We are a team of coaches, scrum masters, trainers and consultants working for a technical and agile consultancy Merapar. Our skills and experience range from working with Scrum Teams and helping organisations transform and evolve primarily in the media and broadcast sector but our experience ranges from small start-ups to large financial organisations and everything in-between.
Contributors: Kelvin Omonfomah, Andy Spence & Alex Crosby
Other team members: Ladan Sheik, Gavin Chapman
Watch a video where Mark Interviews Andy and Alex about how they have used the wheel to navigate career growth
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Navigating Career Growth with the Agile Coaching Growth Wheel (ACGW)
In this article, we introduce a powerful tool that is set to revolutionise your journey in the world of Agile – the Agile Coaching Growth Wheel (ACGW).
This toolkit proves advantageous not only for Agile Coaches but also for individuals aiming to enhance their emotional intelligence and explore techniques for fostering greater collaboration, irrespective of their field.
What is the Agile Coaching Growth Wheel?
The Agile Coaching Growth Wheel (ACGW) is a specialised tool crafted by industry experts to foster the professional development of individuals in Agile coaching. This includes – but not limited to – Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Leaders, Project Managers, and Developers. This tool empowers practitioners to unlock interpersonal skills and techniques essential for advancing in their roles. The ACGW is designed to support sustainable value delivery by identifying the skills needed to successfully coach teams and organisations in Agile.
The ACGW serves as a roadmap for individuals aspiring to become innovative and competent professionals, offering an incremental and structured approach to skill development and career progression. The wheel is divided into key areas of expertise, providing a holistic view of the skills required for success in the Agile landscape.
“By following the wheel, I’ve been able to attain better clarity on the path to progress with my personal growth and gained a deeper understanding of Agile coaching techniques. To me the key benefit of the ACGW is the focus it places on continuous improvement and iterative learning.” – Kelvin Omonfomah (Scrum Master)
House Rules for Success
The ACGW is a tool that is best used in collaboration with a coach/colleague and is NOT designed to be used in isolation. Whilst you may run through this on your own to start, it is important to work through this with other colleagues.
Here are a few house rules to maximise the benefits:
- Collaboration: Engage with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and roles to gain a broader perspective on Agile practices.
- Continuous Feedback: Regularly seek and provide feedback within the team. Constructive criticism is a crucial element of personal and collective growth.
- Iterative Learning: Treat each step on the wheel as an opportunity for iterative learning. Embrace the journey, and remember that growth is a continuous process.
How I Used This: Walkthrough by Andy Spence
I found this template very useful for helping to identify possible weak spots in my capability.
1. I assessed each of the criteria under each skill level (Beginner, Advanced Beginner etc etc)
2. I used 3 different coloured stickies to help build a quick visual reference for areas that need attention.
3. I used a green sticky where I met all the criteria. I used an orange sticky where I only met some of the criteria and I used a red sticky where I met none of the criteria.
4. Where I was unsure of any of those criteria, I made a note of it as a potential weakness and pasted it into an “orange” sticky. EG. Under Self-Mastery, within Emotional Intelligence: I noticed in Advanced Beginner that one of the criteria was “Understand common systems that exist in organisational structures” was something that I needed to work on at that level. So I placed that item into an orange sticky under that skill level.
5. Once I completed this I had a solid visual indicator of where I wanted to focus my personal improvement efforts. I found this especially useful in spotting some basics I was perhaps missing in the more foundational areas of the wheel.
6. I then ran through my findings with my team members to validate the findings and we created small cohorts for improvements on common areas among us.
“By investing time, being humble in the findings and willing to collaborate with peers I have found using the wheel in this way has unlocked huge power in the wheel and it’s purpose for greater self and team mastery. We have managed to open up outcome based career pathway improvement and unlocked a tool that can not only help us as Scrum Masters and coaches but provide something we can offer our colleagues who want to grow in their improvement of softer skills.” – Andy Spence (Director of Agility & Transformation at Merapar)
Benefits of ACGW: A Career Path for All
The ACGW is not exclusive to Agile professionals. It serves as a versatile career path that can be applied company-wide, allowing individuals from various backgrounds to explore and excel in Agile coaching.
Explore the ACGW Now!
To get started on your Agile career journey and unlock the full potential of the ACGW, follow this link to the template. This invaluable resource will not only guide you but also empower you to make informed decisions about your professional development within the Agile landscape.