Enterprise Agile Coaching: Sustaining Organizational Change Through Invitational Agile Coaching

by Cherie Silas, Michael de la Maza, Alex Kudinov

When an Agile coach leaves an organization, the changes developed during their tenure should not roll backward. Compliance is somewhat easy to install and takes hold rather quickly. The challenge with that approach is that when the forcing mechanism (Agile coach) is removed, much of the compliance rolls back to the original position. Sustainable change requires a different strategy. This book introduces the concept of utilizing an Invitational Approach to Enterprise Agile Coaching which can be a crucial catalyst for integrating sustainable change by putting the client in the seat of responsibility.

Genres: Nonfiction

475 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2021

Reviews

[Tadimeti Keshav · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard about Cherie Silas when I watched her video series on Agile Coaching on LearnUpon. I read this book with great anticipation.
These are the areas this book covers well:
a. Coaching mindset
b. Coaching agreements
c. Definition of Gone
d. Lessons from the trenches - identifying opportunities, selling your brand, dodging being setup for blame.
e. Engagement approaches
f. Knowing when to leave

Here are the areas where the book fell short:
a. Coaching in action. The chapter on well-formed outcomes using the PRO technique is good. I did not understand if it complemented or offered an alternative to the use of tools (Impact Mapping described earlier).
b. We use a combination of tools such as Value proposition canvas, empathy canvas, impact Mapping, VSM & OKRs at work. I was left wanting for more on the chapter describing the Impact mapping to arrive at outcomes. Points 'a' and 'b' form the crux of coaching, and were covered in just 2 chapters.
c. How should coaches handle teaching, mentoring, facilitating and coaching? Are clients coachable in all circumstances?
d. The print edition felt rushed to the press - some had sections with highlights to add more content. Formatting, bulleting and fonts were not consistent. Occasional spelling errors. You might want to wait for a 2nd edition.
e. I would like to see how ICF competencies may be used to coach in an enterprise.
f. A URL to their MIRO board would be great. Especially since pictures in the chapter on Impact Mapping were hard to read.

This is a welcome addition to the literature on Agile Coaching. The authors make the daunting scope of Enterprise coaching abundantly clear.

[YJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow a treasure trove of information. Alot of how to across the board for an agile coach. Even though it says enterprise agile coaching in the title. I would recommend it for scrum masters and agile coaches who may not consider themselves as entreprise Agile coaches. It gives a much wider lens on how to approach things. Some concept are pretty advanced so take a few read and combination of other knowledge to fully understand it.
I highly recommend it.

[Aleksandar Drenovac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the great companion for all Agile/Lean Coaches. It has been very useful for me while dealing with Enterprise Agility or just initiating first steps in Agile Transition. Working internally, or as an external Agile Coach/Consultant, I was coming back many times to certain chapters and transfered good practices into a real work environment - with great results and feedack. Highly recommended, very practical and inspiring.

[Elizabeth Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Agile Coach must read this!