Coach Dan's Blog

  I was recently asked by someone I met, "Isn't a coach really just a trainer?" My response was quick - "While a coach sometimes trains on new skills or knowledge, they also facilitate, mentor and challenge teams to improve the way they work." Looking back, I would grade myself a "C-" on that answer. I WISH I had said... "A great coach works with you to achieve your goals. They bring experiences, perspectives and tools to help you and your team accelerate performance. It's not always about faster... but it IS about better! A great coach helps you and the team identify ways to improve and then challenges you address them WHILE working to achieve the teams goals. They know that there are many different ways to make improvements, and have a "toolbox" of processes, frameworks and techniques to help identify and make them. That said, they don't just want to teach you a skill (or framework, or process) - they want you to use your skill...

There are no shortcuts to transformational improvements - but starting with small changes today can lead to big results in the future! Long term, meaningful improvements come from small, thoughtful experiments today. ✔️ Remind yourself - what's your long term goal? ✔️ Ask yourself - what's one small thing I can accomplish today to bring that goal closer? ✔️ Reflect - what did I learn from my small change? Commit to trying one small thing differently, then assess the results - You will get closer to your goal every day.  

  For anyone who needs to hear it today - “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson is on to something. Is it possible to spend so much time trying to meet the expectations of others that you forget the value you bring as a unique human being? Are we so busy pleasing others, that we miss the chance to contribute our own uniqueness to a problem or an opportunity? How many incredible innovations have we missed out over time because of the phrase, "The boss wants it done this way...?" YOU are amazing. YOU are unique. YOU are valuable ideas and perspectives. BE who you are and give your best. That is the greatest accomplishment.

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As we approach this holiday season (and despite the fact that my personal backlog keeps getting longer instead of shorter) I feel compelled to take a moment and share a list of things for which I'm most thankful.   (Cliché', I know - but deal with it... when it comes to Coach Dan, you take the corny with the good!)  So without farther preamble, I present to you -    Coach Dan's Top Five (agile-related) Things I'm Thankful For (in no particular order!)     Shared Values, Principles and Customer Focus  - I'm thankful to be able to partner with a group of people who share the same  values and principles .  Working with people who are equally focused on our customer  and  share our agile values and principles means that even when we disagree, we know where each other is coming from, and that our intent is to get to the same place.  Seeing people live those shared values and principles every day makes me feel like I'm part of a...

What’s better than Monday of a new work week?  A couple of days of rest and relaxation behind us; nothing but limitless possibilities in front of us! Ok, if you’ve made it through that cheeseball opening line, keep going – there’s a point! As agile managers and leaders, we’re in the people-development business, and one of the most challenging people we are responsible for developing?  OURSELVES Go ahead and take a look at your calendar quickly (but come back..)  I’d bet a cup of coffee that your Monday is STACKED from beginning to end with meetings.  Mission critical conversations.  Key milestone meetings.  Discussions that if missed, will surely cause our beloved Wells Fargo to seize like an engine with no motor oil.  I get it – there’s a lot for us to do!  And we DO value interactions over process!!! I will argue though – there is immense value in carving out a few minutes a week to reflect and invest in yourself.   (Aren't we supposed...

It's easy to get in a rut.  We're busy people, for sure.  Lots of people counting on us both at work, and outside of work. "We all win together" means we give our teams our all so we can bring value to our customer.  I get it. But that is no excuse for not embracing our agile values and principles, and stopping to reflect. To challenge ourselves and our teams to be better with every iteration. To grow and learn.  So my challenge to you is to pause.  Shut off your IM and your email for 5 minutes.  Get a cup of coffee or tea (or kombucha or whatever floats your boat) and reflect.  What did you do differently this week?  Did you think outside of the box and offer a unique suggestion?  Did you challenge your team to do better?  Did you ask a question that gave your team pause, or turned the discussion toward more valuable topics?  Did you step outside of your comfort zone and try something new?  Did you raise your hand and vol...