Agile Coach Assessment

For Agile Coaches, feedback from the teams they support is vital for continuous growth and effective coaching. Regular Agile Coach assessment surveys provide coaches with insights into their strengths and areas where improvement is needed, helping them refine their approach and enhance their impact. Conducting these surveys at least three times a year offers an ongoing feedback loop that supports personal and professional development. Here’s a guide on preparing an Agile Coach assessment survey to gather meaningful feedback from your team.
 

Why Conduct an Agile Coach Assessment Survey?

These surveys create an open channel for teams to share their perceptions, experiences, and needs. By allowing teams to voice what they appreciate or suggest areas for improvement, Agile Coaches gain a clear view of how their actions, facilitation skills, and support influence the team. This reflective process is instrumental in helping coaches evaluate their competencies and identify opportunities for growth in areas like coaching, mentoring, and facilitation.

Preparing the Agile Coach Assessment Survey

Creating a focused, meaningful survey requires careful planning. Follow these steps to design an assessment that encourages honest and helpful feedback.

1. Define the Survey’s Objectives: Establish what you hope to learn from the team. Common objectives include understanding how well the coach’s style aligns with the team’s needs, identifying strengths, and spotting growth areas.
2. Focus on Key Competency Areas: Frame the questions around the core skills and behaviors that contribute to successful Agile coaching, such as:
   • Facilitation and Guidance: How well the coach supports the team in achieving goals.
   • Communication and Trust-Building: The coach’s ability to create a safe, open environment.
   • Adaptability and Problem-Solving: How effectively the coach responds to challenges.
   • Encouraging Growth and Learning: The coach’s role in fostering team learning and agility.
3. Use a Mix of Question Types: Including both rating scales and open-ended questions allows team members to express their views concisely while offering room for more detailed responses. Rating scales can help gauge overall satisfaction, while open-ended questions capture specific insights or examples.
4. Create a Safe Space for Honest Feedback: Make the survey anonymous and emphasize its purpose as a tool for the coach’s growth, which encourages open, constructive feedback. Reassure the team that their insights will be used to support continuous improvement, not judgment.
5. Keep the Survey Concise and Targeted: Aim for 5-10 questions, ensuring the survey is focused and easy to complete in a few minutes. Avoid repetitive questions and focus on gathering insights that will directly support the coach’s development.

Sample Survey Questions

Here are some questions that can help Agile Coaches gain valuable feedback from their teams:

• On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend me as an Agile Coach / Scrum Master to  another team (Net Promoter Score)?
• What specific aspects of my Scrum Master / Agile Coach capabilities do you appreciate or find valuable?
• What areas do you wish that I as an Agile Coach / Scrum Master should have more impact? 
  • Removing Impediments and helping resolve conflicts 
  • Coaching Team Members (1:1)
  • Helping Team Experiment 
  • Providing useful metrics 
  • Other
• What areas of the coach’s approach could be improved to better support the team’s goals?
• How often does the coach create a safe and open environment for team feedback?
• What are one or two things the coach does exceptionally well that positively impact the team?
• Is there anything else you would like to share regarding my role as an Agile Coach / Scrum Master?

Reviewing and Reflecting on Feedback

Once you have collected responses, take time to review them thoughtfully. Look for recurring themes, as these often reveal the most critical areas for improvement. Share feedback highlights with the team in a retrospective or review session to show that their insights are valued and to collaboratively brainstorm action items. By reflecting openly on feedback, Agile Coaches build trust and demonstrate a commitment to growth.

Using Feedback to Enhance Coaching Skills

Regular assessments offer Agile Coaches a structured way to refine and improve their skills, particularly in areas identified by the team. Over time, these adjustments lead to a stronger, more effective coaching approach that aligns with the team’s evolving needs. Tracking feedback over multiple assessments helps the coach monitor progress and celebrate growth in specific competencies, providing a path for sustained professional development.

Agile Coach assessment surveys are a cornerstone of continuous improvement, helping coaches understand their impact and adapt to meet their team’s needs better. By fostering an environment where team members feel safe to share their insights, Agile Coaches can continuously enhance their abilities, ultimately supporting a stronger, more resilient agile team.