Blog for Leadership & modern teamwork
Leadership, Remote Work, agile working methods, retrospectives & 1:1 meetings: practical examples, templates and expert tips for sustainable development.
7 Best Retrospective Tools for Easy & Fun Retros in 2025
Want to jump start a retro with the best retro tool on the market? Learn what makes a good retro tool - and get direct access.
54 Fun Retrospective Templates That Spark Fresh Insights
The best & most fun retrospective ideas: From classics like "Keep Stop Start" to creative methods like the "Spotify Health Check".
Agile Spotify Model: Squads, Tribes, Chapters & Guilds Explained
Brief overview of the Spotify model: How squads, tribes, chapters and guilds scale agility, which roles are involved and what you should pay attention to when introducing it.
Spotify Health Check Retrospective: Moderation & Tips
Structured guide on how to moderate the Spotify Health Check in retrospectives – with moderation questions and ready-made templates for Team, Organization, Delivery, Tech and the complete check.
5 Ideas for Sprint Retrospectives Your Team Will Love
As a psychologist and Scrum Master, I probably have an unusual view of Sprint Retrospective ideas. I have a slightly stronger focus on the "soft" side of continuous improvement. You could also talk...
New Employee? 5 Tips for the First One-on-One Meeting
You have a new employee in your team, a new team member or a new direct report who reports to you and now you're planning your first one-on-one meeting or appraisal interview? Here you will find al...
My 7 All-Time Favorite Agile Retrospective Templates
In my team, we conduct an agile retrospective more often than average: every Friday, i.e. once a week. And you won't believe it - thanks to the many super agile retrospective templates, among other...
10 Tips for Great Retrospective Action Items incl. Examples
A lot is said in retrospectives - but does your team also derive good measures? Here are tips and examples on how to make it work with good measures in retros!
5 phases of a retrospective alone are not enough: the Double Diamond model
Many teams frequently change the format and design of the phases of their retrospective to ensure variety and stimulate the creativity of team members. But what is the decisive factor for a success...
50 Refreshing 1:1-Meeting Questions to ask Remote Employees
One-to-one conversations with remote employees can easily be enriched with good questions - our list can help.
Software Developer 1:1 Meetings: 4 Templates & 10 Questions
One-to-one conversations with software developers can easily be enriched with a template and good questions - we can help with that.
32 Great Questions for 1-on-1 Meetings with New Employees
The onboarding experience of new employees is very important, which is why it is important to ask good questions. 32 ideas.
The best Template for Quarterly One-on-One Meetings
Quarterly one-to-one meetings in particular should be well planned - a good template can help you with this (Doc & PDF available).
Proven Doc-Template: Monthly One-on-One Meetings
Monthly one-to-one conversations can easily be enriched with a doc template - and we've got one for you.
20 Feedback Examples for varied Software Developer Roles
20 concrete feedback examples for various software developer roles plus 1:1 templates and surveys in the Echometer tool.
15 Free Proven One-on-one Meeting Templates to Edit & Print
Proven templates for 1:1 meetings that you can edit yourself – completely free, of course.
42 Fun & Creative Retrospective Icebreakers breaking any Ice
Are you looking for unusual icebreakers for the check-in or retrospective check-in methods for your next retrospective? I'm glad to hear that, because a good, interactive check-in or icebreaker can...
When should a sprint retrospective happen?
If you've just searched Google for "When should sprint retrospectives take place", you probably want one of these two questions answered: When in the sprint cycle should sprint retrospectives happe...
3 best retrospective questions with online templates
Did you just google "3 retrospective questions"? Great, then you've come to the right place🎉 In this article, I want to give you an overview of different retrospective formats that all have one th...
10 Simple & Important Agile Retrospective Ground Rules
Agile retrospectives are an essential part of any agile team. They give team members the opportunity to reflect on their work, identify opportunities for improvement, and set goals for the next spr...
21 Responsibilities & Tasks of the Team Lead Role
As a team leader, you assume responsibility for the team and its results, in addition to your personnel responsibilities. At the same time, you should not define your activities, role and responsib...
How can direct reports and employees be prepared for one-to-one meetings?
Various measures and approaches are possible if your direct report or employee does not come prepared to the regular (usually bi-weekly) one-to-one meeting with you as a manager. Here is the effect...
Spotify Health Check: Everything You Need To Know
The Spotify Health Check is suitable for teams as well as squads. We are giving you an overview of all you need to know in this guide!
What are the top-rated online retrospective software tools for agile (scrum) teams?
The best rated retrospective software tools (i.e. with the best ratings) are Echometer (4.7/5 - see Echometer G2 ) and Parabol (4.6/5 - see Parabol G2 ). This information is based on public user an...
How do I find the right software tool for sprint retrospectives?
To choose the right retrospective software tool for you, you should take various things into consideration: Are you co-located in the office or do you collaborate remotely or virtually? How big is...
What is the cheapest alternative to the Neatro retrospective software tool?
When it comes to the cheapest alternative to Neatro with the best pricing model, Echometer is particularly worth mentioning. The Pro version of Neatro costs 39$ per month, while the Pro version of...
5 whiteboard templates for brainstorming action items in retrospectives
Five whiteboard templates for retrospectives, including use case scenarios, examples, and tips for brainstorming effective measures.
2 tips for the DAKI retrospective incl. examples
➡️ DAKI Retrospective at a Glance ➡️ Examples of DAKI Retrospective Questions ➡️ DAKI Retrospective Tips
How can you improve communication in a remote software development team?
There are various measures and approaches to improve communication in virtual or remote engineering teams of software developers and software engineers. It is irrelevant whether they are front-end,...
129 Good One-on-One Meeting Questions (by a Psychologist)
Which software can best help you with your one-on-one meetings with employees? An overview of the best tools will help you...
1:1 Meeting: A simple Agenda Sample (Example incl. PDF)
A good sample agenda for one-to-one meetings is simple - so that you as a manager can focus on the conversation.
What are the best sprint retrospective techniques, ideas, formats & templates?
You can find the best "all-rounder" templates, techniques and ideas for agile sprint retrospectives in the following table. I have categorized them according to my personal score, based on my years...
12 Retrospective Ideas for Winter, Christmas and New Year
Especially at the turn of the year, there are good opportunities to adapt the format of the retrospective to the Christmas season and New Year. In this article we share a few ideas on how good meta...
3 tips: How to run a good retrospective!
Retrospectives are one of the most effective methods when it comes to supporting an agile team. But what is a good retrospective often doesn't seem so trivial. Many Team Leads or Scrum Masters try...
Which techniques, ideas, formats and templates for remote retrospectives are suitable for small teams?
Good retrospective templates, ideas, formats and techniques for smaller agile or Scrum teams are summarized in the following table with my personal point distribution. As you can see, Team Morale H...
26 Fun & Fresh Agile Retrospective Templates (in 2025)
Agile retrospective templates help in the quick preparation of first-class retrospectives. Here are 22 cool agile retrospective templates!
Managing Virtual Teams: 5 Tips for great Remote Leaders
The vast majority of literature on leadership assumes that teams are led face-to-face and not virtually at a distance. This is likely to change in the coming years as remote work and globally distr...
How do you create higher engagement in remote team retrospectives? 5 tips
Various measures are possible and different factors are relevant to generate higher engagement in your agile sprint retrospectives in your virtual or remote team. I have listed the possible measure...
Agile Delivery Team Secrets: Harness the Power of Collaboration for Unmatched Results
The agility of a project team has become a cornerstone of success in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Agile project teams, with their flexibility, iterative progress and deep-rooted cul...
User Stories in Scrum: The All-You-Need-to-Know Guide
The goal is clear: You want to develop a product that delivers a high added value to customers. You want to achieve a result with which team members and stakeholders are satisfied. But how do you d...
Communication: 50 Performance Review Phrases & Examples
In performance reviews, especially when it comes to performance appraisals, there is a perennial topic: the communication behavior of employees. And this is not surprising. While the origins of hum...
The Guide with 6 Tips for Successful One-on-One Meetings
Successful one-to-one meetings are an important tool for managers to build a strong relationship with their employees and to promote and develop your staff. In this article, you will receive a comp...
Software Developer Performance Review: A Guide & Template
Written performance evaluations for software developers in 2025? In a modern working world where feedback culture and continuous development are paramount, classic written performance reviews often...
How to measure agile maturity - incl. Agile Maturity Survey
Agile is like a coach for the Champions League. Once you've integrated agile at all levels of your organization, you're at the top of your game. You are closer to your customers, you spot mistakes...
DORA & SPACE Metrics: 2 Team Workshops to improve them
If you are a tech leader, you probably want to know how well your team delivers software and how you can improve it. You may have already heard of the DORA metrics and the SPACE framework, two powe...
60 Fancy, Fun & Catchy One-on-One Meeting Name Examples
Do you have regular one-to-one meetings with your colleagues and want to make sure that appraisal interviews are not perceived as boring? That's a good idea! Especially when you look at studies: 💡...
Agility Health Radar: 13 most popular models measuring agile
U.S. journalist and author Prentice Mulford once said: „ "He who recognizes an evil has almost cured it." .“ Prentice Mulford Therefore, it's no wonder that we take our temperature, visit the docto...
Regular 1:1 Catch-Up Meeting Guide: 30 Questions & Templates
Regular catch-up meetings can easily be enriched with a template and good questions - we can help with that.
Driving an agile corporate culture with change management
An agile corporate culture can be promoted with change management methods. We'll explain how it works!
Working Agreements: 10 Examples, Samples & Templates
Effective collaboration in teams is crucial for success, especially in the context of agile methods such as Scrum. Working Agreements play a crucial role in creating a clear framework for collabora...
Checklist for Team Leads: 10 key Tasks (incl. PDF)
As a team lead, you take on a lot of responsibility for your employees and your team. This checklist for team leads will make it easier for you to keep an overview and ensure that nothing goes wron...
5 Ideas for a Productive 1:1 Meeting full of Energy
If one-to-one meetings feel boring, the following ideas can help generate more engagement.
Sprint retrospective isn’t necessary? Yes, it is: 7 tips
Many say that the retrospective is the most important ceremony in Agile. Woody Zuill puts it this way: If you adopt only one #agile practice, let it be retrospectives. Everything else will follow ....
Setting OKRs in a 1:1 Meeting: Agenda Template & 5 Tips
One-to-one goal setting meetings with OKRs are much more effective if you prepare them well. Here is a template and tips.
1:1 Meeting with a difficult Employee? 7 Tips & a Template
One-to-one conversations with a difficult employee are challenging. If conducted correctly, they can be a first step towards...
The agile “Harry Potter” Retrospective incl. direct access
Are you looking for the “Harry Potter Retrospective”? Looking for a fun and creative way to facilitate your next retrospective? No problem - we can provide you with the "Harry Potter Retrospective"...
7 Agile Retrospective Questions in a SAFe context
Are you searching for SAFe agile retrospective questions? Great, because I have some for you! Safe Agile Retrospective Questions (Scaled Agile) The SAFe iteration retrospective There is one special...
7 Templates and a Full Guide: Regular Employee Check-ins
Regular employee check-ins are your most important meeting as a leader – here are the templates and guides to make them successful.
The Scrum Master as Servant Leader: 8 Tips & Thoughts
As an experienced psychologist and Scrum Master, I understand the challenges that team leads face in agile environments. Finding the balance between agility and leadership is no easy task. In this...
3 Tips for the What Went Well Retrospective incl. Template
Everything you need to know: ➡️What Went Well Retrospective ➡️What Went Well Retrospective Template ➡️What Went Well Retrospective Tips
Jour Fixe: More effective team meetings thanks to Retro Agenda
For most companies, regular weekly or monthly team meetings have long been standard. The aim of these regular meetings is to bring each other up to date and discuss difficulties together. Solutions...
4 fun retrospective techniques: How to spice up team meetings.
In the agile world, retrospectives are an essential tool for learning from experience and continuously improving. But let's be honest: sometimes these meetings can be monotonous and uninspiring. So...
KALM Retrospective incl. example
➡️ KALM retrospective at a glance ➡️ Examples of KALM retrospective questions ➡️ Tips for the KALM retrospective
5 (editable) Templates and a Guide: Weekly Employee Reports
Templates and guides to promote weekly communication with employees
7 Best Free Retro Boards | 60+ fun retrospective ideas
We compare the 7 most popular retro boards online in terms of their core features - and provide you with direct access!
Checklist: 21 Habits for (new) People Managers (PDF)
Have you ever thought about how much your team observes you on a daily basis? Not out of mistrust - but because your behavior as a manager has a direct impact on motivation, performance and satisfa...
3 WRAP retrospective examples and alternatives
Everything you need to know: ➡️ 3 WRAP examples ➡️ WRAP tips
4 tips for team building in distributed remote teams
"Remote teams" are the trend. So how do you deal with the coordination and management of teams spread over several locations?
The most effective retrospective topics of all time
If you want to continuously improve with your team, then retrospectives are one of the best proven tools for this purpose. A retrospective is a regular meeting in which you reflect on what has happ...
21 Fun retrospective techniques in 2026
Are you looking for cool retrospective techniques to enhance your retrospective? – Then you've come to the right place!
6 Retrospective Games Ideas for ambitious Agile Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
The Spotify Retro Kit + A Better Alternative
If you attach great importance to agility and regularly hold retrospectives with your team, you've probably heard of the "Spotify Retrospective Kit". This is a document published by Spotify in 2017...
4 interactive Icebreaker Games for any Retrospective
Whether it's check-in icebreaker games or reflecting on the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Software Developer Performance Review: 6 Feedback Examples
Concrete feedback on performance, often in the form of “Performance Reviews,” plays a central role in the further development of software developers. In this article, we show some practical example...
Timebox Sprint Retrospective: A 5-Phases Template
Agile companies are always trying their hand at different project management methods to develop products as efficiently as possible. Therefore, it is surprising that many of them still hold meeting...
1:1 Meeting with Boss? 50 Questions & Topics with Answers
As an employee, the opportunities for one-to-one conversations often go unused. Good questions can help!
Skip Level 1:1 Meetings: An Agenda, 35 Questions & Tips
Skip Level One-to-one conversations can easily be enriched with a template and good questions - we can help with that.
Not Every Scrum Team Is Agile: Fake Agile
Fake Agile: Is every Scrum team agile? No, unfortunately not every Scrum team is actually agile. Let me explain: A Scrum team is defined by working according to the Scrum framework: So it has sprin...
Fix Zombie Scrum in 3 Steps
What is Zombie Scrum? Zombie Scrum describes teams that have retained the Scrum structure (rituals, roles, etc.) but have lost the actual core – customer benefits, values and continuous improvement...
6 Quick, Simple & Fun Retrospective Games
Whether check-in games or reflecting on the last scrum sprint: everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Product Manager Performance Goals: 5 Examples & Tips
Product managers play a crucial role in the development and marketing of products. To be successful, they need to set and pursue clear product manager performance goals. This article looks at some...
Getting started with agile work - Agile Explorers
At first glance, the agile world can seem very overwhelming. You can hear Kanban, Scrum & Co. and ask yourself the question: How does it all fit together and what can I start with? In this article...
Spiral Dynamics (PDF) - A groundbreaking development theory
Spiral Dynamics - what is actually behind it? The Spiral Dynamics PDF explains the basics of the theory using an example.
What is a Product Owner in the Scaled Agile Framework SAFe? - Facts and Figures
We explain what a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Product Owner is and introduce you to the 6 different types of Product Owner in more detail.
In a nutshell: Change management model according to Kotter
Companies are currently in a complex and dynamic environment, which is also known as VUCA World referred to as. As a result, day-to-day business is increasingly shaped by changes. In this context,...
6 Retrospective Games (Scrum) for Successful Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Scrum - what is it? Easily explained!
You would like to work agile, but ask yourself: What is Scrum anyway? We explain the most important things so that your team can work agile successfully!
The 3 Best Retro Check-in Formats for Every Situation
There are many good check-in methods for starting a retrospective. In this article I would like to present three different retro check-in formats with examples of check-in questions. Each check-in...
Combine OKR & Scrum: This is how it works (workshops, sprint goal and cycles)
Both Scrum and OKR are currently very popular as frameworks in the agile community. Scrum comes more from the world of software development, OKRs more from strategy. But can these methods also be c...
6 tips for beginners: facilitating an agile retrospective
The moderation and design of retrospectives is often left to trained Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches, who already have a lot of experience with various workshop formats. In many companies, however,...
Agile goal setting with OKR - this is how implementation works (with OKR retrospectives)
Coordinating agile collaboration across team boundaries poses several challenges - especially when it comes to target control across multiple teams. For this, the (compared to other scaling framewo...
Motivating Teams - The Basics of Engaged Teams (Part 1)
How do you motivate teams? This can be done very easily if you start out correctly. We give you the 1x1 of motivated and committed teams.
Agile at Scale: Comparing the 5 most popular frameworks
Agile frameworks help companies deliver to customers faster and more reliably. In doing so, it's fairly easy to implement Agile in individual teams. The challenge is to implement Agile working acro...
The 5 Best Agile Online Courses
We introduce you to 5 online trainings that bring you closer to the agile way of working and that is right for you and your organization.
The art of looking back: thoughtful questions for effective retrospectives
If you want to improve the effectiveness of your team, then you can't avoid regularly reflecting on what your team has done and how you can do better in the future. There are retrospective template...
Agile Retrospective Excel Template Download
What is an Agile Retrospective and how can an Excel template help? An agile retrospective is a meeting that takes place at the end of each iteration or sprint in an agile project. The purpose of an...
Experience report - promote discussion culture with Echometer
Experience report - The format How is Echometer actually used in practice? And by whom? We want to answer these questions in a number of Echometer testimonials . In this series, we will interview s...
6 Free Retrospective Games for Remote Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
How to be agile without a Scrum Master in 2024?
The world is changing faster than ever before and therefore it is more important than ever to be able to react to these rapid changes. This is exactly why project management methods, which can gene...
33 Top-class retrospective methods in 2026
Are you looking for the best retrospective methods? - Then you've come to the right place, because we have a lot of them!
Measure agile values and implement them in practice
How do you actually implement the agile values in practice? We give you three behavioral anchors that you can use in your retrospectives, for example.
The Secrets of Effective Sprint Retrospectives: A Real-World Example
Want to improve the effectiveness of your sprint retrospectives? In this article, we'll dive into the secrets of conducting highly effective sprint retrospectives using a real-world example. Whethe...
5 Creative Halloween Retrospective Ideas 🎃
Slowly but surely approaching again a special time of the year: Halloween🎃 Do you know how much money is spent on Halloween items every year? A lot! Every year, Americans invest around 6,7 billion...
The SAFe House of Lean model: short and sweet
The SAFe House of Lean model has its roots in Lean Management. We will give you an overview of the structure and the aim of the model.
4 Google Docs Retrospective Templates
A retrospective is a (regular) meeting where teams re-analyze a sprint or project to better understand and learn from both the successes and failures. Retrospective Tips and Templates A typical pro...
The Lean Coffee Retrospective - Including direct access
The Lean Coffee Retrospective: A retrospective as fast and efficient as a good espresso. All jokes aside, of course you don't need coffee for this retro method. So what is this retrospective about...
What makes a very good team leader: 5 characteristics
We have already written about the things that team leaders should definitely do in relation to their employees: Checklist for team leaders: 10 key tasks . In this article, we will discuss the quali...
3 effective example points for your sprint retrospective
When it comes to surviving in the fast-paced work environment, you have to work in a very agile way yourself. This way of working, also known as "agile work", has experienced a massive upswing in t...
What makes a really good team
It's not just about team members. What makes a good team is much more complex. Here is a collection of the most important facts ...
Master the OKR Retrospective: A template for guaranteed success
➡️ OKR retrospective at a glance ➡️ Examples of OKR retrospective questions ➡️ Tips for the OKR retrospective
The most popular questions in agile retrospectives
Many Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters are looking for the best agile retrospective questions - but which ones might those be? Of course, that depends on your own taste and many other things. But if...
6 Awesome Sprint Retrospective Games Online for any Occasion
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
What are Scrum Master Tools? Tips and tricks
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to write without a pen and paper or a digital device? Probably not, because we don't have to think about these types of tools as they are a given....
6 Retrospective Games for Teams that want to grow
Games for reflecting on the last Scrum Sprint for ambitious agile teams.
5 One-on-One Meeting Email Invite Templates & Examples
Five tried-and-tested email templates for invitations to 1:1 meetings, including subject lines, formulation tips and examples for various occasions.
Scrum Master Salary: A brief overview of the Numbers
As a servant leader, the Scrum Master is one of the leading figures in agile ways of working. He or she bears the great responsibility of guiding a project through the myriad forks and tangles of s...
Psychological Safety in Agile Teams
Psychological Safety - Just Another Trend Around a Buzzword? A look into Google Trends reveals that psychological safety is currently experiencing a historic high search demand. This is not least d...
How to Do a Retrospective? Step-by-step Guide
A step-by-step guide to confidently moderating a retrospective
Lessons Learned vs Retrospective (The Differences)
As a startup that develops software for team development and retrospectives, we are often confronted with interesting definitions of retrospectives - for example " Aren't reviews and retrospectives...
Sprint Review vs. Retrospective: Simply explained with Image
Difference Between Sprint Review and Retrospective We defined in the last article, what a retrospective really is . We also talked about Scrum as a framework for agile working methods. And in this...
What is a retrospective? The 1-minute guide
An agile retrospective is a widely used workshop format for the continuous improvement of team collaboration...
6 entertaining Agile Retrospective Games | Scrum
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
6 New Retrospective Ideas & Games for Fresh Perspectives
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
6 Interesting Retrospective Games for creative Workshops
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Product Manager to Developer Ratio: Rule of Thumb & Tips
In the dynamic world of product development, the product manager is at the forefront of ensuring that a product's vision is successfully realized. A critical component of this role is to communicat...
Team Lead facilitates agile Retrospective? 10 Key Tips
Hey dear team leads of agile crews! As a psychologist and Scrum Master, I'm sharing some essential tips today on moderating agile retrospectives when you're not in the Scrum Master role yourself, b...
For Managers: Interactive 1:1 Meeting Form (free PDF)
A simple one-to-one meeting form can save you a lot of time and work as a manager. We have one for you as a PDF, Docs...
Agile Retrospective in the Leadership Team: 7 Tips
A strong leadership team is at the heart of a successful company. In this blog post, we dive into the world of leadership workshops and offer tried-and-tested tips for design and implementation. Fr...
10 tips for retrospectives in large teams or groups
It can already be a challenge to facilitate retrospectives in a small team or group. Or with very little time . But what about retrospectives in large teams? These are usually even more demanding....
A Framework to understand & change Organizational Culture
Definitions of Organizational Culture In science and research, there are usually very abstract definitions of organizational culture. That sounds something like this: “[Organizational culture is a]...
Revolutionizing Organizational Development: Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux (Summary)
A crisp and concise summary of the most important findings from the book "Reinventing Organizations" by Frederic Laloux.
6 Retrospective Games for Successful Scrum Masters
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
360-degree feedback review: 21 indispensable measures
Are you considering introducing 360-degree feedback? We recommend these 21 indispensable measures to you. A guide from the psychologist ✓ for practice ✓
Scrum retrospective method: 200% more successful through psychology
We give you an unknown scrum method from psychological research that can make your retrospective around 200% more efficient!
Scrum Master Performance: 5 important KPIs for evaluation
We take an in-depth look at how the Scrum Master's performance can be evaluated and present 5 KPIs that are important for this.
5 Agile Values incl. Retrospective Template
You just searched Google for "5 Agile Values" and want to know what the five agile principles are and how you can integrate them into your daily agile routine? Great, then you've landed in the righ...
3 Undiscovered Agile Scrum Retrospective Templates
Are you searching Google for "Agile Scrum Retrospective Template"? Then you've come to the right place. In this article, I'll give you three novel Agile Scrum Retrospective Templates that you've al...
A 'Lessons Learned Workshop' in 5 steps
As a team or organization, we all aspire to be at the top, when playing the role of quality or innovation leader. Maybe we even want to become a " learning organization "%E2%80%9D. In order to meet...
Experience report - varied retrospectives with Echometer
Experience report - The format How is Echometer actually used in practice? And by whom? We want to answer these questions in a number of Echometer testimonials . In this series, we will interview s...
7 tips for your agile retrospective meeting agenda
If you're new to the world of Agile or looking to spice up your existing retro meetings, I'd like to share some tips and insights on creating an effective agenda for Agile retrospectives. While the...
Scrum of Scrums - the optimal team development as a basis for scaling
Scrum of Scrums is a way of scaling Scrum across many teams. We present you the methodology of Scrum of Scrums in a nutshell.
5 agile project management tools you should know
We present 5 agile tools with which you can evaluate important KPIs in project management - for a high-quality result.
The 5 tasks of Scrum Masters in retrospectives
As a trained psychologist and experienced Scrum Master, I regularly face a question that may concern many of you: How can Scrum Masters make a decisive contribution to the success of their teams in...
33 Fun Retrospectives Examples & Samples for Agile Teams
Examples of simple retrospectives that you can use in any team (even for beginners)
"The 5 dysfunctions of a team" by Patrick Lencioni (video)
What are the 5 dysfunctions of a team and how can they be converted into functional behavior?
The positive culture of mistakes: learning from mistakes - just a myth?
A positive error culture in the team is the prerequisite for learning from mistakes. We show you how you can establish a positive error culture!
Which agile principles are the most important? A Ranking
Many projects are not completed on time or do not stay within budget - these 4 agile principles are designed to support smart teams.
How to be a better Scrum Master? 7 Great Tips
Agile teams are only as strong as the Scrum Masters (or Agile Coaches) who develop them. You may be wondering how to become a better Scrum Master. Here are some practical food for thought and tips...
6 Retrospective Meeting Games for ambitious Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Team problems and what to do from a psychological point of view
Team problems only arise from poor communication ?! The reality looks much more complex, however.
Increase your agility in 2026 - The ultimate guide
As you may know, the economic situation has changed drastically in recent months. In 2022, interest rates were still close to 0 % and this "cheap" money ensured that private consumption was very st...
In a nutshell: what is change management?
Change management is a much-discussed topic that must be considered against the background of the constant changes of today's world. But what is change management - what exactly is behind this term...
Agile transformation approaches: 4 philosophies in comparison
There are many approaches to agile transformation. We introduce you to four philosophies of how they work and how they differ.
6 Agile Retrospective Games for Scrum Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Leadership Skills - How to Really Develop Them
Fighting "blind spots" in self-perception through self-reflection and contributing to the sustainable development of managerial skills.
The most important requirement for managers: self-reflection
The most important requirement for managers? Good question - of course the basis for constantly questioning yourself and developing further ...
4 Project Retrospective Templates for Word
A project retrospective is a meeting where teams reanalyze a completed project to better understand and learn from both the successes and failures. Among other things, they will help you uncover an...
People Management Course (Free): Psychology That Works
In this people management online course, you will learn practical knowledge about managing your team from a psychologist - and in an entertaining way.
3 retrospective methods online: playful and creative!
It is not an easy thing. Finding fun, interactive and value-adding retrospective methods online is no easy task. That you can do online with your team. Escape your daily routine As a Scrum Master a...
4 Interactive and Insightful Retrospective Methods for Remote Teams
It's not easy. By this, I mean that it's not easy to find interactive, fun and, at the same time, value-adding retrospective methods which you carry out remotely within your team. Escape your daily...
Scrum Master for mechanical engineering: 10 tips
In the dynamic world of mechanical engineering, the effective application of agile methods is crucial to successfully mastering constant technological progress, complex product life cycles and inte...
The "I like, I wish, I wonder" retro including direct access
Many Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches and other retrospective facilitators are looking for the "I like, I wish, I wonder" retrospective. We have it in our blog and in our retro tool! The "I like, I wis...
Product Owner Guide: 10 tips for ambitious POs
You are a Product Owner (PO), maybe you have even just started your journey? In this blog post or Product Owner Guide, I will try to answer your most burning questions and give you 10 thoughts for...
6 Project Retrospective Games for Iterative Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
The Agile Retrospective “Good Bad Ugly” incl. direct access
You are looking for a “good bad ugly" retrospective? Okay, tada, here it is. It's actually quite simple and based on the 1966 film "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," starring Clint Eastwood. Agile R...
The ‘Keep Stop Start’ Retrospective incl. direct access
Many Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches are looking for the keywords "Keep Stop Start" retrospective - I can help you with that. Retrospective Keep Doing Stop Doing The three questions to ask The smar...
4 Options for doing free sprint retrospective’s online now
Are you searching for a “sprint retrospective online free”? Well, here you go! If you want to open an online retrospective right now and go the fast track, simply click on the button and you are re...
The 4L Liked Learned Lacked Retro with direct access & tips
Guide to the 4L Retrospective (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for) with questions, tips and direct access to the Echometer retro template.
How long should a sprint retrospective take? Incl. exceptions
Some Scrum newbies are looking for "How long does a sprint retrospective take" or are interested in the typical length of a retrospective. I'm happy to give you a few numbers! How Long Sprint Retro...
The Agile 'Starfish' Retrospective explained (with Examples)
Are you, as an Agile Coach or Scrum Master, looking for the Starfish Sprint Retrospective or a template for it? Good choice - the Starfish Retrospective is one of the classics. I'd be happy to expl...
The “Pleasure & Gain” retrospective including direct access
Many Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches and other agile practitioners are looking for fresh retro ideas - such as the "Pleasure and Gain" retrospective. What could it be? Don't worry, I'll explain the re...
The 10 most popular Agile and Scrum methodologies with examples
Agile and Scrum methodologies are designed to promote flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development, and can be particularly effective in complex and rapidly changing environments. Scrum, i...
4 Retrospective Formats Inspired by Netflix' Innovation Culture
The best tool for understanding your own corporate culture and values is not employee surveys, but rather agile retrospectives in combination with health checks (also called “pulse surveys”). In ou...
5 tips for retrospectives for beginners & advanced
You want to have some sprint retrospective tips? No problem, as a Scrum Master, Psychologist and founder of the retrospective tool Echometer, I have quite many of them! Sprint Retrospective Tips Th...
5 Interesting Sprint Retrospective Meeting Examples
Are you looking for examples of retrospectives to make the meeting more interesting and varied? You've come to the right place to get some inspiring examples.
Sprint retrospective output vs. outcome: 5 examples
You want to better understand the sprint retrospective output? Alright, I can help you with that! Sprint Retrospective Output vs. Outcomes To begin with, did you know there is a difference between...
3 new retrospective workshop ideas (2026)
Looking for ideas for agile retrospectives? No problem - we have some for you! Retrospective workshop ideas 3 fresh retrospective workshop ideas The Tour de France is pretty famous and offers a lot...
6 Great Retrospective Games for Distributed Teams
Fun retrospective games specifically for distributed teams to reflect on collaboration effectively.
Get twice as much out of your Lessons Learned Workshop
In our last post we presented the Lessons Learned Workshop as a format, explaining both the process and the (actually measurable) added value. This article now focuses on tips for implementation an...
The agile ‘Kanban health check’ retrospective -incl. access
Are you searching for an agile “retrospective kanban”, or in other words, an agile retrospective format for a kanban team? Perfect - you found what you are looking for. Retrospective Kanban A retro...
Team Health Check Agile: 4 Proven Templates as KPIs
KPIs, ROVs, NPS: Companies are increasingly using ways to measure the progress of their projects. Because: Only those who recognize errors and problems in time can eliminate them. A team health che...
Trust in the team - with the team on cloud 7
Trust is just as relevant in a professional context as it is in private life. But why is that and how can it be created? You can find out here!
The Agile Mindset: 11 tips for everyday life (part 3/3)
In order to always keep the right, agile mindset, it is worthwhile to follow these 11 scientifically validated steps. #KeepGrowing
5 steps for the right, agile mindset in a team (mindset: part 2/3)
If your team lacks the right attitude or an agile mindset, these five validated steps can be helpful.
The truth about the agile mindset: From the psychologist
The truth about the agile mindset: Many corporate cultures are subconsciously designed to prevent it. What you can do about it!
4 Interesting Sprint Retrospective Templates + Download
In this article, we'll show you some examples of different types of sprint retrospective templates that you can use for your agile team. We'll also give you some tips and best practices for running...
Project Scagile Webinar: Measurably Improve Corporate Culture & Agile Customer Orientation
How can you establish an agile corporate culture – i.e., 'Being Agile' instead of 'Doing Agile'? In our 'Project Scagile' webinar, experts report on how they effectively and measurably improve corporate culture.
7 fun retrospective questions to make your team laugh
If you are part of an agile team, it is essential to conduct regular retrospectives in order to continuously improve team performance. But who says that retrospectives can't be fun? - That's exactl...
6 Good Retrospective Games for Any Occasion
Retrospectives with playful approaches often work better than classic formats. Here are retrospective games for every occasion.
Improving teamwork: Psychological security (2/2)
We will give you exciting tips so that you can improve the cooperation in your team! In just 6 steps to an effective team.
Improving teamwork: Psychological safety (1/2)
We show you what measures you can take to improve teamwork! 6 tips that can be implemented directly.
9 agile KPIs that any Executive Manager should know
We present and explain 9 popular agile metrics that help to manage agile teams.
Agile vs. Traditional Leadership: Differences & 5 Tips
Many companies are changing their leadership mission statement and transforming from classic traditional leadership to agile leadership of their employees. But what are the differences and what doe...
Template for quarterly retrospectives: Questions you should ask your team on a quarterly basis.
1 - Winter Retrospective ❄️ | 2 - Spring Retrospective 🌼 | 3 - Summer Retrospective 🌞 | 4 - Autumn Retrospective 🍂 | 5 - DAKI Retrospective 🌍 In this article, I have brought you the five best r...
Successful in transformation projects (video)
Why do agile transformations often seem to fail due to corporate culture? About the underestimated role of lived company values and feedback.
Experience report - Switching from office to home work as a Scrum team
Our Echometer experience reports In our experience reports, we intend to show you how Echometer is used in practice, through the users themselves. While we heard from Holger last time , an agile co...
Agile Transformation Roadmap: 5 models & their similarities
There are many good agile transformation roadmaps out there. We present five models and highlight the similarities.
Large Scale Scrum (LeSS): An Overview & Comparison
Imagine you have 3 agile teams working according to Scrum and now you want to scale - Scrum is no longer sufficient. What's next? There are various frameworks for this, including SAFe , Nexus, and...
Done is not the same as done - an example of the Definition of Done
A clear definition of done is important when working with Scrum. We explain the psychological background and how you define your done!
The typical Job Description of a SAFe Agile Coach
In an increasingly agile business world, the number of different roles is becoming more and more confusing. For example, what is a SAFe Agile coach and what might their job description look like? S...
Role of a Chief Scrum Master: Overview & Tips
In the dynamic world of agile software development, the role of the Chief Scrum Master is becoming increasingly important in practice. This key figure can not only take responsibility for an indivi...
The difference between Product Manager & Product Owner?
In the agile world, Product Manager and Product Owner are two key roles that are often confused with each other. Both play a crucial role in the development and management of products, especially i...
Working successfully as a Scrum team
Do you identify yourself as a Scrum team or are you actively involved in becoming one? Then you should make sure to develop an agile mindset that unleashes the added value of agile methods. In this...
Good teamwork - the psychology behind it
Teams where collaboration doesn't work well are less productive than everyone would be. Strictly speaking, you cannot call them a “team”. Are you ambitious and want to develop your team into a real...
6 ways to create a fruitful feedback culture
Many companies want to establish a constructive feedback culture - but where do you start? And what should you watch out for? A few Tipps!
What Are Retrospectives and What Are They Good For? (Simply Explained)
Retrospectives have been widely used for years, especially in agile software development teams. But what exactly are retrospectives and what are they good for? In this article, we explain retrospec...
3 fun & creative retrospective whiteboard templates
Looking into the past to improve your team's future? That is the idea of Retrospectives . Yet they don't have to be "retro" and outdated at all - if you use the right agile retrospective templates....
The #1 hardest question in a Scrum Master job interview
There are dozens of websites with interview questions for Scrum Masters. But from my point of view, there is only 1 interview question for Scrum Master’s that is crucial. And if you as an applicant...
3 agile methods that every manager should know (part 3): retrospectives
Retrospectives, in short simply retros - a method from an agile environment that helps us to work better in a team. This is how & #039; s works!
In 3 steps to the "Team Health Check": Free kit
With humans, a "health check" is easy: you can roughly tell from a person's body how healthy they are. But if we apply this metaphorically to a team, it is more difficult: How do I know the team is...
3 agile methods that every manager should know (part 2): job crafting
Job Crafting: Create your dream job without quitting. In this article we explain a promising method from positive psychology.
3 Tips + Templates for Agile Process Documentation
Every retrospective needs to be documented in some form. That's why I'm providing you with the template I use to document retrospectives with my team. This shows how I document things during the re...
Three Little Pigs Retrospective online
Did you just search Google for "Three Little Pigs Retrospective online"? - Great, then you've come to the right place. In this article, I'm going to give you an overview of the Three Little Pigs re...
The agile 'What went well' Retro: 3 Simple Examples
Are you searching for "Agile What Went Well examples" on Google? The search is over, because you've come to the right place🎉 I would like to explain how the "What Went Well" retrospective works an...
Team development - 7 mistakes in team decisions
Shaping team development also means optimizing team decisions. Here are 7 mistakes that teams should be made aware of in the context text!
3 agile tools every manager should know (part 1): Pre-Mortem
We present 3 agile tools that we believe are here to stay 👉 Pre-Mortem: a better way to plan projects.
Scaling Agile Training: The 7 Best Providers
Agile at Scale embeds agile principles, mindsets, values and practices at all levels of your organization. This way, not only employees, but also portfolios, programs, IT and culture are agile. The...
What does a Scrum Master do? Key Responsibilities & Roles
Are you working in an agile environment and wondering what the core tasks and key responsibilities of a Scrum Master actually are? I can answer this question for you. Let's take a look at the key r...
Why structural changes in the company are so important
Structural changes in the company are dealt with differently nowadays than in the past, and the status has also changed.
Giving Scrum Masters Feedback: 10 tips with Examples
As a trained psychologist and Scrum Master, my goal today is to give you valuable insights on how to give effective feedback to your Scrum Masters. We will focus on five key performance KPIs to ens...
Mental models: Team pulling together & #8211; Workshop retro with Echometer
Again, the two colleagues somehow talked past each other. They have made such an effort. This always leads to conflicts ... Why doesn't it just work? Maybe we can help. People look at the world fro...
The Most Important Agile Delivery Roles: Explained Simply
Agile ways of working have brought with them so many roles: Agile Delivery Lead, Agile Delivery Manager, Scrum Master. Which of these roles are the same and which are different? And if they are dif...
Agile Delivery 101: Overview, Best Practices & Examples
Everyone is talking about "Agile Delivery" and you want a quick overview, some examples and best practices? You've come to the right place. What is Agile Delivery? Agile Delivery is a method of del...
3 Best Practices For The Ambitious Agile Delivery Lead
Agile is changing! In 2024, companies have realised that sticking to Scrum doesn't do them any good. Companies need teams that take more responsibility for how they work. And that's where the role...
Experience report - remote agile coaching with Holger
Experience report - The format How is Echometer actually used in practice? And by whom? We want to answer these questions in a series of Echometer reviews, therefore we have interviewed some of our...
4L Retrospective Examples and Free Template
Examples and tips for the 4L retrospective (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for) including a free template and direct access in the Echometer tool.
3 Popular Agile Retrospective Templates (Download / Instant Access)
As Team Lead or Scrum Master of an agile team, there is no way around retrospectives. They allow you to analyze the last sprint once again and learn from it for the next sprint cycle. In order not...
Open feedback in team retrospectives
In team retrospectives, open feedback is the basic building block for successful cooperation. You can read about how we can help you here!
M&M Retrospective: A Sweet Way to Improve Your Team
Here you will find out everything about the M&M Retrospective. You'll understand how it works and get the right template 🔴🟢🟡🔵🟤
Agile Transformation: How Many Agile Coaches Do I Need?
To develop products faster, more and more companies are introducing agile ways of working. As part of this, they need to fill several key positions. Agile coaches play a crucial role in this proces...
What is good leadership? 10 ultimate tips from Google
Leadership is no child's play - but what makes good leadership? 10 tips from a company known for its great culture - Google.
What is Value Stream Mapping? An Ice Cream Parlor Example
Product development is like a labyrinth. You know there is one exit – that is the end product. But you only know roughly how to get there. Because you have no idea which way is the fastest. This is...
20 Best Online Retrospective Games (Fun Guaranteed!)
Whether check-in games or reflecting on the last scrum sprint: everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
4 questions for a soccer retrospective
All you need to know:➡️ Football Retrospective Template ➡️ Football Retrospective Questions ➡️ Football Retrospective Tips
3 steps to a learning organization
We show you how to turn your company into a learning organization. Learning organizations offer an "ultimate competitive advantage".
Agile teams and the influence of shared knowledge
In an agile team, it is important that knowledge about collaboration is exchanged. You can find out how to establish "Shared Knowledge" here!
Release Train Engineer in SAFe®: Tasks, Roles & Skills
SAFe® is an agile framework that combines proven methods and techniques with new cultural elements and leadership concepts. A central element of SAFe® is the Agile Release Train (ART ). It is align...
6 Cool Retrospective Games for Interactive Retros
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Product Manager Role: Definition & Tips
So, what is the role of the Product Manager in Agile? In this text I will give you a definition of the role of the Product Manager – a key figure who steers the success of a product from strategy d...
In an interview with Christoph Kühnapfel from the "Future catch-up" podcast
We are happy to be in the podcast " To catch up in the future " of Christoph Kühnapfel to take part! Find out how you can hold Echometer specialists and form successful teams that change the world!...
Scrum Master as Manager? Role differences & tips
The role of Scrum Masters in agile teams sometimes raises questions regarding their position in the organizational chart. The consideration of whether a Scrum Master should simultaneously act as a...
Amazon's "Always Day 1" Culture: Introduction Guide
At its core, the "Day 1 Culture" embodies a mindset of constant innovation, agility, and customer centricity. It goes back to Amazon's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, who famously emphasized the impor...
Amazon's Agile Leadership Principles: Customer Obsession
Most companies probably claim to be "customer-oriented" - but how many companies would describe themselves as obsessed with the customer? Well, Amazon does just that in its leadership principles. A...
Business Analyst & Scrum Master at the same time? 9 thoughts
In the dynamic world of agile software development, business analysts and scrum masters can play a key role. This blog article explores the challenges and opportunities that arise when considering...
Agile Delivery Lead vs. Scrum Master: Can you do both?
Agile Delivery Leads and Scrum Masters are both roles in agile work environments, but they have different responsibilities and What are these differences and what is the background to the two roles...
Weekly 1:1 Meetings: The Perfect Agenda (incl. Templates)
What does the perfect agenda for weekly 1:1 meetings look like? Here's a template you can use as a leader.
The Best Template for One-on-One Meetings (Word & Doc)
In this article, we present a comprehensive guide that walks you through the basics of one-on-one meetings. Here you get everything from understanding the topic to customized conversation templates in Word and Doc.
Soft Skills Managers - Development in a New Work Context
Soft skills of managers - Why managers today are or should be coaches, designers and consultants at the same time.
Product Owner in the Daily Scrum: When? Thoughts & Tips
The daily Scrum meeting, also known as the Daily Scrum, is a central element in the Scrum framework. It offers team members the opportunity to discuss the Sprint Goal, obstacles, and other relevant...
Blameless retrospective template: learning and growing without blame
Problems are an inevitable part of every team. However, every problem also offers a valuable learning opportunity. To take advantage of this learning opportunity, you can conduct a retrospective wi...
4 Questions for an American Football Retrospective
Everything you need to know:➡️ American football retrospective template ➡️ Football retrospective questions ➡️ Football retrospective tips
Scrum Master vs. Agile Coach: The 5 key differences
A question that sometimes comes up: What is the difference between Scrum Master and Agile Coach? Let's shed some light on this together. Scrum Master vs. Agile Coach - What are the differences? Dif...
SAFe Scrum Master role responsibilities in Agile: 5 Areas
As a trained psychologist and Scrum Master, I know that understanding the responsibilities of agile roles is often a bit of a challenge. Also, when it comes to the Scrum Master role in the scaled A...
Scrum Master & Product Owner as the same person? 3 Options
You are faced with the question: "Can a Scrum Master be a Product Owner, can the same person take on the two jobs?" Let's explore this dilemma together and help you find the best option for your ag...
Amazon's "two pizza" rule: A team workshop as an exercise
Amazon was one of the first companies to apply agile working methods on a large scale - without relying on Scrum or other agile frameworks. A core element for agile teams at Amazon was the "Two Piz...
ROTI or "Return On Time Invested" as an agile metric
Which Agile Coach or Scrum Master doesn't know it. The participants in the retrospectives or other meetings leave the impression that the time outside the meeting is better invested than in the mee...
6 Retrospective Board Games for Remote Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Design retrospectives - avoid misunderstandings in communication
Are you having trouble designing retrospectives? Do you often talk past each other? We show how to properly design and communicate retrospectives.
3 fresh retrospective Ideas to kill "Retro-Fatigue"
Your team has now held the Sailing Boat Retro for the third time and the retro format is no longer as exciting as it was at first? The team is getting a little tired and no longer engaged in retros...
4 tips for retrospectives in hybrid teams
Many teams worked completely remotely or in the home office during the Corona pandemic. Some companies are slowly going "back to office" or into a hybrid working model: some are on site, others in...
Easy to Use Sprint Retrospective Agenda Template
If you've searched Google for "Sprint Retrospective Meeting Agenda Template" or "What happens in Sprint Retrospective Meetings", you've come to the right place. In this article, I want to take you...
Agile Mindset vs. Growth Mindset - What's the difference?
You just searched Google for " A****gile Mindset vs. Growth Mindset " and want to know what the differences and benefits of the Agile Mindset and the Growth Mindset are? - Great, then you've come t...
Building Agile, High-Performing Teams: A Comprehensive Guide
Building high-performing teams is critical for companies that want to succeed in today's fast-paced and competitive business world. In this blog article, we explore the following 5 points: Definiti...
3 Free Sprint Retrospective PowerPoint Templates
Are you searching Google for "Sprint Retrospective PowerPoint Template"? Then you've come to the right place🎉 I'll provide you with some examples of Sprint Retrospective Meetings that you can easi...
4L Retrospective Template
Are you looking for a template for the 4L Retrospective? Then you've come to the right place. I'll give you an overview of the 4L Retrospective and a suitable template that you can use right away....
6 Great virtual Retrospective Games for Agile Teams
No matter if check-in games or the reflection of the last Scrum Sprint: Everyone will find a fun retrospective game here.
Agile for Leadership - Everything you need to know
Agile Leadership means that a company is able to adapt to changes quickly. The main focus lies on the collaboration of teams.
Creativity in a team - how do you solve the blockage in your head?
How do you increase creativity in a team? And in companies? A psychological model and an exercise will help you to increase your creativity!
3 Psychological facts about team member behavior
How can the behavior of my team members at work be explained? Or even better, how can it be changed? 3 psychological facts about it!
Scrum without Scrum Master: A short Guide & 3 Tips
Let's be honest: Many organizations cannot or do not want to afford a Scrum Master due to the associated financial constraints. But Scrum without a Scrum Master - is that even possible? Can you run...
Ambitious Scrum Master Goals & OKRs: 5 Examples & Tips
As a trained psychologist and experienced Scrum Master, I know that setting clear, short and long-term goals is key to effective (agile) team leadership. In this blog post, I will address the quest...
The Retro without a Scrum Master? 5 Tips & Templates
You are used to the Scrum Master leading the retrospective, but what happens if he is not available? Don't worry, we have some tips and templates for you here to successfully organize the agile ret...
Short retrospective - better fast than not at all
Retrospectives are one of the most important meetings for agile teams to reflect on and further develop their collaboration. The frequency usually varies between weekly and monthly, and there is a...
6 Fun Thanksgiving Retrospective Ideas for Agile Teams
Celebrating 'Thanksgiving' with a Thanksgiving retrospective even in the work team? Good idea actually, because after all, the basic idea fits well with an agile retrospective: Pause, appreciate th...
Parabol Alternative Echometer: User Compares Best Software Tools for Sprint Retrospectives (Interview)
In the following video, we interviewed Sharon Burns about Echometer vs. Parabol, who previously worked as Director of Engineering and Operations and now works as a Product Owner, where she has also...
Can agile be used outside software development? An overview
In the early 2000s, the first IT departments began to switch to agile working methods. It quickly became clear that it produced better work results. Today, Agile is the standard in software develop...
Set goals that really take teams forward
There is hardly a technique in psychology that is more suitable to provide more motivation: good goals. In some companies it is still common to say: “Do your best.” It is proven: Specific, ambitiou...
How to successfully implement action items from retrospectives
In you retrospective meeting routine it is of great importance to subtract meaningful action items. Read more in our Blog.
The Psychology of Agility (Video)
In their keynote as part of the BeAgile Meetups, the founders explain why psychological security is so important for successful agile teams ...
6 Iteration Retrospective Games for Agile Teams
Playfully reflecting on the last product iteration – here are 6 retrospective games that bring insights!
What managers don't understand: Sustainable Pace in Agile Teams
Anyone who has ever run a marathon knows why Sustainable Pace is a critical success factor: once you've gone too fast, it takes a disproportionate amount of time to recover from exhaustion. Sustain...
Release Train in Agile: Simply explained!
Curious about the impact of agile release trains in agile working methods? Check out our Blog post.
Agile training & consulting: 5 popular providers
Not only according to Castsoftware, agile transformation training is an important milestone in the agile transformation journey. Are you at that point where you need a provider but don’t know who t...
Employee survey anonymous or not? - Good participation rates
What measures can I implement so that a large number of employees take part in the employee survey? We have tips for you!
How to have a remote retrospective that makes a difference
How do you get the most out of a remote retro? Tips, tricks and tips, some from psychology, for above-average retros!
The agile paradox: agile planning (part 2)
At first glance, agility sometimes seems contradictory. Managers in particular are faced with many contradictions. In this series of articles I will show you examples of this agile paradox and how...
Retrospective in Scrum and beyond
Retrospectives in Scrum refer to reflective meeting routines. Learn more about use cases and moderation on the Echometer blog.
Software Engineering Manager Course: The First 90 Days
Starting out as a new Software Engineering Manager can feel overwhelming: You take over a team, a codebase – and a lot of expectations. Suddenly you're responsible for everything, possibly even wit...
25 Agile metrics and measurements - Measure one damn thing!
There are plenty of agile KPIs, metrics, measurement methods and maturity models. But you should always keep the following in mind.
What must management do for a successful agile transformation? 7 tips!
Agile leadership is trendy - and rightly so. Here are 7 tips for the role of management in agile transformation.
Scrum Product Owner Roles: Responsibilities & Metrics
In the dynamic world of product development, Scrum Product Owners (PO) face the challenge of juggling complex tasks and roles. From user satisfaction to time to market, various metrics are possible...
Difference Agile Coach vs. Product Owner: Can I do both?
When discussing the roles of Agile coaches and product owners in agile environments, it becomes clear that both are key roles but have different focuses and responsibilities. While Agile coaches pr...
Scrum Master responsibility: An overview & 5 tips
The Scrum Master is a key figure in the agile development process. His or her role as a servant leader significantly influences the success of the scrum team. From conflict resolution to promoting...
Error culture in companies - why errors are your friends
You don't recognize winners by how they win, but by how they lose. Most winners have probably failed more often than losers ever tried. Because to regard mistakes exclusively as evil is evidence of...
Can a developer be a Scrum Master? A few Pros and Cons
Agile teams are the backbone of modern project development. But the question remains: Can a developer also be an effective scrum master? Or the other way around: Can a scrum master also be a develo...
Customer orientation instead of sunk costs - this is how you avoid the pitfall of the sunk cost fallacy
Sometimes customer expectations change. You can find out how you can deal with it without falling into the Sunk Cost Fallacy in our article!
Scaled Agile Framework: The 4 levels explained with Examples
Your company is planning an an agile transformation It plans to scale agile methods beyond individual teams - or has it already done so? Everyone is talking about the different levels and configura...
4 Interesting Agile Retrospective Meeting Templates
Are you using Google to search for "Agile Retrospective Meeting Templates"? Then look no further, you've come to the right place. Because in this article, I'll introduce you to some templates for s...
DORA & SPACE metrics: 2 templates, questions & 1 tool
Agile teams face the challenge of finding metrics that not only quantify progress, but also help to strengthen the team, improve collaboration and focus on customer needs. The so-called DORA DevOps...
3 Start Stop Continue Examples and Alternatives
Everything you need to know: ➡️ 3 Start Stop Continue Examples ➡️ Start Stop Continue Tips ➡️ 22 Start Stop Continue Alternatives
3 Exciting Sprint Retrospectives Templates Free
Are you looking for "Sprint Retrospective Templates Free"? Look no further, because you've come to the right place. In this article, I'll give you some examples of sprint retrospectives you can use...
What is part of the role of the Scrum Master? A short Reply
As an experienced psychologist and certified Scrum Master, I am sometimes asked what specific tasks are part of the Scrum Master's role. Here's the short answer: The Scrum Master ensures that Scrum...
Scrum Master in new teams: 7 helpful tips
As a trained psychologist and experienced Scrum Master, I understand the challenges you may face as an agile team lead in a new team. In this article, we will look at some helpful tips on how to su...
What is the purpose of Scrum Masters? 5 Thoughts
As a Scrum Master, I sometimes encounter the questions: "What is the purpose of Scrum Masters? Why is a Scrum Master important, or even necessary? How does the Scrum Master help the team?" These qu...
Good goals: The easiest way to motivated teamwork & #8211; Workshop retro with Echometer
Psychological background There is hardly a technique in psychology that is more suitable to provide more motivation: good goals. In some companies it is still common to say: “Do your best.” It is p...
We use Holacracy as our organizational model – and why startups should question their view on hierarchies
The start-up journey of growing a team from just the founders to dozens of people is exciting and challenging. Especially when it comes to organizational structure and hierarchies. In this article,...
Double loop learning: question assumptions & start thinking outside the box - retrospective method
Teams tend to & #8211; if at all & #8211; eventually only incrementally, in small increments. And that's very good for now. But at the same time you sometimes have familiar behaviors with which you...
What is agile transformation? A short & crisp definition
What is agile transformation? A short and crisp definition!
Scaled agile framework SAFe®: In a nutshell
Agility & New Work is on everyone's lips. Almost everyone is familiar with the Scrum framework and... "As Scrum is to the agile team, SAFe® is to the agile enterprise." Dean Leffingwell You know th...
23 Agile Statistics: How relevant are Agile Frameworks?
The goal is clear: to develop better products and services faster. However, the path to this goal is anything but clear. Therefore, companies are constantly trying out new approaches to outpace the...
The agile paradox: Flexibility through structure - Part 1: An agile meeting structure
At first glance, agility sometimes seems contradictory. Apparently, a structure is supposed to provide more flexibility. In this series of articles I show you examples of this agile paradox and how...
Scrum Master and Project Manager: Can you do both?
In the ever-evolving world of project management, professionals are sometimes faced with the challenge of combining agile methods such as Scrum with traditional approaches. The consideration of bei...
Agility Lead vs. Scrum Master: differences & tips
In an increasingly agile business world, the role of Agility Lead can also be found on one job portal or another. However, the titles Scrum Master and Agility Lead raise questions about the extent...
How many teams should a Scrum Master have? 10 tips
In the agile world, Scrum Masters are relatively often faced with the challenge of effectively managing more than 2 teams. Isn't that too much? How many Scrum Masters on how many teams makes sense?...
Scrum master versus Project Manager: Differences & Examples
Agile teams are at the heart of successful projects. Some projects are more agile, some less - it also depends on how the team's "servant leaders" see themselves. For example, as Scrum Master versu...
15 Cool Product Manager Titles for any Corporate Culture
As an agile team lead, you may be aware of the variety of product manager titles. In some companies, work is carried out according to specific frameworks and there are defined titles with correspon...
Managers in Retrospectives? 5 Tips & Thoughts
The question of whether a manager should or may participate in agile retrospectives depends on various factors and there are different opinions in the agile community. But what if you have no choic...
Product manager facilitates Retrospective? 10 Key Tips
Agile Teams are sometimes faced with the question: Should the product manager moderate the retrospective? If so, what needs to be considered in such a situation? As a trained psychologist and Scrum...
3 unknown & interactive scrum retrospective ideas
It is often difficult to make retrospectives varied and productive at the same time. Here are three varied ideas!
3 new Scrum Retrospective Ideas for any team
It is often difficult to keep retrospectives varied and productive at the same time. Here, as a psychologist, I name three creative methods!
Quality assurance as a project manager: 5 tips & thoughts
In the dynamic world of agile projects, project managers are often faced with the challenge of how we can implement quality assurance efficiently. As a Scrum Master, I'm sharing five tips and thoug...
Doing agile vs. being agile - Why companies fail because of the agile culture
Most of the companies are in the middle of the transformation process. How does an agile culture emerge so that change is successful?
Role of the Scrum Master: Tasks, Responsibilities and Skills
We are only strong if we work together: Agile frameworks distribute tasks and responsibilities to the whole team. The Scrum Master plays one of the leading roles. He or she is not a typical boss wh...
VUCA working world - what does it mean?
What is VUCA, what does the VUCA working world have to do with wars and how does it work in the labor market? You can find the answers and many examples here!
The single most important precondition for innovation in teams
How can you actually increase innovation in teams? Christian Heidemeyer, psychologist & Scrum Master, gives you tips from science.
4 Interesting Document Templates for Sprint Retrospectives
In this article you will get examples of retro templates and reasons why they are so helpful. A retrospective is a meeting that usually takes place when a so-called sprint ends. In this meeting, al...
2 Fun Pokemon-style Agile Retrospectives
You just searched Google for "Pokemon Retrospective" and want an online template for it? Then you've come to the right place, because I've prepared two retrospectives for you. Gonna catch them all?...
7 Fun Agile Retrospective Ideas & Icebreaker's for Easter
Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters & Co. like creative ideas for retrospectives. Using varied questions in creative retro formats, teams often come up with new ideas and find the retrospective to be more...
Obsolete, to replace? Do you really need a Scrum Master...
It doesn't happen too often, but the question still comes up: "Do we really need a Scrum Master? Are Scrum Masters obsolete? And will Scrum Masters eventually be replaced by AI?" The question can o...
Scrum Master One-on-One: 10 Good Questions & Tips
Ten good questions for Scrum Master one-on-ones plus tips, template, and health check examples with Echometer.
Scrum Master job interview: 10 tips and tricks
Are you about to be interviewed for the position of Scrum Master and wondering how you can make a lasting impression? Don't worry, we have the answers for you. By the way, here's a question you can...
18 Alternative Titles for agile Scrum Masters
18 creative alternatives to the Scrum Master role – from classic options to playful titles, plus tips for 1:1 meetings.
Mastering sprint retrospectives: Sample answers and practical tips
If you work according to the Scrum process or want to learn from it, then sprint retrospectives are probably one of the most important components. They offer development teams the opportunity to co...
Offshore Scrum Master - a good idea? 3 tips
As a trained psychologist and Scrum Master, I understand the challenges you face as an agile manager. One question that sometimes comes up is: Is it a good idea to hire an offshore Scrum Master? Le...
Agile Delivery Flow: 3 Steps to Deliver on Time Consistently
If you ask most managers about the "psychological safety" or the "vision" (more on this: Psychological safety ) of their agile software development teams, they agree that these things are important...
How can I develop self-managed work teams?
The development of self managed work teams is a core objective of modern management philosophies. But how exactly do you develop self-organized teams in practice? - Here are the prerequisites and p...
Top 3 Retrospective Facilitation Techniques In Scrum
In the world of agile project management, the importance of effective facilitation techniques for retrospectives is becoming increasingly crucial. Retrospectives offer teams the opportunity to refl...
Should I do retrospectives in non-agile teams or projects without Scrum?
Only a few companies work in a truly agile way. However, most companies usually only have individual areas or projects in which they work more or less "agilely." Perhaps you are also working on a s...
Should I use whiteboard tools for retrospectives?
You want to run a retrospective and use a whiteboard tool for it? - Then you've come to the right place. We will shed light on whether and when whiteboard tools are suitable for retrospectives. We...
The 3 Most Simple Retrospectives
Anyone who regularly holds retrospectives or would like to do so should have a good repertoire of retrospectives to hand. It's not just about knowing lots of retrospectives. Rather, it is about hav...
Which tools should I use for hybrid, remote or on-site retrospectives?
Hybrid, remote and on-site retros Just a few years ago, it was normal to conduct retrospectives on site. However, since the trend towards remote working at the latest, there are many tools that can...
Change management model according to Lewin: Explained with example
Next to the Model by Kotter , Lewin's change management model is one of the most influential models on the subject of change. Due to changed framework conditions and increasing competition as a res...
3 Fun Retrospective Ideas for Valentine's Day
Every year on February 14th is Valentine's Day. Did you know that supposedly over 1 billion letters are sent every year on Valentine's Day? That's right - so it's exactly the right time to reflect...
Echometer works "remote first" - how and why (you should too)
Building a globally competing startup requires hiring across borders Building a company is hard. For startups in early stages the main focus is product-market-fit and generating early traction. Onc...
Agile vs. waterfall method - comparison and differences
You can find everything about application areas, similarities and differences of the agile and waterfall method in our article!
Your way to an interactive retro
If you hold retros regularly, it quickly happens that the format becomes boring in the long run, and the commitment of the participants decreases. It can be a challenge to make your retro interacti...
Difference Agile Coach vs. Project Manager: Can I do both?
Agile Coaches and project managers usually have very different roles. But what exactly do they look like? There is also the question of whether the roles of Agile coach and project manager should b...
SAFe Scrum Master Cost: Certification, Salary, Tips
Agile methodologies and their manifestations, such as the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Scrum, are very common in today's IT business world. From the compensation of SAFe Agilists to the import...
Differences Team Lead vs. Scrum Master: Can you do both?
Scrum Master vs Team Leader: A Scrum Master and a Team Lead have different roles and responsibilities in the agile context, although there may be some overlap depending on the organization and how...
Who can be a Scrum Master? A short answer
The Scrum Master is a key role in the Scrum framework, which is often used in agile software development. The Scrum Master role is not limited to a specific position or department in an organizatio...
3 surprising facts: How to increase innovation in teams
How can you actually increase innovation in teams? Christian Heidemeyer, psychologist & Scrum Master, gives you tips from science.
If everyone only says “yes” - avoid groupthink in retrospect
Teamwork offers a number of advantages. However, some characteristics lead to a diffusion of opinion. Don't let it come to groupthink in your team!
The “Accidental Diminisher”: Subconsciously destructive leadership styles
In her book " Mulitpliers - how the best leaders make everyone smarter ” (published in 2010), researcher and consultant Liz Wiseman describes a model for classifying positive and negative behavior...
Continuous Improvement The Agile Way
Continuous improvement is the process of constantly looking for ways to further develop the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of products, services, processes and procedures. The process is bas...
Mad Sad Glad Retro Template
Did you just search for the "Mad Sad Glad Retro" on Google? Great, then you've come to the right place. - The Mad Sad Glad Retro has a very similar structure to the What Went Well retrospective. Ho...
3 Sought After Sprint Retrospective Meeting Questions
Are you searching Google for "Sprint Retrospective Meeting Questions"? Then you've come to the right place. In this article, I will introduce you to some examples of Sprint Retrospective meetings t...
Resistance - Change Management: Stop it!
Change is coming to the company - which is almost always the case these days. Resistance - Change Management? Change also brings with it resistance from employees. How should resistance be understo...
Procrastination and Mood: How to Keep Your Remote Team Engaged
One of the challenges that remote workers consistently face is maintaining their productivity - not everyone who works from home completes their tasks and achieves their goals. Considering the free...
The 20+ most important Scrum statistics for the year 2025
To successfully integrate agile methods into organizational structures, many companies opt for the Scrum framework. One of the decisive reasons: Scrum enables teams to work not only sequentially, b...
Agile culture: The 10 ingredients you need for your organization
An agile way of working enables companies to develop better products faster. This makes employees and customers happier. That's why many large companies, such as Miele and C&A, have already switche...
Experience report: My internship at Echometer
"I wanted to do an internship where I can work independently, learn a lot and have fun!" Facts about me: Bachelor's degree in Psychology in Münster (8th semester) 2 month compulsory full-time inter...
People Management: The Best 1-on-1 Meeting App (Comparison)
Which software can best help you with your one-on-one meetings with employees? An overview of the best tools will help you...
Using Release Burndown Charts for efficient software development
Software development and predictable results go together about as well as safe investments and casinos. Too many variables – such as fluctuating productivity, unexpected problems, and new customer...
Fail fast & Learn fast - flourish as a company
"Fail fast learn fast" means quick learning through quick failure. This is how the implementation of the principle in the company succeeds!
This is how personnel development works on the job
Role plays, presentations and long reading. This still does not mean successful personnel development. On the job, on the other hand, means ...
Experience report - Support agile teamwork with Echometer
Experience Report - The Format How is Echometer actually used in practice? And by whom? We want to answer these questions in a number of Echometer testimonials . In this series, we will interview s...
My time at Echometer
A few things about me ☀️ Studying business psychology in Osnabrück (5th semester) An intern for 3 months (beginning of August to end of October) Compulsory internship as part of my study program Ar...
The Ultimate Guide to Successful Team Retrospectives (Part 1): 3 Tips for Introducing Retros
Retrospectives are supposed to be entertaining and varied, but they should be one thing above all: Advancing teams , In this series of articles we share some tips on how to do that. The goal is to...
Employee survey and agility - do they go together?
How can you implement employee surveys in an agile way? A psychological perspective.
Free & direct: Online management seminar (2h)
In this online leadership seminar, you will learn practical knowledge about leading your team from a psychologist - in a short and entertaining way.
Retrospective forecast 2024 - You should take a look at these retrospectives.
The year 2024 is drawing ever closer. Having only just survived the pandemic, the economy is now struggling with rising interest rates and a decline in consumer spending. There are also new hotbeds...
Reflect, Refine, Repeat: Retrospectives in UX Design
User experience (UX) design is the process of developing products that provide users with meaningful, relevant, and enjoyable experiences. In today's business world, UX design is a key aspect of pr...
Analysis of 30k retros: 4 tips for agile teams
An experienced Agile team is likely to conduct quite a few agile Retrospectives during their journey. That's enough to gain an intuitive understanding of what's working and what's not. But what can...
ChatGPT as an AI-based Agile Coach?
Artificial intelligence is making tremendous progress. ChatGPT by OpenAI has proven to be a capable conversationalist in many situations and has quickly gone viral, with ChatGPT having more than 1...
Gaining User-Centered Insights: How Retrospectives Facilitate Hypothesis Analysis
A brand is an idea that highlights the taste. Imagine a person who is not a wine connoisseur. This person tastes an average wine and someone tells them that it is the most expensive bottle on the m...
Echometer's story: 3 reasons for (not) another retro tool
So far, the biggest success of Echometer was not winning fancy brands (like Miele or Volvo) as customers, having thousands of users or raising venture capital. Our biggest success is something pret...
Why you can't change organizational culture
Behavior is key to influence organizational culture. Check out the Echometer blog for ideas on persistent agility.
"New Work" is on #1 for HR: An opportunity for the Agility Movement
In the past, HR managers mainly prioritised recruiting & talent management, while Agile practitioners increasingly focused on change management and the further development of working methods and co...
Our transparent salary model at Echometer & #EqualPay
Why salary in companies turn into chaos In the course of our careers prior to founding Echometer, we saw many examples where discussions about the salary became the productivity blocker #1 in teams...
Team development software Echometer receives 6-digit investment from renowned business angels
After successfully entering the market in 2020, Echometer receives a seed investment led by Oliver Flaskämper, the flaschenpost team and other experienced investors to expand software and team . Mü...
Gaby's time as a Working Student at Echometer (experience report)
How I cam to Echometer Throughout this difficult year post-graduation, I was looking for full-time work in order to stay in Germany. With the virus and the number of responses from my applications,...
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