Who is an agile coach, and are they necessary?
Every successful sports team needs an experienced coach. The same is true with product development teams that work in the Agile methodology. Here, an agile coach is an essential specialist who helps them be more efficient. Does it mean that only underperforming teams should have one? Read on to see what the agile coach role is and why it is necessary.
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In their recent report, the Business Agility Institute® defines an agile coach as a professional who “helps organizations, teams, and individuals adopt Agile practices and methods while embedding Agile values and mindsets” (source).
While it’s not an “official” definition (mind you, the Scrum Guide still doesn’t recognize agile coaching as a separate profession and leaves coaching in the hands of a scrum master), it’s close to what this role actually entails (source).
What is an agile coach and how do they contribute towards the success of a digital product?
The role of an agile coach begins when a company sets off on the journey to organizational agility. Our experience, as well as the experience of hundreds of Agile teams worldwide, shows that adopting Agile doesn’t happen overnight. That’s because this methodology requires team members to think and operate in ways that may be unfamiliar or even unnatural to them.
Changing the way you work and execute your responsibilities takes time, a lot of effort, and, indeed, coaching. There will surely be many problems and challenges along the way, and newly-created Agile teams need someone to help them navigate and deal with emerging issues. Reading and even teaching the principles outlined in the Scrum Guide is simply not enough if you’re after high-level team performance.
An agile coach is an expert with extensive Agile knowledge and experience. The aforementioned State of Agile Coaching 2022 report reveals that 63% of surveyed agile coaches have at least one professional-level certification. Slightly over 15% of them have at least one master-level certification.
That’s necessary as those experts are responsible for outlining and improving Agile-related processes in a company. At this point, it is also valid to explain that agile coaching is usually a transitory role. agile coaches are not tied to the team, or even the project, for that matter.
Responsibilities and impacts of an agile coach
Naturally, the scope of responsibilities can differ between organizations, but typically, agile coaches are responsible for the following:
- Instilling the best Agile practices within a team or a company
- Training teams to use Agile tools and techniques effectively
- Supporting leaders in digital transformation
- Monitoring the team’s progress and helping them overcome potential challenges
- Setting and maintaining Agile standards in a company
- Helping product owners better fulfill their role
- Improving operational efficiency throughout your organization
- Streamlining initial retrospectives
The authors of the State of Agile Coaching report asked respondents about the nature of their impact on Agile teams. Their answers show that Agile coaches help their companies go through the mindset shift, adapt to the new culture of work, and improve their agility, delivery capabilities, and performance.
You can think of this role as a catalyst that makes the transition and work more effective and seamless.
Agile coach vs. scrum master and vs. project manager
While there is some overlap when it comes to the responsibilities and skill sets of these three professionals, there are some differences you have to be aware of:
Agile coach vs. scrum master
A scrum master has a narrower scope. Their focus typically revolves around a single team that they are a part of. A scrum master is accountable for the given team’s effectiveness and is a source of empowerment. They are focused on team members’ needs and support the implementation of Scrum practices and techniques tailored to that particular team.
On the other hand, an agile coach has a broader scope of responsibility. Their goal is to increase the company’s overall agility and efficiency. They usually support and train multiple teams, including the organization’s leadership.
How can an agile coach help a scrum master?
Agile coaches work with multiple teams within an organization, so these two professionals support each other in adapting and improving Scrum practices. Agile coaches also train and mentor scrum masters so that they can be better at supporting and empowering their teams.
Agile coaching vs. project team leading
The difference between these two roles is even more apparent. Project managers take care of the projects they’re assigned to. They oversee and report the progress of work, especially concerning current project status and deliverables.
In turn, agile coaches help product teams implement necessary changes to work more effectively and collaboratively.
Discover our agile coach services
Agile coaches sharpen the skills of the entire development team with tools, techniques, values, and mindsets. They are a lot like sports coaches - they inspire and lead the team to reach their full potential, which is reflected in how well the team works together and completes their tasks.
Do you want your Agile team to unlock its full potential and work together more effectively? Or maybe your existing team needs help with organizing their work? Agile coaching services are about making the most of the knowledge and experience of our experts. As a result, your team will:
- Make better use of their time
- Shorten time to market
- Achieve higher ROI
- Improve productivity with Agile management processes and frameworks
Just fill in and send this contact form, and we will take care of the rest!
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