The Daily Standup

Self-Improvement

About

Welcome to the Daily Standup! Let's Get Started! This is a great place for you to learn and explore all topics Agile related and hear some really cool battle stories about a day in the life of an Agile Coach & Certified Scrum Trainer. No extra charge for any Dad Jokes... They are all inclusive.

Episodes

  • Shake Your BA... The Importance of Understanding the POBAFATA

    In this episode from day one of the PMBA Toronto Conference, the host discusses the role of a Business Analyst and why they are a vital component of the POBAFATA.

  • Agile Works With People Who Don’t Actually Need Agile

    The episode explores how Agile methodologies interact with individuals who may not inherently require them, drawing on the concepts of disciplinary and achievement societies. It discusses the transition from hierarchical authority to self-…

  • Two Truths and A Lie About Agile - Mike Cohn

    This episode features Mike Cohn discussing "Two Truths and A Lie About Agile," where he examines common misconceptions and facts about agile methodologies. The discussion focuses on adapting sprint plans, the purpose of estimation in agile…

  • Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

    This episode of The Daily Standup, titled 'Feliz Cinco de Mayo!', focuses on the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. It features a story about overcoming challenges with courage and perseverance, emphasizing the importance of belief and forward movem…

  • You Have a Vision For Your Team - Agile Leadership Gap

    This episode discusses the Agile Leadership Gap. It offers information on connecting with AgileDad through various platforms.

  • The Beauty of Positive Networking

    This episode explores the concept of positive networking. It discusses connecting with others, even when feeling overwhelmed by social interactions.

  • Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 - Orlando Day3

    This episode recaps Day 3 of the Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 in Orlando. It covers a leadership workshop that received positive feedback.

  • Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 - Orlando Day 2

    This episode provides a summary of Day 2 of the Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 conference, held in Orlando.

  • Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 - Orlando Day 1

    This episode provides a summary of Day 1 of the Project Summit Business Analyst World 2026 conference in Orlando.

  • Why Change Management Is Today’s Leadership

    The Daily Standup explores why change management is a necessary leadership skill. It highlights the unavoidable nature of change and the importance of taking action.

  • Why Pressure Backfires Faster Than Leaders Think - Mike Cohn

    This episode features Mike Cohn discussing how applying pressure to teams often results in overcommitment and less honest planning. He suggests that leaders should focus on creating an environment that encourages truth and realistic assess…

  • Earth Day 2026 - The Boy and the Snakes

    This episode of The Daily Standup tells the story of Jadav Payeng, who, starting in 1979, planted a tree every day for 40 years. His efforts transformed a barren sandbar into the 1,300-acre Molai Forest, now home to diverse wildlife.

  • I Was Asked to Fire One-Third of the Company, Here’s What That Taught Me About Leadership and Coaching

    This episode discusses the lessons learned about leadership and coaching from an HR perspective, specifically detailing the experience of managing a significant company layoff.

  • The real reasons top performers quit and what managers can do about it

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses why top performers quit their jobs. It explores the reasons behind employee departures, focusing on the role of management in retaining talent.

  • Autistic Bowler Achieves Dream With His First Perfect 300 Game And Joins the PBA as a Pro

    An autistic bowler achieved his first perfect 300 game and joined the PBA as a professional. This accomplishment represents years of dedication and focus for Matt Sipes.

  • The “Agile” Team That Was Actually Just Doing Waterfall in Sprints

    This episode discusses a team that was doing waterfall in sprints, despite appearing agile. It examines the financial implications and the lack of benefits associated with mimicking agile processes without true agility.

  • Why Estimating and Planning Still Matter - Mike Cohn

    In this episode, Mike Cohn explains why estimating and planning are still relevant for teams and organizations. He argues that explicit estimates create transparency and help in making informed decisions.

  • The Sprint That Never Delivered

    This episode explores the challenges faced by a Scrum team that consistently under-delivered on sprint commitments. It discusses the perspective of a Scrum Master observing the impact of these issues on team dynamics and morale.

  • Sprint After Sprint After Sprint… When Did This Stop Feeling Like Progress?

    This episode explores the concept of "sprint after sprint" in Agile development and raises questions about whether this approach consistently leads to actual progress and high-performing teams, or if it can result in team exhaustion. It di…

  • 7 Mindsets of High Performers That Will Change How You Work

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses the mindsets of high performers. It explores how their thinking and approach to challenges contribute to their success.

  • The Unglamorous Truth About Building Trust

    This episode discusses a Scrum Master's journey in understanding and building trust within agile teams. It explores the realization that trust is not built through single heroic acts but through consistent effort and interaction.

  • Not Every Backlog Item Needs Detail - Mike Cohn

    This episode features Mike Cohn discussing backlog refinement. He explains that a healthy product backlog has a gradient of clarity, with more detailed items at the top and less detailed items further down. Cohn advises focusing refinement…

  • Has Scrum Peaked Too Soon?

    This episode of The Daily Standup explores the idea of whether Scrum peaked too soon, drawing on historical case studies to frame the discussion.

  • One of the Impacts of Easter in Our Lives

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses the impacts of Easter. It highlights Easter's significance as a celebration of Christ's sacrifice, resurrection, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

  • The Meaning and Significance of Good Friday

    This episode discusses the meaning and significance of Good Friday, a day central to the Christian faith. It explores why this day, commemorating Christ

  • Which Leadership Pattern Shows Up Under Pressure? - Mike Cohn

    This episode features Mike Cohn discussing leadership patterns that emerge under pressure. He explains how these patterns, though instincts, can significantly influence the success or failure of agile frameworks and team performance.

  • The AI TPM Landscape

    This episode explores the landscape of AI Technical Program Manager roles. It discusses the varying expectations and skill requirements across different types of AI companies, including Frontier AI, AI-Applied-to-Business, and AI-Powered A…

  • Scrum Is Dead - Here Is What Killed It!

    This episode of The Daily Standup reviews a LinkedIn post titled 'Scrum Is Dead - Here Is What Killed It!' The Daily Standup!' and responds to the points made. The host discusses the content of the post.

  • That's What Friends Are For

    This episode of The Daily Standup explores the concept of true friendship and connection. It discusses what stands behind true friendship.

  • Predictability Is My North Star

    This episode of The Daily Standup explores the concept of predictability as a key metric in Agile development. It discusses how predictability can offer a more accurate understanding of a system's health compared to relying solely on veloc…

  • The Most Underrated Advantage of Short Sprints - Mike Cohn

    Mike Cohn discusses the underrated advantage of short sprints, highlighting their function as feedback cycles that shorten the time between action and learning. The episode explains how this approach reduces risk and improves feedback with…

  • Corporate, Business or Functional Strategy?

    This episode discusses the differences between Corporate, Business, and Functional Strategy. It explains how these three levels of strategy form a hierarchy to align organizations, from long-term vision to daily actions.

  • Why, When, and How Do We Clean a Backlog

    This episode explores the reasons, timing, and methods for cleaning a product backlog. It addresses how teams can manage backlogs effectively to prevent them from becoming overly complex.

  • How Are You Today? I'm Fine, Thanks...

    This episode explores the question of asking "How are you today?" and genuinely caring about the answer. It also discusses how to truly handle acting with kindness and connect with others.

  • The Five Dimensions of Real Scrum Mastery

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses "The Five Dimensions of Real Scrum Mastery." It covers various aspects of Scrum, such as having uncomfortable conversations, knowing when to intervene, creating a safe team space, and empowering…

  • Is Sprint Planning Quietly Hurting Teamwork? - Mike Cohn

    In this episode, Mike Cohn explores how individual accountability in sprint planning may negatively impact teamwork. He discusses strategies to foster shared accountability within agile teams and move beyond individual commitments to colle…

  • The Lucky Green String

    This episode features a story about Liam, an office worker trying to avoid St. Patrick's Day celebrations. He encounters a new bulletin board asking colleagues to share what luck means to them.

  • Is Agile Coaching a Waste of Money?

    This episode explores the question of whether agile coaching is a waste of money for software organizations. It examines common disappointments experienced by companies that have invested in agile coaching, including unmet customer needs a…

  • Celebrating PI Day!

    This episode of The Daily Standup focuses on celebrating Pi Day. It discusses how inclusive events can help individuals see themselves as part of the math community, reframing their perception of mathematics from an exclusive to an accessi…

  • Why I Switched to a Hybrid Approach and Tripled My Team’s Delivery Rate

    This episode discusses a leader's decision to switch to a hybrid approach after experiencing challenges with traditional Agile methodologies. The discussion covers the impact on team delivery rates and overall team engagement.

  • AI Is Changing The Economics of Software Development - Mike Cohn

    This episode of The Daily Standup features Mike Cohn discussing the economic impact of AI on software development.

  • 5 Ways High Performers Disrupt Team Harmony

    This episode discusses how high performers can disrupt team harmony due to their speed and capability. It explores how this can lead to teammates working around them and potentially creating a single point of dependency within a team.

  • Scrum The Toyota Way

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses "Scrum The Toyota Way." It explores how this approach fundamentally changes product ownership by addressing flow and waste, which are not deeply covered by Scrum alone.

  • A Single Act of Kindness..

    This episode of The Daily Standup tells the story of Janae, a mother of four, during a challenging grocery store trip. It highlights her quiet determination and a stranger's impactful act of kindness.

  • 7 Strategies to Motivate and Retain Employees

    This episode discusses seven strategies for motivating and retaining employees. It covers how to create a supportive work environment that values purpose, recognition, and growth opportunities.

  • The Most Underrated Advantage of Short Sprints - Mike Cohn

    This episode of The Daily Standup, featuring Mike Cohn, discusses how short sprints are less about speed and more about creating a rapid feedback cycle. It explores how this approach shortens the gap between assumption and validation, ther…

  • Agile Anti-Patterns That Are Impacting Your Velocity

    This episode discusses agile anti-patterns and their impact on velocity, emphasizing that velocity provides feedback for team improvement. It explores how distorted velocity metrics can prevent learning and hinder progress within agile fra…

  • Sprint Goals DONT Work - Or Do They?

    This episode of The Daily Standup discusses the challenges and complexities of Sprint Goals in Agile. It explores why this seemingly simple concept is often difficult to master and questions their necessity, suggesting there might be a bet…

  • The Moment Everything Changed - A Shoutout To Humanity

    This episode of The Daily Standup describes a rescue at Bondi Beach. A strong rip current endangered swimmers, and one individual, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, repeatedly helped bring people to safety.

  • Why are managers there at all? - The Agile Mindset

    This episode explores the role of managers in agile organizations. It discusses how managers should focus on removing impediments and setting strategic guidelines, rather than controlling daily operations, operational tasks.