The Mob Mentality Show

Software Teaming Book with Woody Zuill and Kevin Meadows

Ever been in a software group that was so effective that it truly lived up to the word "team"? If so, what was it like? What was the differentiator that took it beyond the infamous office posters of so-called "teams" into the realm of actual teaming?
Join Chris and Austin as they celebrate and discuss with Woody Zuill and Kevin Meadows the second edition of the Software Teaming Book that Woody and Kevin just published. Woody and Kevin not only explore the inspiring software teaming concept from Amy Edmondson's Teaming book but also they dive into the genesis of the first and second editions of their Software Teaming book. Woody and Kevin talk about what changes were made in the second edition and why. They share about how they collaborated to write the book and why Kent Beck was asked to write the foreword. Lastly, they riff on different analogies for teaming (e.g., Orchestra, Jazz Band, Improv Comedy Group) and on the unity and diversity they have experienced in mob/ensemble programming. 
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/ri-35oHWIU8  

Mob Station Hardware

While the lean wastes of task switching, defects, handoffs, and relearning are certainty inhibitors of flow for a team, ever seen the waste of waiting on slow hardware muck up the works? What hardware setups for teams, ensembles, and mobs have you seen help keep things flowing? 
Join Chris and Austin as they share experiences with Mob Station Hardware. Chris kicks it off with the end of Moore's Law and the implications for processor architecture. Then they both share on the impact of hardware on test speed (e.g., approval tests) and mob lean flow. After talking about pet vs. cattle hardware, they touch on hardware resilience to failure and mob resiliency to hardware failure.
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/rbrKWObgEbM 

London vs. Detroit Mob TDD

You may have heard of London style Test Driven Development (TDD). You also may have heard of Detroit or Chicago style TDD.However, what do these two styles look like "out in the wild" in real production code? How about on teams collaborating via Ensemble Programming?
Come join Chris and Austin as they share about their mob programming experiences of London TDD and Detroit/Chicago TDD. They not only talk about the pros and cons of each style in practice but they also talk about when they have seen each style done well and each style done poorly. Then they get practical about when to "shift gears" to experiment with a different style to fit the situation of the code and the team/mob.
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/n3thEwckXIs 

Fast Feedback and Fun in iOS Development with Jon Reid

When planning iOS work and writing iOS code, how fast are your feedback loops? How much fun are you having in your work? Are the two things related?
Join Chris and Austin as they discuss with Jon Reid how fast feedback and fun in iOS development was greatly amplified for him. They first dive into discovery trees for visualizing work. Then after some "hot takes" on the state of architecture and design in iOS development, they jump into the impact of technical practices and Extreme Programming (XP) in that iOS world. Lastly, Jon shares on the joys of finally being on a full XP team. 
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/ndxjPNDWUjs  

Optimizing for Personal Fulfillment in Mob Programming with Kelly Rankin

What are things conducive to personal fulfillment at work?Specifically with mob programming, what would it look like to optimize for personal fulfillment?For example, how do you find joy even in the midst of disagreement?
Join Chris and Austin as they discuss with Kelly Rankin "Optimizing for Personal Fulfillment in Mob Programming." Starting with autonomy and fulfillment, they share what that looks like in an ensemble including things that make it harder and things that make it easier. Then they jump into kick starting and maintaining continuous learning. Lastly, they focus on keeping a holistic perspective in the work and the impact of full-stack development, which ultimately goes full circle and ties back into continuous learning and personal fulfillment.
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/cLY6mCjz1UM 

Joining a Mob Not Doing XP

Extreme Programming and Mob Programming go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, have you ever joined an ensemble that was not doing extreme programming?How did you handle it?What reactions were helpful? What reactions were not so helpful?
Join Chris and Austin as they discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly for tactics in regards to joining a mob not doing XP. They share experiences on transparency with non-utopia ensembles including emotional shock and recovery in the midst of the coaching chaos. Then with a "center, enter, turn" mindset, they talk about specific things that have been helpful such as "getting therapy," limiting coaching WIP, "long game" mindset, encouragement, and emphasizing without patronizing.  
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/gDdxTl1KFlQ  

Demo of the Mob Programming RPG (Part 2) with Lisa Crispin, Joe Justice, and Willem Larsen

After having a good time mob programming with introductory roles like driver/navigator, what are some examples of "turning up the good" even more? What are unique ways to help people in the ensemble grow?What mobbing tactics can you employ to improve the product in very particular ways?
Picking up from where they left off last time, come join Chris and Austin having another fantastic time playing the Mob Programming Role Playing Game with Lisa Crispin, Joe Justice, and Willem Larsen. This time, they focus on embodying level 2+ roles like Sponsor, Archivist, Rear Admiral, Nose, Traffic Cop, Automationist, Anthropologist, and Dr. Feel Good. Not only do you get to see how things like "graphic kanban" can be used along side ensemble programming but you also get the feel of some of the many unique ways to contribute in a mob. 
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/V1ZgaX99UJ4 

Demo of the Mob Programming RPG (Part 1) with Lisa Crispin, Joe Justice, and Willem Larsen

Is mob programming a group of people watching one person type? Just a driver and a bunch of watchers?If not, what are some examples of things to do in the ensemble? What roles amplify learning, contribution, continuous improvement, and flow efficiency for all?How can people learn in a safe environment how to take on these mob roles?
Come see the Mob Programming Role Playing Game in action with Chris, Austin, Lisa Crispin, Joe Justice, and Willem Larsen as they focus on role levels 1 and 2. After Willem, creator of the RPG game, introduces the game, they have a fantastic time embodying several roles including Driver, Navigator, Mobber, Researcher, and Sponsor. Not only do they seek to help each other take on the different mob roles, but they also seek to do it with kindness, consideration, and respect. We hope this episode inspires you to play the game with some colleagues and friends and "join the annals of the great mobs of history."
P.S. Stay tuned next week for round 2 of the RPG in action for role levels 3+
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/ixV8YG5vwyM 

Taking Risks... Safely

Ever been on a team that pulled off a big jump in innovation?What things made the quantum leap possible?What helped the team overcome any perceived risk in going for it?
Join Chris and Austin as they share stories and thoughts on "Taking Risks... Safely." First, they talk about following the Scout Rule for 1% gains vs. large improvement leaps. Second, they explore mob psychology in regards to risk and safety nets. Then they discuss making learning and experimentation easy with a limited blast radius including "Yes, and..." techniques vs. a flat "no." Lastly, they cover the impact of leadership, chaos, and "extreme" suggestions. 
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/gf56ES2ZTUE 

The Coaching Paradox

When coaching, when to make it easy? When to let it be hard?How can these two seemingly diametrically opposed objectives work together?
Come join the conversation with Chris and Austin as they brainstorm to try to figure out the "The Coaching Paradox." First, they share about the benefits of making a great environment where it is easy to do good things (e.g., systems thinking, classical culture shaping, etc.). Second, they talk about the pros of developing the ability to do good things even if they are hard (e.g., grit, classical courage and diligence). Then, they hypothesize on how to solve the paradox and bring the two good goals together as a coach.
Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/GexsVYQ4tYo