Sprint Planning is a frequent, important part of the rhythm of many agile teams. And yet, we find that many coaches and Scrum Masters struggle to make the meeting relevant, valuable, and creative. We will work through a simple, relatable simulation that we use to teach effective planning to teams and facilitators that brings energy, creativity, and problem-solving to the Sprint Planning experience. 

When we have our most successful coaching moments, they often come from a deep groove: where we seem to anticipate the team's needs; know when the breakthroughs are coming; know how to dance between mentoring the team and letting them innovate (or struggle) on their own. But, it rarely starts that way. Coaching new teams can be awkward -- and especially so if you're new to coaching. I will show you some ways of approaching these coaching engagements that can break down the awkwardness, reveal things about the team, and get on a track of improvement and discovery.

I will share some attitudes I think can benefit coaches who find these situations awkward, as well as practical tools and tips you can exercise tomorrow to get teams talking and making progress. We will also engage as small groups, for further practice on these tools and to create space for coaching one-another.