Powerful Questions for the Scrum Professional

@carlton858 Carlton E. Nettleton

Scrum Gathering Portugal 2016

15

What will I learn today?

What is a Powerful Question?

How can I structure a Powerful Question for maximum effect?

How can I use a Powerful Question in a conversation?

Do you want a cup of tea?

What would you like to drink?

What defines a Powerful Question?

•Generates curiosity.

•Surfaces underlying assumptions.

•Invites creativity and new possibilities.

•Generate energy and forward movement.

•Touches a deeper meaning.

•Stimulates reflection and dialogue.

•Stays with the participants.

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What will I learn today?

What is a Powerful Question?

How can I structure a Powerful Question for maximum effect?

How can I use a Powerful Question in a conversation?

Which? Yes?\No?

Why?

Building a Powerful Question

More Powerful

Less Powerful

Why?

How?

What?

Who?, When?, Where?

Which?, Yes\No?

Do you like the way the ScrumMaster has worked with Team?

vs.

What have you liked about the way the ScrumMaster has worked with the Team?

or

How can we improve our Product Backlog?

vs.

How can we understand our customers & business better?

Why doesn’t the Product Owner sit with the Team each day?

vs.

How can the Product Owner be more available?

More Powerful

Less Powerful

5

1

4

3

2

5

What will I learn today?

What is a Powerful Question?

How can I structure a Powerful Question for maximum effect?

How can I use a Powerful Question in a conversation?

QUESTIONER •Lis ten to the s tor yte l ler

describe their story. •D o NOT o f f e r a d v i c e ,

suggestions or resolve the situation your partner.

•At the right moment, ask a Powerful Question and ONLY a Powerful Question.

•Then be silent and let the conversation end naturally.

Powerful Question Dialogue

STORYTELLER •Te l l a s t o r y a b o u t a n

unresolved situation at work (or at home).

•Pick a situation that you feel comfortable sharing in public.

Powerful Questions You Can Use

Can you speak more to that? What do you care about?

Can you try it for a week? How does that make you feel?

How’s that working for you? What do you need to know?

Can you explain that to me? How can you do that better?What does that cost you? What skills can you use?

How can we make this more fun? Why do you care?

What is another way? What is it we’re not seeing?

What might be another perspective? How might someone else see this?

How can you contribute more? What’s holding you back?

What if… How do you know?

I wonder… Who cares about this?

I’m curious… What is possible here?

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Perguntas?

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Powerful Questions for the Scrum Professional carlton@lookforwardconsulting.com