Dana Pylayeva discusses self-selection practices for building high-performing teams at Hudson's Bay Company, outlining preparation steps for management, process, participants, and the physical space needed for the initiative. She emphasizes the importance of insightful team pitches and balancing individual interests with company needs during the selection process. The document also addresses addressing fears associated with self-selection, particularly after organizational restructuring.

1. @GoAgileCamp
#AgileCamp2017
2017
Self Selection.
Dana Pylayeva
Building and Sustaining
High-Performing Teams.
@DanaPylayeva
Agile Coach,
Hudson’s Bay Company

2. What is the
size of your
typical
team?Who creates
teams in your
organization?
@DanaPylayeva

3. Co-organizer
I am speaking:
Global Scrum Gathering
Dublin
Regional Scrum Gathering
South Africa
ConTEST NYC by Test
Masters Academy
Author
Agile Coach,
CSM, CSPO, CSP,
TBR-CT
@DanaPylayeva
dpylayeva@gmail.com
NYC Scrum User Group
Play4Agile North America
Agile Coach Camp US
Big Apple Scrum Day

4. @DanaPylayeva

6. @DanaPylayeva

7. @DanaPylayeva

8. Self-Selection at HBC Tech
39 people, 4 new
feature teams
@DanaPylayeva

10. Management
Yourself Process Space
Participants
1 53
2 4
@DanaPylayeva

11. 1. Prepare Yourself
Learn about self-selection.
Connect with others,
who’s done it before.
Get your elevator pitch
ready!
@DanaPylayeva

12. Help them solve a real issue.
Frame it as an experiment.
Build confidence with
a small trial run.
2. Prepare Management
@DanaPylayeva

13. 3. Prepare The Process
Work with team leads
(fine-tune the process,
create teams’ blueprints.)
Clarify the participants list.
Define your information
sharing strategy.
@DanaPylayeva

14. 1. Personalize a card
with your name and
a self-portrait sketch.
2. Complete the card
with your team
ingredients.

15. Coach team leads on their
Initiative pitches.
Create individual
Participants’ Cards
(with team ingredients)
Host Q&A sessions,
1x1s, create a
Slack channel.
4. Prepare participants
@DanaPylayeva

16. 5. Prepare The Space
A Large room with an ample space for initiative
pitches and team corners.
Rules Posters, Teams’ Blueprints, Participants Cards.
Don’t forget the food and beverages!
@DanaPylayeva

17. 1. At your table, discuss
what you learnt about
self-selection preparation.
2. Draw a
“Self-Selection Prep”
poster together.
@DanaPylayeva

18. @DanaPylayeva
Select-A-Team
Rules &
Pitches
Teams Blueprint
Check
Team Liftoff
Transition Plan
1 3
2
Coaching

19. Facilitator: Remind the rules of
the event.
Team Leaders - Pitch the
business values and learning
opportunities of your
initiative.
Participants:
Mark the choices on
your card, prioritize.
1. Rules & Pitches
@DanaPylayeva

20. 2. Select-A-Team
Place your card on your #1
choice team (or “Available
to Help”) poster.
Talk to team leaders and
new teammates.
Balance your interests with
the needs of the company.
@DanaPylayeva

21. Have all teams got enough
people interested to work on
each initiative?
Do the new members bring all
the required team ingredients in
every team?
Do we need one more round
to rebalance the teams?
3. Teams Blueprint Check
@DanaPylayeva

22. Dealing With Fear
Self-selection after a major
re-structuring.
“Gym class” memories.
Fear of unknown.
@DanaPylayeva

25. We need 6 Teams to build
6 Mobile Apps
for local markets.
Each team will get to spend
1 month in their region to
learn about local culture.
5 – 9 people
(including Product Owner
and Scrum Master).

27. Kyoto NYC
Jenny

29. @DanaPylayeva