Practical writing on Scrum, Agile leadership, and ending "process theater" from Michael Vizdos, a Certified Scrum Trainer since 2006.https://www.michaelvizdos.comhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/focus-deliver-newsletter-summaryhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/focus-deliver-newsletter-summaryAn index of Michael Vizdos's weekly 'Focus. #deliver' LinkedIn newsletter — one actionable tip every week to help you increase productivity by doing less.Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/you-built-a-first-team-so-why-is-leadership-still-misalignedhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/you-built-a-first-team-so-why-is-leadership-still-misalignedA C-Level guide to closing the 'Process Theater' gap between high-performing teams and business strategy. A First Team alone doesn't create strategic clarity for the rest of the organization.Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTLeading ScrumCase Studieshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/slay-the-technical-debt-monster-the-3-step-script-to-get-leaders-to-say-yes-to-cleanup-when-implementing-scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/slay-the-technical-debt-monster-the-3-step-script-to-get-leaders-to-say-yes-to-cleanup-when-implementing-scrumTechnical debt isn't a developer chore, it's product risk. Three counter-intuitive shifts in perspective to get leaders to prioritize the invisible work.Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/po-vs-developer-the-internal-conflict-3-rules-to-survive-wearing-both-hats-in-scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/po-vs-developer-the-internal-conflict-3-rules-to-survive-wearing-both-hats-in-scrumOne person holding both Product Owner and Developer accountabilities creates real internal conflict. Three rules to survive wearing both hats without sacrificing value or your sanity.Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-retrospectives-the-1-mistake-killing-progresshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-retrospectives-the-1-mistake-killing-progressThe one common mistake silently draining energy from Scrum retrospectives: trying to fix too many things at once. Commit to just one actionable improvement instead.Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTCoaching ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/absent-product-owner-costs-you-dearlyhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/absent-product-owner-costs-you-dearlyThe 'Weekend at Bernie's' Product Owner problem: propped up in meetings but providing no real direction. Four counter-intuitive strategies for tackling this expensive organizational problem.Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/overcoming-organizational-impediments-in-scrum-leadership-buy-inhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/overcoming-organizational-impediments-in-scrum-leadership-buy-inStop talking about Scrum in terms of sprint reviews and velocity. Learn to speak leadership's language of risk, ROI, and measurable business value instead.Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/ai-for-scrum-teamshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/ai-for-scrum-teamsLeadership says "use AI now." Learn how Scrum Teams can effectively adapt, leverage AI as a co-pilot, and deliver value. Get your practical blueprint for AI for Scrum Teams success!Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/agile-community-of-practicehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/agile-community-of-practiceAs Scrum Teams multiply across an organization, an Agile Community of Practice — generalizing specialists learning together — is the natural next step. Here's how to start one without a committee.Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTLeading Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/3-steps-to-landing-your-dream-jobhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/3-steps-to-landing-your-dream-jobNot just any job — your dream job. A practical, three-step approach to networking your way into the specific company you actually want to work for.Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTJob Huntinghttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-is-not-a-silver-bullethttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-is-not-a-silver-bulletScrum is NOT A Silver Bullet. This article from Michael Vizdos — creator of the Original Scrum Chicken & Pig Cartoons — examines WHY this is NOT the case in reality.Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-trainer-evaluation-guide-questions-answeredhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-trainer-evaluation-guide-questions-answeredMichael Vizdos, CST with the Scrum Alliance, answers the 10 questions you should ask any Scrum Trainer before you pay and register for a class.Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTPracticing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/csm-experiencehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/csm-experienceWhat to expect during a Certified Scrum Master training event with Michael Vizdos — a session-by-session walkthrough, not a slide-deck lecture.Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTPracticing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-simplifiedhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-simplifiedThe secret of success when Implementing Scrum: limit WIP. A simple, four-step version of Scrum, and a slightly deeper version using the real Scrum Guide terms.Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/product-backlog-refinementhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/product-backlog-refinementProduct Backlog Refinement isn't a formal Scrum event — but skipping it is why most teams struggle. Finish it before Sprint Planning, not during.Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/lipstick-on-a-pighttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/lipstick-on-a-pigScrum Anti-Patterns Seem To Be Everywhere. Explore How To Avoid "Putting Lipstick On A Pig" In Order To Avoid Some Of Them With In This Informative Article.Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-snake-oilhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-snake-oilScrum Is One Of The Most Popular Agile Frameworks In Existence Today. Beware Of Agile Snake Oil Scams When Learning About Implementing Scrum In Your World.Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/customer-versus-end-userhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/customer-versus-end-userFix the time and budget, focus on delivering value, and change what a Sprint Review actually means — the difference between your customer and your end user matters.Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/communication-preferenceshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/communication-preferencesHow many times have you 'reached out' and not gotten a response? A real example of one person's communication preferences, and why your team's preferences aren't yours.Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/you-suck-and-that-makes-me-sadhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/you-suck-and-that-makes-me-sadA real email exchange with a CSM training alumnus worried about sprint burn-downs — and why the answer starts with 'you are not alone.'Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/a-tool-is-just-a-toolhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/a-tool-is-just-a-toolPeople love their Scrum tools. But if you're not solving a real problem for your customer or end user, someone else will do that for you. Guaranteed.Thu, 19 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMTImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/receiving-feedback-in-scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/receiving-feedback-in-scrumTwo words that make receiving feedback dramatically easier on any Scrum Team — and why saying them isn't about being passive.Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/the-teamhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/the-teamThe evolving list of professional advisors, collaborators, and colleagues Michael Vizdos leans on — nobody on this list works for him.Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTVizdos Enterpriseshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/new-newhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/new-newThe 1986 Harvard Business Review article by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka that the creators of Scrum cited as a key influence on the original framework.Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMTScrum Fundamentalshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/onboarding-new-team-membershttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/onboarding-new-team-membersOnboarding new team members needs to be intentional. Learn how the Tuckman Model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning) applies every time your team changes.Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/be-presenthttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/be-presentBeing 'in' a meeting and being present are two different things. What does checking out really cost you, your team, and your organization?Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 GMTCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/drunken-pm-radio-vizdoshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/drunken-pm-radio-vizdosMichael Vizdos joins Dave Prior on Drunken PM Radio to discuss competing for resources across Product Owners, coaching senior leadership, and the First Team concept.Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMTPodcast Episodehttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/listenhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/listenListening is important. Mike Vizdos (creator of the Scrum Cartoon Series) examines why listening — more than speaking — is vital when Implementing Scrum.Tue, 14 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMTImplementing ScrumCoaching Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/first-teamhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/first-teamThe "First Team" concept — by Patrick Lencioni — is a powerful leadership concept that many agile leadership teams aspire to; however, this seems to be lacking.Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMTLeading ScrumManaging Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/i-want-scrum-traininghttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/i-want-scrum-trainingConfused about your options for Scrum Training? Free resources — plus ten questions you must ask any Scrum Trainer — to help you prepare and choose wisely.Tue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMTTraininghttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-fundamentalshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-fundamentalsLearn Scrum Fundamentals Or Scrum Essentials No Matter Where You Are On Your Journey Of Implementing Scrum. Scrum Fundamentals Prepare You For CSM or PSM Training.Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMTScrum Fundamentalshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-chicken-pig-cartoon-originhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/scrum-chicken-pig-cartoon-originScrum Chicken and Pig cartoons are now classic comics about Implementing Scrum. Learn how this cartoon series is still applicable today when Implementing Scrum.Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMTStarting ScrumImplementing Scrumhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/hyperactive-hive-mindhttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/hyperactive-hive-mind"The Hyperactive Hive Mind" concept is described by Cal Newport in his seminal book, "A World Without Email." Learn how this can apply when Implementing Scrum.Fri, 14 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMTBookshttps://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/focus-deliver-2022https://www.michaelvizdos.com/resources/focus-deliver-2022What will be different than years before? Who knows. Stick around and let's learn together.Thu, 06 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMTVizdos Enterprises