Collaborwocky Ep010 - Agile Retrospectives 2nd Ed. with Diana Larsen

In this episode of the Collaborwocky podcast, author Diana Larsen (web, linkedin, mastodon) joins Dave Prior, Tonianne DeMaria, Jim Benson, and Mark Kilby chat about the new edition of "Agile Retrospectives." In addition, the conversation delved into the updates, challenges, and differences in the latest edition, as well as insights from her book "Lead Without Blame" and her experiences facilitating leader circles.

Key takeaways from the podcast include:

• The second edition of "Agile Retrospectives" offers a wealth of new content, addressing modern challenges and evolving team dynamics.
• Adhering to the five stages of retrospectives is crucial for effective learning, analysis, and decision-making.
• Remote collaboration presents unique challenges but also opportunities for adapting retrospective practices.
• Diana Larsen's leader circles provide a valuable forum for leaders to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and collectively explore solutions.

One of the most notable changes in the new edition is the sheer volume of content. As Diana humorously points out, the book is nearly twice as thick as the original, reflecting the wealth of new material and insights gained over the years.

While the first edition was written in a time when the role of Scrum Masters and the importance of effective meetings were not yet fully recognized, the second edition addresses the evolving needs and challenges faced by teams in the modern era.

Diana emphasized the importance of the five stages of retrospectives:

• setting the stage,
• gathering data,
• generating insights,
• deciding what to do, and
• closing the retrospective

While some teams may be tempted to skip certain stages, she cautioned that doing so could undermine the effectiveness of the retrospective process.

Each stage serves a crucial purpose, from aligning the team's focus to fostering shared understanding and facilitating decision-making.

The podcast also explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the writing process. Unlike her previous collaborations, where she could pair-write with her co-authors in person for extended periods, the pandemic necessitated remote collaboration. Larsen acknowledged the challenges of maintaining continuity and momentum when working in shorter bursts over longer intervals.

One of the significant additions to the new edition is a dedicated chapter on remote and hybrid retrospectives. Larsen highlighted the differences between in-person, remote, and hybrid (which she advises against) retrospectives, emphasizing the need to adapt facilitation techniques and outcomes based on the context.

Beyond "Agile Retrospectives," the conversation touched on Larsen's book "Lead Without Blame" and her experiences facilitating leader circles. These circles, which often follow a keynote presentation, provide a powerful opportunity for leaders to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and collectively explore actions to address their challenges.

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