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On this week\u2019s \u2018solocast\u2019 of the Agile Coaches\u2019 Corner, Dan Neumann wants to talk a little bit about words and phrases! If you had a magic wand and could change any word or phrase in relation to Scrum and agility, what would it be?

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In this episode, Dan shares the four words and phrases that he would change for all Scrum teams \u2014 and, if it were possible, why he would like to see them go away, altogether!

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Key Takeaways

Resources vs. People

Don\u2019t confuse the people on your team with resources

If you mean \u2018people,\u2019 say \u2018people\u2019; don\u2019t say \u2018resources\u2019

You consume resources (i.e. time is a resource that you can use to achieve goals)

Commitment vs. Forecast

Commitments are something you keep, come hell or high water

When we\u2019re dealing with a lot of uncertainty, a more appropriate term to use would be \u2018forecast\u2019 rather than a commitment

When you\u2019re dealing with your Scrum teams, make sure that \u2018commit\u2019 is a term that is held back; think more in terms of forecasts (and especially forecasts with a probability of when you will be able to deliver, such as: \u2018We forecast with 90% confidence\u2019)

Grooming vs. Refining

Grooming is something you do to a dog; a more appropriate term for what you want to do to your product backlog in the Scrum world would be to \u2018refine\u2019 it

Think of \u2018refining\u2019 as the removal of things that are impure or low value

\u201cYour product backlog [is] not a dog; don\u2019t groom it!\u201d

Deadlines vs. Goals & Targets

Deadlines traditionally refer to drawing a line in the sand (and if you cross said line, you\u2019re dead) \u2014 which isn\u2019t a very motivating term nowadays!

More appropriate terms would be: goals and targets

\u201cWe have a target of releasing the new product on January 1st.\u201d

With targets, you can introduce the concept of a \u2018cost of delay,\u2019 when you miss a target date

Having goals and targets with specific dates coupled with a \u2018cost of delay\u2019 will allow you to make much more informed decisions about how to prioritize work

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Mentioned in this Episode:

Top 30 Agile Leadership Podcasts To Follow in 2020

Agile Coaches\u2019 Corner Bonus Podcast: \u201cHow to Make AI Work in Your Enterprise with Dr. Jerry Smith\u201d

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