Top 11 benefits when you hire 
an Agile coach 

It is not uncommon for companies to question why a coach is needed. After all one could hire more development resources instead or another Scrum Master or Agile PM with the hope that they somehow also know how to coach. My response is besides listing the benefits below always the same:

What do you do when you have a printer that does not print fast enough? Do you shove more paper in the feeder with the hope that it prints faster? That is similar to trying to pile up more resources like developers who only get frustrated with the limited support they have instead of changing things up. Best advice we all agree on I think: Buy a different printer! Or in case of an organization hire a coach to transform and optimize process!

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1. TRAINING and TEACHING EXPERIENCE. A coach is experienced and skilled. We design and customize workshops and classes and have corporate training and in my case even academic teaching experience. Typically Agile PMs or Scrum Masters cannot just design and teach classes.

2. LEADERSHIP SKILLS. A coach is an experienced leader on an executive level who helps transform an organization from the top down.

3. APPLIED KNOWLEDGE. A coach has advanced certifications but more importantly applied knowledge (and not just Agile) to recommend the right thing to do with personnel and management-related issues as part of transformation or building of new teams.

4. EMBEDDED COACHING EXPERIENCE. A coach is experienced in training and coaching Agile teams and stays on board aka embedded through process. This is also a big advantage over hiring just a Trainer to certify members for a higher price.

5. BROAD EXPERT KNOWLEDGE. A coach is a proven expert on all issues pertaining to Agile methodologies like Scum, Kanban, and XP who can help undo bad habits.

6. FRESH PERSPECTIVE and BEST INTENTIONS. A coach has a fresh perspective as an external consultant with the right attitude. Your company's success as the goal! It is difficult for Agile PMs or Scrum masters to be in that spot as they are part of the teams.

7. COACHING SKILLS. A coach has outstanding coaching skills which is separate from just teaching and optimizing teams as a coach transforms and empowers. A good coach has coaching talent (you can't learn this in school!) and a "coach mindset".

8. PLAN with SPECIFIC GOALS incl. GUARANTEED VELOCITY INCREASE. A coach can guarantee that he or she can help increase the teams' velocity 10% on average per Sprint from the start of the coaching. I am usually creating a realistic plan with specific goals after an organizational assessment.

9. $$$. MILLIONS in SAVINGS through OPTIMIZATION! A coach can help you save millions of dollars as process and Agile projects and possibly PMO are being optimized (please read my case studies on LINKEDIN to see proof).

10. LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP. A coach establishes a long-standing partnership with your organization. A coach does never leave you even after the projects end and can help out when you need to fine-tune existing teams or train up new ones as a consulting coach. Employees and Agile PMs or Scrum Masters move on.

11. BIG BONUS POINT: ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY BACKGROUND. There is no point in a one-size fits all approach which is why certifications and training in a group make little sense and have less value than embedded coaching. But most importantly, a coach needs to be able to assess and test the organization before prescribing a transformation plan. Otherwise the risk of not applying the right tools is too high and coaching becomes random.

Still wondering why a coach is important and the budget spent is one of the best investments you ever made as an executive as you see the immediate ROI? I don't think so but I might be wrong and will be happy to discuss your specific needs in your team or teams. One thing I can assure you is that I am going the extra length to ensure that I provide all 11 points in the coaching that my company provides. We at Agile Media Consulting look forward to hearing from you.

Worst use of a coach: quick fixes, just training, train Junior PMs or BAs to take over role which never works, etc.

Any questions or ready for your company's assessment? Contact us to get on the road to Agile success today.

Best,

Patricia Anglano
Agile Coach & Agile Blogger
President/Founder Agile Media Consulting LLC