This year’s (and my first) Keep Austin Agile conference was an eclectic mix of Agile practitioners, thought leaders, and enthusiasts who gathered (including many more via Zoom!) to dive deep into the ever-evolving world of Agile. From the thoughtful keynote address to interactive workshops and panel discussions, the conference offered ample opportunities for learning and skill development.
Regrettably, I arrived on site too late to snag coffee before Agile Austin’s president, Max Ekesi, welcomed all the attendees. Even without my morning caffeine boost I was nevertheless jolted awake by hearing my name chosen by the Wheel of Names for some free gifts!
After Max enthusiastically welcomed the attendees, Bob Galen’s inspirational keynote set the stage for the day, emphasizing this year’s theme of “Agile Growth Mindset.” Bob spoke on how to become and remain resilient by combining a mindset centered around openness, empathy, and being adaptive with a passion for continuous growth through patience, positivity, and professionalism. Thanks, Bob, for an excellent start and I look forward to reading my signed copy of Extraordinarily Badass Agile Coaching!
The day’s sessions spanned a wide spectrum, catering to both seasoned practitioners and new leaders eager to refine their skills. The first session I attended was with Lyn Barrett and Tonya Guadiz for “Leading with Agility: Unleash Your Inner Leader Without the C-Suite Swagger.” They offered a fresh take on leadership centered around humility, empowerment, and collaboration with others, regardless of your title. This surely helped to renew my sense of agency and influence as an Agile coach and servant leader even though I’m not in the C-Suite … yet.
My next event was an introduction to systems thinking titled “Traveler, there is no path. We make the road by walking.” Dhaval Panchal broke down how often the entrenched structural challenges to installing Agile are hidden, however we can glean hints of those challenges through ongoing patterns and behavior. Likewise, daily events function as empirical facts of the matter, further focusing on the real underlying challenges.
After lunch Ximena Blake, Jim Martin, and Shelby Mayi spoke about why weaponizing team metrics is never the correct choice, but rather through team collaboration, a clear vision, and maximizing value to the client we can harness the power of metrics for the greater good of our customers and our teammates. In “Cultivating Excellence: Harmonizing Metrics for Positive Team Dynamics” the speakers emphasized the importance of regular team health checks, which I already utilize, but now find even more valuable.
The last presentation I attended was ”Return of the Trust Fall: Overcome the Dark Forces of Fear and Uncertainty for Courageous Risk-Taking” with Neeley Neal. After a busy day, Neeley brought a welcome energy boost which reinvigorated her audience. She bravely shared personal stories about overcoming her own fears and uncertainties and embracing the unknown to grow. This idea of shifting your outlook to see obstacles as opportunities for growth and innovation rather than insurmountable barriers speaks to the heart of an Agile mindset. Later during the session, we even formed small groups and faced our fears with some real trust falls!
I am grateful to have attended this celebration of Agile in person. Being surrounded by like-minded people with a shared enthusiasm for continuous improvement and lifelong learning was a welcome opportunity. Shout-out to WellSky for reimbursing their teammates’ registration fees to this year’s conference and I look forward to next year’s opportunity to Keep Austin Agile.
