Joanna Koprowicz Archives - Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

Joanna Koprowicz on how direct and indirect communication styles can blow up in a team

Have you ever heard an “indirect” communicator say that they disagree? Would you even know the difference between a “No” and a “Yes” from an indirect communicator? If you are in a country where “indirect” is the communication approach, but you grew up in a “direct” country, you are likely to miss much of the conversation. In this episode we talk about such a situation, where Joanna had to learn about direct/indirect communication approaches the hard way: by failing.

About Joanna Koprowicz

Joanna is an Agile Enthusiast with a burning passion to help organizations work smart not hard. She is one of the co-organizers of Agile-Lean Ireland Community. Currently she works as a ScrumMaster in Dublin.

You can link with Joanna Koprowicz on LinkedIn and connect with Joanna Koprowicz on Twitter.

Joanna Koprowicz on self-organization as the barometer of Scrum Master success

Scrum Masters look at different aspects of team’s development. In this episode we talk about the team’s willingness and ability to self-organize and take over some of the ceremonies.

We also discuss the different phases that teams go through, and look at the Tuckman Model of team development as an inspiration to understand the development of a team.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: The Ice Breaker challenge

Instead of focusing on one single format, Joanna inspires us to look at the “ice breaker” exercises we use and seek new ones. After listening to this episode, I’m sure you will want to try several different ice breakers for your next retrospectives!

About Joanna Koprowicz

You can link with Joanna Koprowicz on LinkedIn and connect with Joanna Koprowicz on Twitter.

Joanna Koprowicz 4 steps to help drive data-substantiated change

One of the aspects of change is the processing of information. As Scrum Masters we can help the teams, and organizations we work with process information better, and visualize that in the context of the shared goals. In this episode we talk about how to use the available data to foster a positive dialog, and trigger change in our organizations.

About Joanna Koprowicz

You can link with Joanna Koprowicz on LinkedIn and connect with Joanna Koprowicz on Twitter.

Joanna Koprowicz and the subversive role that Scrum Masters play

Scrum Masters are there to help teams progress. But sometimes teams are the reason, and the reasons why everything must remain the same. However, we as Scrum Masters are there to bring a different perspective. A new way of looking at things. In this episode we discuss one such story, and learn about Joanna’s approach when she was being told: “we can’t change it because that’s how it has always been”…

Featured Book of the Week: Turn the Ship Around! By David Marquet

The book Turn the Ship Around! By David Marquet has been the focus of a BONUS episode here on the podcast. For Joanna, this was a book that helped her understand a new kind of leadership, and what are the factors that remove independent action, and motivation from the people in organizations that are managed with traditional leadership approaches.

About Joanna Koprowicz

You can link with Joanna Koprowicz on LinkedIn and connect with Joanna Koprowicz on Twitter.

Joanna Koprowicz on the pressures teams suffer and how a Scrum Master can help

When the deadlines approach, there’s a lot of pressure on the teams. It’s understandable that there is pressure, but why does that happen when the software the team produces often waits for weeks before being put in production or released?

What is a Scrum Master to do in these situations? Listen in while we discuss the pressures teams suffer, and what are the alternatives we have to help organizations and teams through that easy temptation to pile on more pressure

About Joanna Koprowicz

You can link with Joanna Koprowicz on LinkedIn and connect with Joanna Koprowicz on Twitter.