John H. Thompson, MBA, PMP, CSM, SAFe Adv-SPC 6, LPM, RTE

🚀 Mastering Agile, Lean, and Leadership with Leigh Johnson | Exclusive Interview 🎯 What does it take to drive Agile transformation, process efficiency, and business success? In this insightful conversation, I share my journey as an Agile Coach, Six Sigma Black Belt, and business consultant, discussing how Agile principles, Lean methodologies, and DEI strategies intersect to create high-performing teams and sustainable growth. 🎤 Key takeaways: ✅ How Lean Six Sigma & Agile fuel small business success ✅ The role of OKRs, leadership, and innovation in project management ✅ Insights on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in business transformation ✅ Lessons from leading the National Black MBA Association - Houston Chapter ✅ The intersection of Agility, Business Strategy & Cultural Change 📺 Watch the full interview now! 🔗 Link below and in comments! https://lnkd.in/gi-MEMBH #AgileLeadership #SixSigma #LeanAgile #BusinessTransformation #ProcessImprovement #OKRs #SmallBusinessSuccess #DEI #ProjectManagement #AgileCoach #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessConsulting #DiversityEquityInclusion #LeanSixSigma #Entrepreneurship #AgileMindset 🚀

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90 books to further your learning today [For agilists & change agents] Continuous Improvement begins with you. Here's a curation I made with support from the community Broken down by your area of focus 1. Agile Coaching books (15) 2. Scrum Mastery books (15) 3. Agile & Lean books (15) 4. Agile mindset (19) 5. Facilitation (12) 6. Technical mastery (14) Use it to plan your next read What books would you add? Thanks for reposting - It helps others to learn And follow me to make Continuous Improvement easier P.S - Would you be interested in learning how to apply Continuous Improvement to yourself? My next class starts in June - https://lnkd.in/eMd2X_8C

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Agile was born as a mindset of exploration, not a recipe of fixed practices. In his latest post, PST Gregory Fontaine outlines why organizations thrive when they embrace curiosity, empiricism, and continuous experimentation. https://ow.ly/i5K550WUIUH #Agile #Empiricism

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In this post, PST Mary Iqbal argues that Scrum Teams should focus on customer outcomes, not internal metrics like velocity or throughput. Outcomes create purpose, alignment, and ensure Scrum’s empiricism delivers real value. https://ow.ly/YOfs50X7fhh #ScrumTeams #Empiricism

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Most organizations still think of the PMO as a tracking function — a place to check status and compile reports. But that mindset is keeping them stuck. In my featured article for CIO Magazine, I share how the enterprise PMO can serve as a real-time strategy accelerator. It’s not just about process — it’s about enabling the business to focus, align, and deliver what matters most. 👉 Read it here:  https://lnkd.in/exkaMXJm #IMPACTEnginebook #IMPACTEngineSystem #PMOStrategies #PMO #PMOT #Leadership #ProjectManagement #Transformation #CIO 

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What Your PMP Certification Year Says About You The PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition is on the way, and that means big changes for the PMP certification. 🔹What’s changing? 🔹Will it be harder to pass? 🔹And what does it mean for both new and existing PMPs? This week on PM Therapy, I sat down with Ahmed Ben Hamouda, PMP®, PgMP®, MBA, PMP trainer, thought leader, and one of the most followed PM voices on LinkedIn, to break it all down. If you’re a PM (or planning to get certified soon), you can’t afford to miss this one. 🎧Listen to the full episode. Link in bio or comments! 🔴New live episodes of PM Therapy every Thursday with Mukhtar Kadiri, PMP

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Story points help Agile teams estimate work, but many people misunderstand how they work. In this video, we break down why story points are used, what they represent, and how to apply them effectively in real projects and the PMP exam. #PMP #Agile #StoryPoints

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🛑 In my last post, I said: Stop asking the three questions in your Daily Scrum. https://lnkd.in/gutB2aku And wow—the engagement has been amazing. So many of you shared stories, agreement… and of course, a few “Well, they work for me” comments. Let’s go one step further. If you’re looking for a more effective, team-centered approach to the Daily Scrum, try this: 🧭 Walk the Board. Here’s how it works:    🔹 Start with your Sprint Backlog visualized in a Kanban-style board    🔹 Keep the board simple, To Do, Doing, Done (We can talk about why in a future post)   🔹 Begin in the upper right: the work closest to Done.   🔹 For each task, ask:      👉 “What do we need to do today to move this forward?”        ❗This can be moving it to Done, or moving it into Doing.     🔹 Focus on collaboration, not reporting.    🔹 Move item by item—right to left, top to bottom. This reframes the conversation from individual activity to shared progress. It keeps attention on flow and finishing—two things that truly move the needle. As Jeff Sutherland says: “The Daily Scrum is not about what you did yesterday. It’s about what you are going to do today to move the work forward.” It’s not about what you did. It’s about what we will do. 🦍 Tried Walking the Board? Thinking about it? Drop a comment and let me know how your team approaches the Daily Scrum. Or tag a colleague who’s ready for an upgrade from the old way. #DailyScrum #ScrumTips #AgileFacilitation #TeamEffectiveness #GorillaMoments

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This week reminded me why I love working with PMP candidates. We hosted a focused practice event built around two of the most critical domains in the PMI ECO 2021: Task 1 — Manage Conflict Task 2 — Lead a Team And the energy in the room was incredible. Instead of memorizing theory, candidates stepped into real scenarios — navigating stakeholder tension, reframing conflict as data, and practicing leadership behaviours that actually move teams forward. A few powerful themes emerged: - Conflict isn’t a problem to “fix” — it’s a signal to understand - Leadership shows up in micro‑moments, not job titles - Psychological safety is a project asset, not a “nice to have” - PMs who can regulate themselves can regulate the room - The best decisions come from structured dialogue, not speed and usually depends on the situation Watching candidates debate, negotiate, and collaborate reminded me that PMP prep is not just about passing an exam — it’s about becoming the kind of leader people trust in uncertainty. If you’re curious about how we run these scenario‑based sessions, or you want to see a replay of this week’s event, you can check it out here. It’s a great window into how modern PMs are sharpening the skills that matter most. https://lnkd.in/gha6nyMP

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