The Agile Skills Library

Geoff and Paul discuss “powerful questioning” in agile coaching and introduce a practice technique called Hot Seat Questions. They note the term “powerful questions” is often overused and shouldn’t be forced, but good questions can help shift thinking and open up new solutions. In the exercise, a group designates a “hot seat” where one person shares a coaching scenario for 30–60 seconds; each listener then asks one question that the hot-seat person does not answer, but instead gives feedback on the question’s impact (e.g., “That question was powerful because…” or “It could have been more powerful if…”). They emphasise psychological safety, letting go of the need to know, avoiding leading or rambling questions, and noticing nonverbal cues. They end with a brief example and mention downloadable guidance and a request for reviews.Downloadable content: www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep13-hot-seat-questions00:00 Welcome and Catch Up01:06 What Makes Questions Powerful03:57 Hot Seat Questions Overview04:58 How to Run the Exercise07:51 What Powerful Looks Like09:22 Safety and Letting Go11:13 Feedback Structure and Observations12:35 Common Question Traps15:05 Live Hot Seat Demo19:19 Wrap Up and Resources

In this episode of the Agile Skills Podcast, hosts Geoff Watts and Paul Goddard introduce a valuable tool they call the 'coaching equation for coaching change.' This equation helps coaches and individuals effectively implement desired changes by balancing benefits, costs, and the probability of success. They discuss the importance of internalising the benefits, acknowledging costs, and strategies to increase the likelihood of success. The episode also includes practical examples and emphasizes the emotional aspects of motivation. A downloadable canvas is provided to help practitioners put the technique into practice.Downloadable Content:www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep11-the-change-equation00:00 Introduction to the Agile Skills Library00:29 Welcome Back to the Agile Skills Podcast00:39 Introducing the Coaching Equation04:24 Understanding the Benefits of Change09:01 Identifying the Costs of Change13:46 Probability of Success in Change16:01 Increasing Your Chances of Success24:02 Conclusion and Next Steps

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, hosts Geoff Watts and Paul Goddard introduce the 5-5-5 technique, a simple yet powerful method to boost confidence and alleviate imposter syndrome among agile practitioners. The technique involves asking five trusted individuals five specific questions that highlight personal strengths, which they then verbalise back to the requester. This personalised feedback aims to help individuals internalise positive traits, creating a balanced self-perception. This method can be used by individuals or teams to cultivate a more confident and effective agile environment.Downloadable Content:www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep9-555-technique00:00 Introduction to the Agile Skills Library00:17 Introducing the 5-5-5 Technique01:02 Why the 5-5-5 Technique is Essential02:34 How to Implement the 5-5-5 Technique04:42 Questions to Ask in the 5-5-5 Technique06:02 Receiving and Internalising Feedback10:57 Applying the 5-5-5 Technique in Teams12:00 Conclusion and Additional Resources

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, the hosts introduce the 'core values exercise,' a simple yet impactful technique used in both individual and team coaching sessions to uncover and understand core values. The hosts demonstrate the process using a deck of cards, guiding listeners on how to identify their most important values and explaining the significance of being aware of these values. The exercise is noted for its wide applicability and potential to enhance self-awareness, decision-making, and team dynamics. Helpful resources for listeners to implement this technique themselves are also provided.Downloadable Content:www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep7-exploring-core-values-a-key-exercise-for-personal-and-team-growth00:00 Introduction to the Core Values Exercise00:44 Why Core Values Matter02:36 The Core Values Exercise: Step-by-Step04:19 Refining Your Core Values06:41 Revealing and Reflecting on Core Values09:28 Applying Core Values in Daily Life15:29 Conclusion and Additional Resources

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, hosts Paul and Geoff delve into the critical topic of emotional intelligence. They explore key theories from psychologists, discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in agile environments, and provide practical coaching tips. The episode includes insights from the world of improvisation, Daniel Goleman's five elements of emotional intelligence, and an interactive game to foster emotional awareness and empathy within teams. The hosts also address considerations for neurodiversity and offer a downloadable resource to help facilitate emotional intelligence exercises in teams.Downloadable content available at:https://www.agilify.co.uk/resources/the-agile-skills-library/ep5-enhancing-emotional-intelligence-in-agile-teams/00:00 Welcome to the Agile Skills Library00:29 Introduction to Emotional Intelligence01:25 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Agile Teams03:52 Daniel Goldman's Five Elements of Emotional Intelligence06:22 Practical Exercise: Emotions, Emotions, Emotions13:04 Using Emotional Intelligence in Various Settings18:50 Neurodiversity and Emotional Intelligence22:22 Conclusion and Downloadable Content

In this episode of the Agile Skills Library, hosts Paul Goddard and Geoff Watts delve into the art of receiving feedback, following their previous discussion on giving feedback. They explore the importance of being open to feedback for personal and professional growth, discuss common traps and defensive behaviors, and introduce the SARA model for processing feedback. The hosts also provide practical tips for depersonalising and filtering feedback, and they offer downloadable content with role-playing scenarios to practice giving and receiving feedback effectively.Downloadable content available fromhttps://www.agilify.co.uk/resources/the-agile-skills-library/ep3-receiving-feedback-to-empower-self-managing-teams/00:00 Introduction01:23 Why Receiving Feedback Matters05:40 Common Traps in Receiving Feedback09:25 The SARA Model13:11 Tips for Receiving Feedback19:18 Downloadable Resources & Wrap-up

In this first episode of The Agile Skills Library, Geoff Watts and Paul Goddard unpack SPEED coaching — a simple way to choose how to help, not just what to do.If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “Should I give advice here… ask better questions… step back… or change the system instead?” — this episode is for you.SPEED is a simple but surprisingly powerful way to consciously choose how you help, based on the situation, the relationship, and the kind of impact you’re aiming for. It’s not about “doing coaching properly” or sticking rigidly to one style. It’s about judgment.In this episode, we walk through the full SPEED model using a very real Scrum Master scenario, exploring when each approach makes sense, the trade-offs involved, and why faster help often creates dependency — while slower help tends to stick.This episode is primarily aimed at Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and team coaches, but the ideas apply just as well if you’re a leader, a manager, or even thinking through your own decisions.You’ll also find a free downloadable SPEED coaching template from the link below to help you use the model with a team, a colleague, or yourself.https://www.inspectandadapt.com/podcasts/ep1-speed-coachingTimestampsIntroduction to the Podcast and Series (00:00:03)Geoff and Paul introduce themselves, the podcast, and the Agile Skills Library series.Purpose and Audience of SPEED Coaching (00:00:46)Explanation of the SPEED Coaching technique, its intended audience, and why it’s important.Coaching Myths and Directive vs. Non-Directive Styles (00:03:04)Discussion of common coaching myths, especially about Socratic questioning and directive vs. non-directive coaching.Overview of the SPEED Model (00:04:30)Introduction to the SPEED acronym, its temporal aspect, and the impact of different coaching stances.Scenario Setup: Retrospectives Not Leading to Action (00:07:03)A practical scenario is introduced: a team not implementing retrospective improvements.S: Suggestions (00:08:14)Explaining the “Suggestions” stance—giving direct ideas or advice to the team.P: Proof (00:12:19)Explaining the “Proof” stance—providing data, evidence, or encouraging experiments to inform decisions.E: Enablers (00:16:38)Explaining the “Enablers” stance—helping the team by removing impediments or providing tools/templates.E: Environment (00:20:28)Explaining the “Environment” stance—changing systemic or environmental factors to influence team behavior.D: Drivers (00:23:53)Explaining the “Drivers” stance—exploring core values, motivations, and personal/team drivers for deeper change.Recap and Application Tips (00:26:15)Summary of the SPEED model, emphasising conscious choice and that no stance is inherently good or bad.Template and Listener Engagement (00:28:10)Announcement of a downloadable SPEED Coaching template and invitation for listener feedback.Series Continuation and Call for Input (00:28:44)Encouragement for listeners to suggest future topics and help shape the podcast’s direction.Closing Remarks (00:29:49)Thanking listeners, encouraging use of the technique, and signing off.