Jason Wheelock

Hey, all you agile coaches out there lamenting the decline of opportunities because of a lack of support from "leaders." You know you can be one of those leaders, right? As an executive for several SMBs over the last decade, responsible for hundreds of employees, multi-million dollar clients, and the ultimate ROI of value delivery, I have gained a truckload of empathy for founders/leaders and had my assumptions of what principles and practices actually matter shattered. Stop debating and blogging about rhetoric; nobody but agile insiders really cares about it. Stop coaching from the cheap seats. Stop arguing over how to show your value as a coach and actually DELIVER value as a leader. MODEL all those principles and practices you've preached for so long. Stop being the rock music critic writing for Rolling Stone, create a band, and BE the ROLLING STONES! It will be hard, and it will be scary, but you will learn a hell of a lot, and it will be tons of fun if you let it!

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WIP is not the only variable to consider when controlling work in progress. If your Team is utilizing Kanban, you may find this article interesting and useful. https://lnkd.in/gyzHgs8K

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Who are you really? You might be a Scrum Master, a CEO, or an Executive Assistant. But that's not who you truly are. What are you known for? The impact you create? The empathy you show? The teams you've helped? Your behavior? That's what people will always remember you for. Your title won't mean much. Neither will your salary or tenure. The way you show up for others will. So, be humble. Act with empathy. The rest? It's just background noise. #empathy #scrum #agile #leadership

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Well thanks to a post, it reminded me I needed to update my certification. Maybe it's a money grab (often certifications and "badges" are), but I think for me, it is worthwhile. Maybe I have a very different view of what Agile is to many of the Agile purists, but SAFe is a great framework to use as a basis for something. Unfortunately, I think many companies reduce the effectiveness of Agile by not listening to those who understand the why, not what box to tick. So when they roll out (Insert framework here), they tick every box and don't really understand why it needs to be flexible.

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I like to ask technical folks during interview about their biggest professional failure. The answer can be pretty revealing, showing if the person is comfortable admitting mistakes or prefers a vague response. And let’s be honest, a vague answer isn’t great—because we all mess up, and it’s key to recognize and learn from those moments. It’s a bonus when a candidate shares not only what went wrong but also what they learned, without me having to ask a follow-up question. I don’t mind sharing my own failures in those conversations. It helps the person feel at ease and shows that I’m not afraid to admit my own mistakes as a potential manager. So here’s one of mine: Once upon a time, when I was a young engineer, I worked on a mission-critical PCRF/PCEF system for a mobile carrier. For those unfamiliar with this setup, it handles deep packet inspection (PCEF) of mobile internet traffic, sets bandwidth limits, and reports data for charging the customer. For instance, your mobile plan might not count data for Facebook or Apple Music, but you’ve got 100GB for everything else. The system had two parts: Cisco CSG acting as the DPI and a vendor-developed PCRF. Back then, 3G was just starting, and many customers still used phones running on the WAP protocol. Part of my job was reconfiguring the Cisco device—usually to update DPI settings—during the night service window, like 2 AM. The process required me to copy and paste a config file from Notepad. WAP traffic was the priciest, and one night, I forgot to include either a comma or a semicolon before that section. The PCRF stopped recognizing it as chargeable, and the issue wasn’t caught until the customer saw a drop in charges the next day. It took us a while to spot the mistake. After fixing it, I promised I’d never mess it up again—but guess what? Two or three weeks later, I did it again. I was frustrated, and after a tough chat with my manager, we had to apologize to a very angry customer. The next day, I realized that if it happened twice, it could easily happen again, whether by me or someone else. So, I spent 2-3 weeks writing a Perl script to verify consistency between Cisco configurations and the PCRF. We added this step to our process, and we all slept better afterward. A nice side benefit was that my Perl skills improved, and I even reused parts of that script years later as a PS engineer. So, how do you feel about sharing your failures?

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I have applied to 600 jobs since January 2024. I have imagined my next opportunity as a Scrum Master, Change Manager, Business Analyst, or Workday Specialist. I have interviewed at Sierra Nevada Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Molson Coors, BAE Systems, SSR Mining, Northwestern Mutual, DISH Network, Gates Corporation, Comcast, Fresenius Medical Care, RTD, and Netflix. Over the last few months, I have: • worked with a career coach to update my LinkedIn Profile, Resume, Cover Letter, and Interview responses/stories • reached out to former coworkers to share advice, worries, and encouragement • wrote recommendations for coworkers impacted by the same layoff • attended networking events at Boulder Start Up Week, Mile High Agile, and Women&TECH Meetup • signed up with usemassive.com to automatically apply to jobs that fit my criteria • connected with several recruiters who have seemed genuinely interested in my placement • deleted hundreds of rejection emails clogging up my inbox • gotten 0 offers No matter how hard I try, I haven't found what I am looking for: • remote (preferred) or hybrid in Denver, CO area • collaborate on creative projects with others • connect with a company's mission and legacy • where I can solve a problem and make a better user experience • able to continue to learn and grow as an Agile Practitioner, Project Manager, or Workday Expert • Space Industry would be exciting! However, I am open to any industry Truthfully, this has been an exhausting process and experience, but I am continuing to put in the work to find the right fit, to better myself and my skills, and to find time to enjoy this break. I got a new tattoo. My poetry and artwork were featured in RISE Art Show benefiting The Blue Bench. I took my family on a road trip to Indiana to view the Total Solar Eclipse at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I took my family on a road trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, where we saw 5 Grizzly Bears! I have spent every opportunity to volunteer at the Denver Botanic Gardens... planting, weeding, spreading mulch, and just getting my hands dirty. This time in my life is stressful, but I feel much lighter now that I approach every opportunity as a world to explore. There is so much more to see. Thanks for reading and reposting! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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The Truth About Frameworks and Agility Danielle Gerber, SPCT, RTE, PMP, CSM unpacks the reality of agile transformations: mindsets don’t change overnight. She explains how frameworks like SAFe, Scrum, and Kanban can kickstart your journey—but the real work is in living the values and principles of agility. Don’t miss Danielle Gerber, SPCT, RTE, PMP, CSM’s practical advice on building true agility within your teams. Listen now and share with friends and colleagues! Listen to the Podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eVPn-xks or on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eHp7efJE #AgileMindset #AgileTransformation #TheAgileMatrix

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In a recent working session with Brian Mannix, CSM, we dug deep into the complexities of employee burnout within Scrum teams. Utilizing the Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, we identified several critical contributors. We are eager to hear your thoughts. What other contributory issues do you believe are affecting employee burnout in Scrum teams? Drop in the comment section.

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I am excited to share that I have successfully passed the Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) certification exam from Scrum.org. This certification validates my knowledge of the Scrum framework and my ability to support and enable value creation and delivery. Earning PSPO I shows my understanding of how to bridge the gap between strategy and agile product management in order to create valuable products using Scrum.

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Agile teams won’t be maximized if the surrounding environment won’t be conducive to value creation. It will just be waterfall with extra steps.

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Ted Lasso could be the best Scrum Master in the World! Apple TV's Ted Lasso gained millions of fans when we got introduced to the lovable, patient, wise and charasmatic football coach main character, Ted Lasso. After binge watching the show; I realised that Ted Lasso's personality and lessons he used in the show could be a benchmark for how a Scrum Master should behave and coach their teams... SPOLIER ALERT; This talk would showcase snippits of the show; so go and watch all three seasons before the the talk next week so that you would appreciate the references! (You can thank me later!!). But its okay if you did not watch the show: I would show enough snippets to make the reference relatable…. 😉 Come and learn the 11 Lessons Ted Lasso can teach you as a Scrum Master.

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Scrum events are widely misunderstood. I often attend Planning meetings that are really Refinements, or the team members commit to individual stories without confidence the team can actually finish the entire commitment. One of my questions (stolen from my mentor) is: "If our funding were pulled at the end of the sprint, would our time have been better spent writing code or going to Maui for a team morale event?" Although cached in a joke, this is a really serious question: Will you finish, integrate, and demo this sprit's commitment? Will you work nights and weekends, learn a new technology, or whatever else you need to make this happen? Because this is what a sprint commitment means. This is how we become predictable in Agile. Otherwise, you should vote "no" on the plan and re-evaluate. I was giving a talk and I proposed this test to the group. One group member spoke up. He said when I asked his team this, it really resonated and they started asking it at every Planning. When their 18 month project had the plug pulled at 6 months, they were able to deliver what they had to customers at the end of the sprint. If they had continued they way they had been working, they would have delivered zero business value for six months work. Instead, by refocusing on their commitments, they got full business value for their work. Make sure your Scrum events are working for you and you are not going through them by rote.

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Hi LinkedIn: Last week I made a post that ruffled a few feathers, about Scrum Master’s. So today let’s talk about the Agile Coach role. Me personally, I have that skill set, but that would make me a phenomenal leader in any organization. Agile Coach and Scrum Master will not necessarily be independent roles in the near future, but you can use those skills to re-brand yourself as a Transformational Leader. Don’t box yourself into a corner. If you need help with this, book time with me.

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I recently had an incredible opportunity and pleasure of taking "bikablo Basic day 1 and day 2" class with a fantastic trainer Jill Greenbaum, Ed.D. If you are a trainer, a Coach, a Scrum Master, a facilitator or just want to level your visualization skills, I can't recommend it enough! PS: As the final project I created a large poster "Vision to reality" with mobile elements that can be used for example to facilitate a product prioritization conversation. #learning #visualization #bikablo

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My response to a sensitive question, “As ScrumMaster, how do you handle a team impacted by layoffs? Are there any suggested action items we should consider?” Part 1/2 - when Team has no notice Give space to breathe and then move forward #scrummother #scrummaster #scrum #agile #moveyourownneedle

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New Episode Alert!!! In this episode Danielle Gerber, SPCT, RTE, PMP, CSM and agile transformation expert, explores her journey from traditional project management to agile coaching. She dives deep into agile frameworks like SAFe, Scrum, and Kanban and reveals the essential mindset shifts for truly successful agile transformations. Key Takeaways: ✅ Agility is about delivering value, not just “checking boxes.” ✅ Mindset and cultural transformation are critical for agile success. ✅ SAFe is a flexible toolkit, not a rigid prescription. ✅ Continuous improvement and learning from mistakes drive agile teams. Whether you’re a seasoned agile coach or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with insights to help your team thrive. Listen now, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! Listen to the Podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eVPn-xks or on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eHp7efJE #AgileTransformation #SAFe #AgileCoaching #TheAgileMatrix

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Connextra format for user stories isn’t bad because of the syntax or because it’s awkward conversationally. It can become bad because the rigid formality of it implies just another form of written requirement to be handed off and walked away from by its original author. Written requirements do not work as well as we so desperately want them to. Stories, whether its user stores or your grandpa’s war stories, are meant to be TOLD and discussed, not read and consumed. #userstory #userstories #productbacklog, #backlogrefinement

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My wife and daughter (24) each have jobs and another project they are co-laboring on. After overhearing two contentious work sessions, I asked them if they’d be open to an Agile conversion?   They were. Over the weekend, they each became Product Owners.  We pulled out a board wrote down  their customers and stakeholders. We did capacity planning for each (stressed the importance of sustainable pace). We created value based prioritized backlogs for each of them with features, user stories, and tasks. They were fully empowered to say No or Not Now to their customers/stakeholders based upon value for each story. In the end, I think seeing each other’s backlogs created empathy and understanding for the other. Pretty cool weekend. #TwoAgileConversions (shout out to Microsoft’s free version of ADO – a lot of great features)

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