What’s the real difference between accountability and ownership—and why does it matter so much in leadership and teams?  In this episode, Kate and Ryan unpack the often-blurred lines between these two powerful concepts.  From missed h...

In this episode of the Team KatAnu podcast, hosts Kate and Ryan sit down with Anu Smalley to unpack the concept of self-leadership—a foundational pillar in their Leadership Growth Wheel framework. With personal stories, practical tips, and thou...

In a world where leadership requirements constantly evolve, having a structured approach to leadership development has never been more crucial. In this podcast Ryan chats with Kate and Anu Smalley (CEO of Capala Consulting), co-founders of Team...

In this candid and experience-rich conversation, Kate and Ryan unpack the most common reasons Agile transformations fail.  From lack of purpose and misunderstood roles to cultural resistance and tool obsession, this blog distills their ins...

In this insightful exploration of the "big rocks" concept from Stephen Covey's work, Kate and Ryan discuss how breaking down large goals into manageable chunks applies to both leadership and Scrum teams.  Learn practical strategies for pri...

In this episode of the podcast, Kate and Ryan tackle one of the most persistent challenges in modern organizations: teams working in silos. They explore the symptoms of siloed teams, why silos form, and practical strategies for breaking them do...

In this episode, Kate and Ryan explore the importance of active listening and how it transforms communication. They break down the three levels of listening—listening to speak, listening to hear, and listening to und...

In this episode of the Team KatAnu Podcast, Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith dive deep into the role of facilitation in Agile environments.  They discuss the misconceptions surrounding facilitation, the importance of neutrali...

Meetings are meant to drive collaboration and alignment, but when they take over the calendar, they become a productivity drain. In this episode, Kate Megaw (CEO of Arclight Agile & Co-founder of Team KatAnu) and Ryan Smith (Certified Scrum...

Firefighting is a common issue in many organizations.  Teams frequently find themselves pulled into urgent issues that demand immediate attention, often at the expense of planned work. But not every fire is a true emergency.  In a rec...

In this episode of the Team Katanu podcast, Kate Megaw (Certified Scrum Trainer, Agile Coach, and CEO of Arclight Agile) and Ryan Smith (Certified Product Owner and Scrum Master) dive into a common struggle among Agile teams: l...

Hybrid and remote work are here to stay, but how do leaders and teams ensure strong communication, seamless collaboration, and meaningful engagement across time zones?  In this podcast, Kate and Ryan dive into actionable insights for addre...

Join Kate and Ryan as they delve into the ever-evolving world of hybrid and remote work.  From managing across time zones to fostering team engagement and collaboration, this episode unpacks the unique challenges of today’s workforce and e...

Prioritization is both an art and a science, influencing success at every level of an organization.  In this podcast Kate & Ryan explore actionable techniques such as weighted scoring models, Moscow prioritization, the Eisenhower Matri...

In this episode Kate and Ryan tackle one of the most pressing challenges leaders face: prioritization. They delve into the ripple effects of poor prioritization, from context switching that drains productivity to misaligned leadership that...

In this week's podcast, Ryan and Kate delve into the concept of user personas—what they are, why they’re essential, and how to leverage them effectively. They discuss how personas can help teams better understand the mindset and needs of core u...

Ready to make 2025 your most intentional and fulfilling year yet?  In our latest podcast, we discuss how to turn reflection into action.  Learn why personal retrospectives matter, how to break your goals into manageable steps with the...

Dive into the essentials of building high-performing teams that are persistent, dynamic, and self-organizing.  From cross-functionality and the art of team composition to the power of rotation programs and mentorship, we explore how to kee...

Epics are large bodies of work too big for a single Sprint.  However, some Epics become “Zombie Epics”—unfinished tasks that linger in the backlog, often due to scope creep, hoarding, or lack of clear closure.  Epics should be broken ...

Retrospectives are a vital part of Scrum. We discuss how to maximize their effectiveness. Start by setting a positive tone with an engaging opening, such as having team members share a word about their sprint experience or appreciate colleagues...

In our 100th episode, we dive into the vital role of stakeholders in Scrum. We explore who stakeholders are—anyone impacted by the team's work, like customers, internal leaders, or other teams—and why they matter. Weak product ownership can lea...

In this episode, we discuss the importance of psychological safety. Psychological safety allows team members to take risks, share ideas, make mistakes, and challenge each other without fear of judgment or negative consequences. ...

We discuss how over-communication can drain time and energy in the workplace, as employees often feel compelled to provide excessive information to impress superiors or appear busy. This tendency dilutes messages and hampers meaningful work. To...

We discuss common resistance to change, and how it can be overcome and embraced as an opportunity for growth. Empowering teams to determine what changes are needed fosters ownership and engagement. A shift from a top-down to a bottom-up approac...

Misconceptions equate the Scrum Master with a traditional project manager, or  an “expensive luxury" rather than essential for Agile success. Many organizations place disempowered individuals in roles, which contribute to the perception th...