. His passion for agile coaching and his dedication to continuous improvement were evident throughout the discussion. For those looking to deepen their understanding of agile coaching and enhance their skills, Bob's insights are invaluable.

Listeners can access the full episode and download the self-assessment tool through the links provided on the 'Agility @ Scale ' podcast page, subscribe and click the bell to be notified when Bob's episode is posted later this week.