While looking for opportunities as an agile coach recently, I found myself bewildered by the huge variety of expectations.
When I heard Pyxis was looking, I checked out their Agile Organizational Coach job requisition and found it to be heavily focused on management experience. “educate managers to the application of Agility to their management style” and “Over 14 years of experience in managing software development teams”.
Rally wanted consulting experience in their top qualifications: “Prior Consulting background– you will be working with multiple clients through on site collaboration and remote support. Experience leading consulting engagements.”
EBay wanted it all:
- Create & deliver Agile training…
- Coach Product Owners, ScrumMasters…
- Influence all levels…
- Evaluate current product design approach…
In order to regain peace of mind (well, not really, just backed off the edge a bit), I have broken down the role of ‘Agile Coach’ into the different styles of practice that I’ve seen along with some living examples. This helps me understand what type of coaching they are looking for as well as know better what I have to offer and where I want to grow next. I’m sure I’ve missed some styles. Please contribute your own:
Agile Expert Advisor/Therapist
Has lots of experience and facility for agile, has read most of the good stuff on the subject, a domain expert, understands and internalizes the principles. Translates that perspective into a shoulder to cry on, a sounding board. Provides advice and pointed questions for the agile naive in transition. (Henrik Kniberg)
User Experience Dude
Translates the vision into a usable solution by working with users for designing UI and interaction. (Jeff Patton)
Product Owner
Agile point of contact or liaison to marketing for the dev team. (Anu Ramaswamy)
Product Marketing Mgr
Assesses and addresses the market, codifies the vision, then shepherds product realization. (Kathy Rott)
Professional Facilitator
Like a referee, makes sure everyone plays nice, understands and controls group behavior promoting innovation or better, quicker decisions. (III and Ainsley Nies)
Professional Mediator
Resolves disruptive conflict through strictly controlled gatherings and patiently persistent personality. (Tom Looy)
Trainertainer
Provides a working vacation for stressed out employees and managers using games, simulations, guest speakers, demonstrations. (Chris Sims)
Master Craftsman
Demonstrates the practices and ways of the agile craft as a member of the team to speed acquisition of skills and agile thought patterns. (Elisabeth Hendrickson)
Medic/Shaman
Arrives in a crisis ready to quickly triage disrupted organizations and gets them on the path to healing and harmony using social psychology. (Matt Gelbwaks)
Certifier
Provides training classes so folks can get a start in a new field or meet requirements of sponsor. (Tobias Mayer)
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