Exclusive Trusted Magazine Q&A with Jess Brock, Coach, Technologist & Author.
How could you describe your career path in a few words?
When thinking about my career path the words that initially spring to mind are fulfillment and promise.
Fulfillment: I have had the privilege of a fulfilling career in technology serving as a developer, instructor, author, speaker, coach, and leader. As I look back, I am proud of the lasting impact I have helped make on products and, most importantly, people.
Promise: I have plenty of runway left in my career and my recent focus on immersive learning dojos (a hands-on approach to coaching) has opened up opportunities to continue fulfilling work. In fact, I have written a book about learning dojos called The Dojo Coach's Pocket Guide: Maximizing Immersive Learning for Agile Teams which I am told has provided value to many coaches and learning experts. No one has a crystal ball, but I believe in my career evolution and am optimistic that the best is yet to come.
An overview of my career experience can be found at jessbrock.com.
How do you think agile practices have transformed companies over the past two years?
The last two years have seen Agile mature and expand, becoming more embedded in organizational cultures and practices across various industries. The pandemic, in particular, has acted as a catalyst for this growth, demonstrating Agile's effectiveness in managing change and uncertainty. Specific call-outs:
Collaboration: The journey of a user story from conception to customer release is a collaborative marvel. From refinement and estimation to development, testing, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, each phase involves the concerted effort of numerous individuals. Agile's inherent collaborative spirit has diminished knowledge silos and enhanced team connectedness.
Digital Transformation Symbiosis: Agile and digital transformations share a symbiotic relationship as each supports the other. This interplay creates a dynamic environment where the principles of agility feed into the success of digital transformations, and the process of transforming digitally, in turn, reinforces and expands agile capabilities. This synergy creates companies that are not only technologically advanced but also culturally attuned to the principles of agility, making them more responsive, innovative, and competitive in the digital age.
What successful cases of agile transformations have you had the opportunity to observe that have particularly stood out to you?
Being involved in multiple Agile transformations has shown me that the process is anything but smooth. Changing a company's way of working involves getting to grips with a complex blend of operational and technical aspects, not to mention the varied mindsets and skills of individuals. Despite feeling like you are often taking two steps back for every one step forward, the breakthroughs are worthwhile. It's exceptionally rewarding to see customer needs being addressed quickly and accurately right off the bat. Equally rewarding is observing the team naturally question and rethink established norms. In my journey through various Agile transformations, I've noticed a trend in the ones that really hit the mark: mindsets first. It's crucial to ensure that individuals truly embrace Agile principles and values like continuous improvement, customer focus, and iterative development, right from the start. And when I say embrace, I mean it's more than just understanding these concepts; it's about making these behaviors second nature.
Will agile practices continue to generate interest? What challenges do you see in the context of deploying these practices?
I'm convinced that while Agile has firmly rooted itself in the technology sector, it has significant potential to expand beyond tech. This growth, however, will require careful nurturing and guidance. The way we, as practitioners, approach coaching will be key to the Agile industry's longevity. Recently, the Scrum Alliance's New World of Work report has inspired me to think deeply about the future of Agile. This report underscores the growing necessity for Agile practitioners to have a strong grasp of both technical skills and business insight. Given my experience in dojo coaching, I strongly support this view. It's essential for us, as Agile practitioners, to be able to move beyond just theoretical knowledge and actively engage in the field. This practical involvement is crucial for developing the trust required for effective coaching. Hands-on experience is becoming more valued than mere certifications.
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