As the end of 2023 approaches, it has been a challenging year filled with both successes and joys, as well as some disappointments. At the start of each year, I already have a plan for my professional development. This year, my plan was divided by quarters. You can read about two of them: My Plans For Summer 2023 and My Plans For Autumn 2023.

Today, I would like to summarize the outgoing year, remember what I managed to achieve and what I did not.

So, let’s start with the achievements and certifications:

• Participated in the eduScrum How to work with conflicts workshop. We talked about how to help a team navigate conflicts and build strong team relationships around them; discussed what stages of team formation exist and when conflicts are most likely. After that, we examined in more detail the types of conflicts and how to behave in them to those who accompany the work of teams and how questions and a coaching approach help the parties to the conflict hear each other and agree.I really liked the workshop because the participants did not just listen to the theory, but did practical exercises and trained themselves to compose coaching questions for the proposed conflict situations.

• Attended the Agile Days 2023 conference. Two days I attended various workshops and talks on agile methodologies. I learned about the latest trends, techniques and tools being used in this sphere. I also had the opportunity to network with other participants of the conference.

• Upgraded my SAFe Scrum Master 5 certification to SAFe Scrum Master 6. Upgrading from SAFe 5 to SAFe 6 is a simple process, but it requires careful planning and execution. By understanding the new capabilities and following the steps outlined in this guide, you can take advantage of the improved features and capabilities of SAFe 6.

• Successfully passed the test and obtained the PSFS certificate. Being certified in facilitation can provide us with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively guide and direct groups towards desired outcomes or decisions. It can also provide a level of credibility and assurance to employers that the individual has a deep understanding of facilitation best practices and can facilitate meetings and events with confidence and expertise. Additionally, facilitation certification can open up opportunities for career advancement and professional growth. In other words it proves my facilitation skill and I am happy.

• Successfully passed the test and obtained the PSPO2 certificate. While the Scrum Master and Product Owner have different areas of focus, they need to work closely together to ensure that the team is delivering value to the customer. The Scrum Master should support the Product Owner in gathering feedback from stakeholders, and help him to prioritize the product backlog and so on. The Product Owner should involve the Scrum Master in team meetings, and seek his/her input on how to improve the team’s processes.

• Wrote 4 articles on the experience of applying Management 3.0 tools: How Kudo Cards Helped My Team, ENERGIZER: Moving Motivators, Delegation Poker Experience, Using the Feedback Wrap for Constructive Team Feedback, Happiness Door Tool: A Powerful Tool for giving feedback quickly.

• Completed training and received the ICP-ENT certificate. We remembered and discussed the definition of Agile Coach that Lyssa Adkins coined and described in her book over 10 years ago: how relevant it is now in our fast-changing world with many scalable frameworks emerging. We also ran through responsibilities of Enterprise Agile Coaches and what metrics an Enterprise Agile Coach can influence, studied the Arc of Coaching, common roles in Agile career path, 3-Layer Agile Organization, Value Stream Design, Team Topologies, Kotter vs Adkar and many other themes and tools. The training was really exciting and useful for me. I was tired, but enjoyed the communication and discussions. The participants of the training and the trainer himself shared a lot of examples from their work experience and new materials that I have to read and study.

I’ve also published a lot here on my website, from articles on breaking down tasks to sharing my workshop experiences and even a funny dream I had.

However, there’s still room for growth. Next year, I aim to pass the PSM3 and find a job that offers relocation.

I’ll talk more about my plans for the upcoming year in my next post. As 2023 comes to an end, I feel satisfied with what I’ve done and who I’ve become.

Here’s hoping the next year brings even more success and happiness for all of us.

Take care!

Do not hesitate to contact me on Telegram or at LinkedIn – just click one of these words.