According to the 2016 State of Agile Survey the #3 cause of agile project failure is “Lack of management support” at 38%. To compound the matter, the #5 cause of prevention of further agile adoption is “Management support” at 29%. In contrast, the #2 reason for success in scaling agile is “Executive sponsorship” at 40%.

Clearly the executives and C-suite are a key part of a successful agile transformation. As an agile coach or transformation agent it is imperative that you work with the C-suite so that your org can successfully adopt agile.

Learn about the different types of C-suite executives through the use of personas. We will cover 6 persona types in detail.

Target audience = Agile Coach, Facilitator, Product Owner

Mechanics =

• 3 min – Set the stage and describe the common problem of how to coach to executives. Includes summarization of Scrum Coach Retreat and how they can be useful in producing actual output like this presentation.
• 3 min – Overview the 6 executive persona types
• 5 min – Describe persona 1, “Risk Adverse” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Describe persona 2, “Disenaged” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Describe persona 3, “Results Driven” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Describe persona 4, “Metrics Driven” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Describe persona 5, “Dictator” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Describe persona 6, “Executive Change Agent” executive and the following information: traits, tells, how to relate, and tools/games/resources to be applied
• 5 min – Provide general resources and tools and games applicable to executives and summarize the persona types and how coaching at the executive level is just plain different
• Fill remaining timebox with Q&A

Learning outcomes =

The value of Scrum Coach Retreats and how agile coaching teams can solve hard agile problems together. How attendance and participation at conferences can lead to distribution of ideas and information. The concept of coaching at the executive level and how it is different. The 6 common executive persona types and associated information, including:

• Traits
• Tells
• How to relate to them
• Tools, games, and resources that can be applied
• An extensive resource list of tools that can be used

Slides https://goo.gl/m49b62

Presentation history of this session:

• Scrum Coaching Retreat Raleigh 2014
• LAST Canberra 2017

Alex's conference and presentation history:

• Agile Open Northwest 2012 - Session Leader
• Übermind ÜnConference 2012 - Session Leader
• MobileUXCamp Seattle 2012 - Session Leader
• Seattle Kaizen Camp 2012 - Session Leader
• MAQCon 2012 - Cofounder
• MobileUXCamp Seattle 2013 - Session Leader
• Seattle Kaizen Camp 2013 - Session Leader
• MobileUXCamp Seattle 2014 - Session Leader
• Seattle Kaizen Camp 2014 - Session Leader
• Construx Software Executive Summit 2014 – Workshop Facilitator
• Shell Developers Summit 2015 - Keynote Speaker
• Scrum Coaching Retreat Seattle 2015 - Volunteer Team
• Un:Conference Canberra 2016 - Session Leader
• Agile2016 - Volunteer Team
• UX Australia 2016 - Speaker, Reviewer
• Agile Coach Camp Sydney 2016 - Session Leader
• Agile Tour Sydney 2016 – Workshop Facilitator
• StartCon 2016 - Pitch Competitor
• Global Scrum Gathering San Diego 2017 - Reviewer
• Agile Australia 2017 - Reviewer
• JAFAC 2017 - Session Leader
• Global Scrum Gathering Singapore 2017 – Speaker
• LAST Melbourne 2017 – Speaker, Workshop Facilitator
• LAST Sydney 2017 - Workshop Facilitator
• Regional Scrum Gathering India 2017 – Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Coaches’ Clinic Coach
• LAST Canberra 2017 – Organizer, Speaker
• Agile NZ 2017 – Workshop Facilitator
• Regional Scrum Gathering Australia 2017 – Workshop Facilitator
• Regional Scrum Gathering South Africa 2017 – Workshop Facilitator
• Business Enterprise Agility Conference 2017 – Workshop Facilitator
• Business Agility 2018 – Nominated Facilitator

References to Your Speaking Ability

• Jeremie Benazra - jeremie.benazra@gmail.com
• Simon Bennett - simon@lasting-benefits.com
• Steve McConnell - steve.mcconnell@construx.com
• Damian Troselj - damian.troselj@gmail.com