An agile coach is someone trained in technical or procedural change management who helps to set up agile teams during the early stages of development.
Agile project management, compared to traditional project management, is relatively flexible and iterative. Agile coaches guide the development team during initial implementation and change management phases as they adjust to this type of project management.
While most agile coaches specialize in technical or procedural change management, they are also trained to help with the many different aspects of setting up an agile strategy. Depending on the team and what kind of support they need, agile coaches may also manage the following responsibilities:
In addition to providing teams with knowledge and enthusiasm for managed change, agile coaches also provide the following benefits:
Through the establishment of standardized processes and procedures, as well as assistance with process documentation, agile coaches teach teams how successful agile projects run. These teams can use this knowledge to repeat past project steps and reduce the chance of user error.
Relying on past experiences, agile coaches can provide expert assistance with finding the specific project management tools and resources that best fit a team’s needs.
Agile coaches can also provide assistance with goal-setting for team projects, giving teams more defined goals to follow on how, when, and what they need to manage during different phases of a project.
When searching for an agile coach that fits with your team or organization, be sure to consider the following questions:
How long will this person be needed to implement a sustained agile strategy? While a month or shorter period of time may work, some teams need a longer period of sustained help from an agile coach.
Does the agile coach understand your industry, or have they worked with other clients using a similar business model? You can also consider training someone on your team to lead the process internally rather than search for someone who understands the complexities of your industry.
How much familiarity does your team already have with agile strategy? Depending on how much your team knows about agile methodologies, an agile coach can start with more complex issues further into the agile implementation process.
Is your prospective coach certified or trained in agile project management? It is important to determine whether or not agile coach candidates are qualified to work with your team on any form of change management before signing a contract.
How well do your prospective coach’s personality and approach fit with your current and future goals for company culture? A poor culture fit can lead to delayed implementation or resistance to change.
Finding the right agile coach for your organization can be difficult. While you can find them on LinkedIn or Dice, many organizations turn to certification sites, like the Scrum Alliance, where you can search and filter through pools of certified coaching candidates.
However, if you still can’t find the right coach or would rather fill the role internally, you can follow the following steps to train or become an agile coach:
1. Find agile learning opportunities: There are many online courses and articles that cover the basics of Scrum, Kanban, and other agile methodologies.
2. Get certified: Some of the top certifications in agile coaching include Scrum Alliance Certified Enterprise Coach, Scrum Alliance Certified Team Coach, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and SAFe Program Consultant (SPC).
3. Build Connections: You can learn a lot about what an agile coach does by talking to those already working in the field.
4. Gain Experience: Smaller-scale projects are the best way to test your knowledge and develop new skills before working toward larger goals and projects.
Read next: Best Agile Project Management Tools