James Keating

Want to finish 2024 with a new qualification? Join me on 16th and 17th December for my final Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Master course of the year. Whether you’re new to Agile or looking to deepen your understanding, this course will help you develop the skills you need to lead high-performing teams and deliver better results. We’ll use Mural to collaborate on real-world scenarios, and you’ll have the chance to work in breakout rooms with others, discussing and debating Agile challenges. Expect case studies, interactive exercises, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions and share your experiences. What sets this course apart? It’s fun, it’s practical, and it’s packed with real insights from my work in telecoms, defence, finance, and more. Plus, by the end of the course, you’ll be ready to take the Certified Scrum Master exam. Course Details: Dates: Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th December Time: 9am - 5pm (UK/GMT) Location: Zoom & Mural Early Bird Price: £495 per ticket (+ VAT) Standard Price: £595 per ticket (+ VAT) I also offer an “out of work discount” for those currently between jobs. Seats are limited, so message me directly to learn more! Ready to end the year as a Certified Scrum Master? Message me today or find the link in the comments to secure your spot!

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𝐌𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 I often get asked, "What do you do as an agile coach?" Whether people are interested in becoming coaches themselves or wondering what a coach could do for them, it's a common question. Here are a couple of my favourite activities to give you a good idea. Have you ever wondered what makes coaching so transformative? It's not about telling; it's about creating spaces where new opportunities emerge from fresh perspectives. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬. This week, I had the privilege of facilitating growth and innovation for various teams and individuals, which I truly enjoyed. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: I had the opportunity to work with a group of leaders to align behind the biggest opportunities to create value for the business. 🚀 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞: I trained a group of new starters in agile ways of working, creating a space for them to realize how they can apply the mindset in their area of business. See photo below of the wonderful group.🌱 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐚𝐧𝐝- 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡. I helped teams use a test-and learn approach to innovate. 🔄 Agile coaching and training accelerate outcomes and opens doors to new possibilities. It’s an extremely rewarding experience for both the coachee and the coach while it delivers results. Have you ever benefited from coaching? What was your experience?✨

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Do you know that Kanban isn’t just a tool—you build it with your team. On this episode of The Agile Matrix Podcast, Kanban University Accredited Kanban Consultant and Accredited Kanban Trainer Taz Brown shares a fresh perspective on introducing Kanban, not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a collaboratively tailored system designed to solve real challenges. 🎙️ Listen in to explore: • How Kanban can address your team’s unique pain points • Real-world examples of collaborative Kanban in action • Why custom-built solutions drive team buy-in and adaptability 💼 If you’re ready to transform your team’s workflow, this episode is a must-listen: https://lnkd.in/eG4aCcw7 or on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ez3UnHUd #AgileMatrix #Podcast #TazBrown #Kanban #TeamCollaboration #AgileLeadership #ProblemSolving #agility #agile #scrum #scrummaster

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It is well worth a watch to learn more about how coaching and Kanban are the perfect combination with the fabulous Helen Meek

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Tomorrow on the Agile Network! Paul Goddard and I will give a presentation, so controversial it has been turned down by multiple conferences! Well, if I mean by "controversial" - I mean "didn't sound as interesting as it actually is when written down for a submission." It is on Pairing - The secret and forgotten Agile skill that could up your game... whoever you are! It is at 3pm BST and is exclusive to the network! Sign up now using my codes: One is a free month for people who purchase a monthly membership. The other is 20% off the annual membership. AGILEBEAR8CM - 1 Month Free AGILEBEAR8C20 - 20% off Annual Membership Link in the comments!

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https://wix.to/LKhTdIn This is part 2 of 2 of the follow-on to my 4-minute talk “I’m an Introvert and I’m a Trainer” on the Scaled Agile Business Agility podcast. Check out my 6 remaining practical tips an introvert can use to thrive an extrovert role.

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When I was lucky enough to go through the Kanban University training with James Enock it was an absolute game changer for me personally. So much so, it inspired me to become an Accredited #Kanban Trainer. What David Anderson says is so true. You get so many great actionable and pragmatic ideas to take away that you can introduce right away that can have a huge impact on your teams and organisations. #agile #scrummaster #agilecoach #agilecoaching #leadership #agiledeliverylead #leadershipcoaching

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Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of delivering the Scrum.org Professional Scrum with Kanban course in collaboration with TheScrumMaster.co.uk. This course covers - how Kanban can complement Scrum - How we can bring life to Scrum events - How we can make data-guided decision The course provides actionable insights, and our learners agree! A big thanks to Nick Sullivan for sharing this fantastic review. The highlight of the review for me is "the improvement i can bring into my teams." This encapsulates what the training is all about—focusing on actionable learning and real-world application, not just certificates.

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As Agile practitioners, we've all been there - stuck in a room with our teams, debating the intricacies of story points. But let's take a step back and ask ourselves... what's the real purpose of story points? Are they a: - Measure of complexity? - Estimate of effort? - Gauge of business value? - Tool for gamification? Or are they simply a way to: - Avoid actual estimation? - Create a false sense of precision? - Foster debate and discussion? Let's be honest, story points can be a useful tool for team planning and estimation, but they can also lead to: - Over-analysis paralysis - Point inflation - Comparison and competition So, what's your take on story points? Do you use them, abuse them, or avoid them altogether? Share your experiences. #StoryPoints #Estimation #Planning #TeamCollaboration

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The latest article by Adrian Reed on BA Times looks at how to prevent project burnout before it strikes. https://lnkd.in/eqj_ujvD #BusinessAnalysis #BACommunity #BusinessAnalysts

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Does your boss’s reaction surprise you? Do you feel like you are not being heard? Then what you waiting for? Go read this weeks The Confident Product Leader newsletter with special guest Danny Beck who shares advice on how to influence like a pro and be heard! #productmanagement #productmanager #leadership

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If you haven't looked into Dysfunction mapping yet, you really should! It's a great way to increase the effectiveness of your team but also gives you a rich vein of professional development opportunities. Really helping to elevate entry and junior Scrum Masters to more versatile and impactful change agents. Integrating Dysfunction Mapping into your workflow can have a transformative effect but also it can amplify more of the good stuff you already have going on. On that theme I've put together a short review of how Dysfunction Mapping bolsters the Scrum Pillars transparency, inspection, and adaptation within your workflow and practices. Check it out for a different slant on how you can bring the pillars to life in your team and drive more continuous improvement through dysfunction mapping as an option in your toolbox. #agile #scrum #scrummaster

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After reading the doom of Agile is dead, here is my take on why Agile is brilliant! Agility is not just a buzzword, it's a game changer. Here's why Agile is fab! 1. Adaptability Agile embraces change. Its iterative approach allows teams to pivot swiftly, adjusting course based on real time feedback. 2. Collaboration Agile thrives on cross functional collaboration. Teams work together, breaking down silos and fostering innovation. 3. Speed to Market Agile teams deliver faster. Short cycles mean quicker releases, keeping you ahead of the curve. 4. Customer Centricity Agile keeps the customer at the heart of everything you do. Regular feedback loops ensure products meet user needs. 5. Continuous Improvement Agile isn't a one time fix... No no no! It's a mindset. Teams learn, adapt and improve with each iteration. So is it time you embraced agile to drive value, build a brighter future and have fun whilst doing it??! 🌟 #Agile #yourpeopleareyourchange #Innovation #Adaptability #BusinessAgility Feel free to share your thoughts or add your own insights! 🙌🏼

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We'll be talking about The Visual Agile Coach Personal Growth Rocket tonight at the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Agile Methods Specialists Group (link in the comments below 👇) Here's a preview What is it❓ The Personal Growth Rocket follows the trajectory of comfort, fear, learn, growth (inspired by the Learning Zone Model originally developed by psychologist Lev Vygotsky). Why use the Personal Growth Rocket❓ 👉To break out of a comfort zone or conquer fear 👉To harness personal strengths to achieve ambitions 👉For a boost of positivity in challenging times   When to use it❓ 🚀Planning a powerful approach to career progression and personal development 🚀 A new and challenging environment demands performance improvement 🚀Performance has plateaued, comfort is dragging, a paradigm shift is needed.   How to use the Personal Growth Rocket❓ Work backwards ⏪ 🚀Define your future state target – new job, new skill, new venture, new You! 🚀Identify your strengths – your passions, interests, skills, hobbies, experience. Work forwards ⏩ 🚀Consider how your strengths can fuel your future state – how might you use them? 🚀Follow the Personal Growth Rocket flight path and pass from 1 orbit of progression to the next towards your destination. Visual Agile Coaching Tips 👇 🚀Often a strength can become a comfort zone. But what if you took it up a level? What more would it need from you? 🚀To identify your strengths look beyond the workplace – consider you values, hobbies or experiences. 🚀Start by asking yourself where you want to be, what you want to be, how you want to be it? And don’t forget Why? 🚀See the journey as a series of steps (definitely not Big Bang!) as you pass through each Learning Zone orbit. 🚀When you have harnessed your strengths – use the same learning zone principles for your development areas. Travel from now to the future fuelled by You 🚀💫 Extract from the The Visual Agile Coach Playbook 📕 Visual by Olina Glindevi ✏️ 🎨 #VisualAgileCoaching #DiscoverDevelopDo #Coaching

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Enjoyable is the theme of these 2 testimonials after our recent Certified Scrum Master course in Bristol. #Agile #Scrum #ScrumMaster

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Join me on 20th Nov at Agile MK for a debrief and insights into some of the best presentations at Agile Cambridge last month - "What I saw at Agile Cambridge"

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