At the heart of every successful scrum team stands the Scrum Master, a pivotal role responsible for guiding the team towards efficient collaboration, continuous improvement, and ultimately, delivering value. Think of them like the conductor and your project as the symphony.

Working remotely comes with its own set of unique challenges. While I’ve always been a big fan of the work from home lifestyle and have been doing so in some capacity since 2010, I also understand that it can take a little bit to get used to.

Holding yourself accountable can be incredibly challenging. Whether you’re working from home, overwhelmed with a long to-do list, stuck in freeze mode, or facing a task you’re unsure how to start, it’s easy to get sidetracked. But what does it really mean to be accountable? According to the dictionary, it’s being "required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible." But sometimes, we need a little help with justifying our actions and holding ourselves responsible to get things done.

Last Thursday marked the culmination of an intense five-month period for me. I had just wrapped up three major projects, all on the same day. The following morning, I enjoyed breakfast with a friend and then set out on a solo trip, an activity that I cherish deeply. There's something liberating about hitting the road alone, where you can stop wherever you want and take your time without worrying about anyone else's schedule.

If you know me, you know I love relating ideas about Agile and Scrum Project Management to real world scenarios. Recently I signed up for a raw portrait session with Elle Photography as part of The Body Project.

Effective project management is not just about following a process or using tools and technology. It is also about building a strong team that can work together towards a common goal.  

People-centric project management is a holistic approach that prioritizes the well-being, communication, and collaboration of team members. In short, it puts people first.  

What is PMI-ACP? The world’s largest non-profit membership association for the profession of project management Project Management Institute (PMI) offers an Agile Certified Practitioner certification called the PMI-ACP

Think of Agile Meetings as tools. Tools you can utilize to achieve a particular goal. If you need to place a nail in the wall, you grab a hammer and start pounding. Yes, you could use a screwdriver, but you’re going to nick up the wall (or maybe a hand).

What is a roadmap? I like the word… roadmap. Road. Map. When you think of a map, what do you see? There are details. But not ALL of the details. A map simply includes the features that specifically will help you in knowing you’re going in the right direction.

You took the course, sat for the exam, and passed! But once you’re Scrum Master or Product Owner certified, the journey doesn’t end there. What do you need to know to maintain your certification?

Scrum Master: What is it? Growing in popularity since its inception in 1986 when Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi first introduced the term in their Harvard Business Review article, Scrum is an agile project management framework that helps organizations and companies manage projects, raise team accountability, and lower project costs.

Are you thinking about becoming a certified Scrum Master?In terms of the scrum team, a scrum master acts as the coach and the team’s culture cheerleader. They help their team stay organized and work together more effectively.

Hey Agile friends! Can I let you in on a little secret? … You’re going to do GREAT on your SCRUMstudy Scrum Master (SMC®) or Product Owner (SPOC®) Certified exam. That’s right. You are! How do I know this? Because you have what you need to pass. All the information is right there!

Tests are nerve-wracking. There…I said it. Especially if you’ve been out of school, and the whole “test-taking game” for a while. But there’s a pretty simple road to success when it comes to your SMC® or SPOC® exam. Let’s chat about it, shall we?