Words Matter!

Working with other CSTs over the past four years has taught me how much word choice matters and that using precise language helps students avoid confusion and, in some cases, demonstrate inclusiveness.

Here's a short story to illustrate this point. Last month, while I was co-training with ???? John Barratt ???? for a UK all-Military Veterans CSM course, a student said the phrase "Daily Standup" instead of using the proper Scrum term "Daily Scrum." At this point, John shifted gears and told a short story.

He had the class imagine a scenario where one of the team members was wheelchair-bound and then asked us how we believed it would feel for someone with a disability to hear the words "Daily Stand-up." (The class was so silent, you could hear a pin drop!)

I'd always considered the phrase "Daily Stand Up" incorrect, though I admit it's widespread on Scrum teams that I've consulted on. However, I had never considered this phrase from a disabled person's point of view. John's story struck a deep chord within me, and I will be forever grateful for this lesson.

I hope you found this helpful in your daily lives, and I'll talk with you soon!

Thom