Agile Coaches and Coaching is being disrupted—layoffs, organizational and role changes, limited perceived value and impact, and low coach morale are abundantly evident.
To be honest, the agile training industry has done you a disservice in historical agile coaching training and certifications in four primary ways—
They’ve focused far too much on the Professional Coaching competency,
They’ve served up multi-day training classes with the promise of making you an Agile Coach upon completion,
They’ve focused far too much on team coaching skills instead of coaching organizations and systems skills,
They’ve missed key skills like consulting/advising, self-awareness and mastery, leveraging and growing your domain skills, activating your communication, and leading as a role model.
In a word, you’ve been snookered—big time.
The coaching world is paying for this now because far too many under-skilled and mediocre Agile Coaches have damaged our credibility and disillusioned their clients.
But, Bob, that sounds so dire.
I know, and it is. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and it’s not too late for you to do something about it.
Peter Fischbach and I are in the middle of our third Extraordinarily Badass Agile Coaching class. The results so far have been mind-blowing as we see our attendee coaches become stronger, more self-aware, more resilient, and simply put, more Badass in their Agile Coaching skills.
But they don’t leave with a coaching certification. Instead, they have a renewed vision of Agile Coaching and a growing and expanding skill set to step into the arena with their clients.
They also realize that this is ONLY a beginning in their coaching journeys—forming a map for their ongoing growth as a coach.
Peter and I are incredibly proud of the class and its impact on Agile Coaches. These coaches work in real-world contexts and need broad and deep skills to demonstrate their value and impact. The class is changing the Agile Coaching competency landscape—one coach at a time.
Reimagining (Refactoring) Agile Coaching
In this Masterclass, we will have—
More focus on Self-Mastery dynamics and their impact to your overall coaching effectiveness.
More focus on Organizational (Leadership & System) Coaching skill development.
More focus on higher-impact & value Agile Coaching stances—Advising, Transforming, Leading / Modeling, Serving Product.
More focus on effectively communicating (Storytelling, crucial conversations, radical candor) as an Agile Coach.
More focus on the importance and impact of grounding your Agile Coaching on Ethics.
More focus on how to demonstrate, communicate, and confirm the Value you’re creating as an Agile Coach—or how to gain Skin-in-the-Game.
More coaching conversational practice—both within each class and within your learning teams.
No Agile Coaching programs have this sort of pragmatic, consulting-based, and value-driven focus.
But Bob, that doesn’t sound quick and easy. Is it?
Unfortunately, no, it’s not.
If you want quick and easy, then I suggest you consider Scrum Alliance, iCAgile, ScrumInc, and most other Agile Coaching classes and programs. They have 1- and 2-day courses as well as micro-credentials. It’s an easy way to load your resume with credentials and certifications. But IMHO, it won’t make you a better Agile Coach.
Only you can do that with dedication, hard work, deep and well-rounded learning, continuous practice, and engaged mentoring. I realize that it takes time, money, and effort, but the last time I checked, anything worthwhile in life does.
We can promise that the Masterclass will challenge you, stretch you, and make you a much better and more aware Agile Coach. It might even make you a Badass 😉
Big Impact
Register as an individual coach for one of our public classes. The class has been chock-full of diverse and skilled coaches trying to upskill in these trying times. You can find upcoming courses here, and we’ll be announcing the 2nd 2025 Masterclass within the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
Huge Impact
Reach out to us to run an internal Masterclass. We’ve done several of these for entire teams of Agile Coaches, and the results have been phenomenal. You can find more information about their impact here.
Student Reactions
This masterclass profoundly expanded my coaching skills, with a unique focus on self-mastery. At the start we were asked what our goal for the class was and mine was “Demonstrate my value as an Agile Coach and find a structured way to focus my learning” and I achieved that and so much more. Of course, Bob’s dad jokes added a delightful touch, and the lasting friendships I formed with fellow coaches have created a collaborative network for continuous learning and growth. Also, who doesn’t want to add “BadAss Agile Coach” to their resume???
Thank you, Bob and Peter, for a truly enriching experience!
Jeannie Flynn, Agile Coach, Nike Europe
I recently had the pleasure of participating in Bad Ass Agile Master class, and it exceeded my expectations in numerous ways. One of the standout aspects was the diverse range of skills and perspectives brought to the table by fellow coaches. The course attracted individuals from various countries and cultures, which enriched our discussions and broadened my understanding of the subject matter. It was a welcoming environment where I never felt inadequate or out of place, no matter my level of expertise.
This master class was an enriching journey that provided me with new insights, practical skills, and a greater appreciation for the global context of our work.
Dawn Marie Bernhard, Program Scrum Master (PSM) - DigiCare, Cricket Wireless
Facing challenges in meeting client expectations and economic demands, the agile coaching profession now requires greater reflection and the ability to demonstrate real value. This masterclass, led by renowned experts Bob Galen and Peter Fischbach, provides a transformative journey for agile coaches. With a global cohort and a safe, honest environment, you'll explore self-mastery, leadership, the coaching arc, systems coaching, and transformation. Enjoy personalized one-on-one coaching sessions to tackle your specific challenges and enhance your skills. Plus, join a network of top-tier coaches who will support your continuous growth. Are you ready to become a Badass Agile Coach and elevate your impact?
Marco Braun, Agile Coach & Manager, MHP - A Porsche company
Just to add a little bit about ICAgile - all of their ICE types of offerings go way beyond sitting in a classroom and require demonstration of skill acquired. They also have more classroom-theory-based ones, but to me it's important to highlight nuance where it exists.
I highly recommend this Masterclass. You won't find anything that fun, honest, encouraging, and valuable out there.