Scaffolding in your Agile Coaching
I asked Taz Brown to share her definition of scaffolding and its meaning in her Agile Coaching. Not surprisingly, she provided an incredibly nuanced answer that I’d like to share—
What Is Scaffolding in Agile Coaching?
Scaffolding is temporary, intentional support that helps individuals, teams, and organizations grow their Agile capability and confidence. It creates a safe structure for learning, experimentation, and eventual self-sufficiency.
Scaffolding Is:
Temporary structures: Working agreements, visual boards, ceremonies.
Guided learning: Facilitation, mentoring, pairing, modeling.
Psychological support: Holding space for reflection, feedback, and discomfort.
Developmental: Fades out as maturity grows—support without dependency.
Scaffolding Is Not:
A permanent solution or rigid process.
Doing for others what they could learn to do.
Framework dumping (e.g., “installing SAFe” without co-creation).
A way to avoid discomfort or tough conversations.
Key Qualities:
Purposeful
Co-created
Adaptable
Transparent
Designed to be removed
Coaching Prompt:
“What am I holding that this team could learn to hold for themselves—and how will I help them take it on?
I thought Taz’s reply was outstanding. The only thing I would add is the sense of intentionality. That is, coaches should be intentional about the scaffolding needs of each client from the beginning of their coaching agreements.
If it were a curve, it would be lightly built in the beginning. Then, as the client’s agenda emerged, more scaffolding would be built. Over time, the coaching would start tearing down the scaffolding as the client’s agenda became fulfilled and the relationship closed.
Why is intentional scaffolding necessary?
As an Agile Coach, I think every client we coach needs some scaffolding at the beginning of our coaching journey. Three things define it—
Their agenda
Our agenda
Our stakeholder’s agenda
We merge for directional awareness, but it’s equally important to begin breaking down the scaffolding as soon as possible.
Thank you, Taz!
Stay agile and scaffolding-aware, my friends.
Bob.