Brian Milner
SVP Agile Training & Coaching
Dallas, Texas, United States
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Brian works with Mike Cohn at Mountain Goat Software as the SVP of Agile Training & Coaching. He is the host of the popular Agile Mentors Podcast where he interviews Agile leaders each week. Brian has spoken in the past at Scrum Gatherings in Austin, Denver, and Vienna as well as with Mike at Agile 2023. He has been in the software development industry now for over 25 years and has spent over half that working with Scrum teams. Beginning as a developer, Brian has been a Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Agile Coach. He is a Certified Scrum Trainer with the Scrum Alliance as well as a Path to CSP Educator, CAL Educator, and TBR Trainer. Brian lives in Dallas, TX with his Wife, Mother-In-Law, and two teenage daughters.
Area of Expertise
Topics
Evolving the Scrum Master: Adapting to Today's Challenges
In today's fast-paced economy, the Scrum Master role stands at a crucial juncture: evolve to become invaluable or face obsolescence. This role, often misunderstood and undervalued, finds itself at a crossroads as many organizations fail to recognize its true potential, often relegating it to the sidelines or merging it with other roles. Are today’s Scrum Masters defined more by their focus on processes and tools rather than on individuals and interactions?
Recognizing that no two teams are identical, effective Scrum Masters tailor their approach to the unique interpersonal dynamics of their teams. They prioritize understanding each individual and how their collaborative efforts contribute to success, going beyond the basic principles of Scrum to cultivate effective communication and collaboration.
In this session, we introduce a new paradigm for the Scrum Master, designed for the challenges of today's world. We'll delve into why emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and psychological safety are not just beneficial but essential tools for Scrum Masters. This talk is a call to action for Agile practitioners to transform the Scrum Master role and reignite this essential team role, highlighting the importance of human-centric strategies and strong interpersonal skills in team dynamics.
Our goal is a bold reimagining of the Scrum Master role: shifting from just overseeing processes to acting as a team guide and counselor, proficient in both the Scrum framework and the subtleties of team dynamics. Participants will leave with a refreshed outlook and an enhanced toolkit, equipped to lead agile teams with empathy, resilience, and deeper insight.
Embracing Neurodiversity: A Blueprint for Inclusive Teams
Did you know that one study estimates that 15-20% of the global population is neurodivergent? This intriguing demographic includes young Autistic adults, who are passionately pursuing computer science degrees at nearly triple the rate of the general public. Chances are, you're already collaborating with neurodivergent colleagues and may not even know it.
But are we building work environments and processes that potentially exclude this group? In this session, we'll tackle these essential questions: What is neurodiversity, and why should it matter to you? How can you update your work environment to accommodate neurodivergent individuals, supercharging your team's productivity and innovation? We’ll explore the success that major companies such as HP, Microsoft, and JP Morgan Chase have had with their programs to become more inclusive of this group and how it has driven gains in productivity and innovation.
Join us as we unveil the often invisible but invaluable minority within our ranks. Together, we'll explore the profound impact of neurodiversity on our teams. We'll also provide you with practical tools to transform your teams into a welcoming environment for everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock hidden potential, drive innovation, and lead your teams to unprecedented success.
Conflict Competent Teams: Navigating Teams Through Turbulent Times
Conflict in teams can be like a sudden storm - unpredictable, unavoidable, but ultimately necessary for growth. If we are unprepared, we might find ourselves caught in its destructive wake. But with the right tools, it's possible to turn them into constructive opportunities for growth.
In this session, we will explore conflict's multifaceted nature. We'll learn to recognize when conflict escalates and becomes destructive. We'll also explore proactive strategies that can prevent these destructive conflicts before they begin.
I'll introduce you to a practical 8-stage framework, adapted from scientific research, specifically designed to guide Agile teams through conflict. The framework empowers your team with the tools needed for overcoming conflict and building team resilience.
You will leave with a renewed perspective and a comprehensive toolkit, ready to cultivate not just a conflict-resilient team but a conflict-competent one. Transform the way your team encounters and navigates the storms of conflict, turning turbulent times into periods of growth and innovation.
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