Backlog refinement shouldn't be the most painful meeting of the week—but for many teams, it is. Too much detail too early. Vague stories. Half the team checked out. And eventually, no one shows up at all. In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we’ll show you three practical changes that turn backlog refinement from a dreaded chore into a valuable, collaborative part of your Agile process. These tips will help you reduce churn, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and make sprint planning smoother.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why Agile feels harder than it should, this might be the place to start. Read More
One tip. One meeting. Big impact. In this rapid-fire episode, we show how a small change to each Scrum event can eliminate frustration and create flow. If your Backlog Refinement, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, or Sprint Retrospective has become stale, bureaucratic, or unproductive, we’ve got a simple tweak for each that takes under a minute to explain. Pick one meeting and improve it, or do a pass through all of them, and help your team get much more productive immediately! Read More
Many organizations struggle to balance **predictability** with **adaptability** in large initiatives. Too much planning creates rigidity, while too little leads to chaos. In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we dive into **Phases 3 & 4 of CAPED**—our **Complexity-Aware Planning, Estimation, and Delivery** approach—where we create a structured execution plan while keeping room for change.
Phase 3 (**Analytical Planning**) ensures that teams build a **realistic, risk-aware plan** by defining **What we’re building, How we’ll ensure quality, and When it will be delivered**.
Phase 4 (**Iterative Execution**) brings that plan to life with **incremental delivery, adaptive prioritization, and continuous planning cycles** that keep projects aligned and valuable. Read More
Software teams have used Agile techniques to iterate during execution for years. But what if the cost of iteration is too high to change after planning is complete?
In Phase 2 of the CAPED process—Active Planning—we resolve complexity before committing to a full-scale execution plan. In this episode, we explore how Pixar and architect Frank Gehry use iterative planning techniques to test and refine their ideas early—just like CAPED helps teams tackle uncertainty in big, complex initiatives. Read More
Traditional project kickoffs assume predictability, but large, complex projects—especially in regulated industries—don’t work that way. In this episode, we take a deep dive into Phase 1 of our CAPED approach: Strategic Planning. Learn how to align stakeholders, map complexity, and use Reference Class Forecasting instead of unreliable decomposition-based methods to improve estimates and decision-making. Read More
Trust is the foundation of every successful relationship, whether it’s between teammates, managers, or customers. In this episode, Peter shares key insights and actionable takeaways from Rachel Botsman’s audiobook How to Trust and Be Trusted. Discover the five big questions about trust, including how to make better decisions about who to trust, how to earn trust instead of trying to build it, and how trust drives innovation. Plus, learn practical strategies to repair trust when it’s broken and navigate the role of transparency in fostering trust. Read More
How do you lead a high-performing, empowered team? Kevin Goldsmith, a former Adobe and Spotify leader, joins the Humanizing Work Show to share his journey from engineering to executive leadership. We explore his take on the Spotify Model, how he approaches mentoring new managers, and why positional authority matters more than most leaders realize. Perfect for anyone in tech, leadership, or agile, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building sustainable, people-centered organizations. Read More
In this edited rebroadcast from Season 2, Episode 2, we explore the surprising lessons a professional jazz quintet can teach us about business cultures and teams. Read More
A HW Show Classic Rebroadcast from 2022, this is one of our most viewed episodes, and we're excited to bring it to our broader audience. A team says, 'We can't complete all these features by the scheduled release date,' and then a leader says, 'But we must,' and the team says, 'Okay, now it fits.’ What to do? Read More
In this episode, we introduce the Focused Conversation method, not just a tool for better meetings—it's a transformative approach to thinking, communicating, and connecting more effectively with others. Discover how this four-step process—Observe, Reflect, Interpret, and Decide—helps you tap into collective wisdom, foster meaningful dialogue, and bridge divides in an increasingly polarized world. Read More
