"You want another idea?"
"Well, what if no one is available? I happen to know that no one is available right now. So, today, you can’t pair with anyone. You would have had to ask yesterday to pair today. So, you need another option—maybe even two."
"Well, I could do test-driven development. That way, I would know that my code would pass the tests.”
“I like that one!”
“I thought you would. Hmm, Maybe I could stop taking stories alone. I thought I had to, since I was leaving early, but maybe I don't."
"I don’t think you have to take stories alone either. Even if you leave early, your other teammates can continue to work together when you're gone. So, now you have three great options: pairing, test-first development, and swarming. Or—a fourth option—you could wait until Monday to finish, when your brain is less focused on getting out of the office! What are you going to do today?"
"Uh," Jimmy says. "Not check anything in until I have worked with someone else?"
"Great idea!" Lauren says. "Thanks!"
This feedback scenario took fewer than five minutes. It didn’t go on anyone's HR record. It’s not a management issue. And, we bet that in two or three months, no one will remember it. That's because the team managed it.
About the author
Lisamarie Babik is a practice leader in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is an oft sought-after speaker for conferences and professional organizations who, if you let her, will talk your ear off about interpersonal communication, team dynamics, and the burgeoning world of "agile project management." You can contact her at lisamarie.babik@gmail.com.
About the author
Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” helps organizational leaders see problems and risks in their product development. She helps them recognize potential “gotchas,” seize opportunities, and remove impediments. Johanna was the Agile 2009 conference chair. She is the technical editor for Agile Connection and the author of these books:
- Manage Your Job Search
- Hiring Geeks That Fit
- Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects
- The 2008 Jolt Productivity award-winning Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management
- Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management
- Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets and Science of Hiring Technical People
Johanna is working on a book about agile program management. She writes columns for Stickyminds.com and projectmanagementcom and blogs on her website, jrothman.com, as well on createadaptablelife.com.
