Jim Schiel’s Blog

Within the fast-paced dynamics of Agile teams, there's often a natural, yet misguided, instinct to assign blame when things go awry. While perhaps providing a fleeting sense of justification, this blame game is fundamentally counterproductive. It stifles creativity, creates fear, and inhibits the very essence of Agile—a mindset of continuous learning and improvement.

If you're a leader or Scrum Master in an Agile environment, you'll be intimately familiar with the Agile Manifesto's principle that values "individuals and interactions over processes and tools.[cm_simple_footnote id=1]" While this principle is widely acknowledged, actualizing it in daily Agile practice is a different story. This is where compassionate leadership comes in.

In today's dynamic Agile workspaces, leadership extends beyond traditional managerial abilities. Compassionate leadership emerges as a critical factor in boosting productivity as we grapple with team dynamics, project requirements, and stakeholder expectations. This post explores how compassionate leadership, underpinned by empathy, can substantially increase team productivity. We also offer best practices, tips for

In Agile project management's complex and dynamic landscape, the ability to adapt quickly to changes is not just an asset - it's a necessity. One of the key elements facilitating this adaptability is the concept of "role fluidity," which allows team members to transcend traditional role boundaries and embrace new challenges. This article

In any organization, the role of effective communication cannot be understated. In Agile environments, where adaptability, speed, and cross-functional collaboration are key, communication is even more crucial. How leaders and team members communicate can significantly impact team engagement and overall project success. This post will explore how Agile leaders, including Scrum Masters and

As a manager, Scrum Master, or leader, you've likely encountered the phrase "individuals and interactions over processes and tools" from the Agile Manifesto[cm_simple_footnote id=1]. While this principle embodies the Agile approach's essence, in practice, many organizations still grapple with the challenges of employee disengagement. Gallup reports a staggering $500 billion annual loss in