This document provides tips for high-performing distributed agile teams. It suggests using video conferencing, having good lighting and sound quality, and defining communication etiquettes. Regular stand-ups and working out loud help remote teams collaborate effectively. While technology has improved, establishing norms and easy communication are most important for distributed success.

1. H O W T O B E A H I G H -
P E R F O R M I N G D I S T R I B U T E D
A G I L E T E A M
simple tips and tools to work online as if you were in the office together
@lightling

2. You are agile
practitioners…
many HAVE TO
work with
distributed
teams.

3. You’ve heard that
teams have to be face-
to-face to be agile.
CAN WE BE
EFACE-TO-EFACE?

4. 2001

5. 2001

6. 2001

7. 2001

8. In the past,
REMOTE
COMMUNICATION
has been notoriously
BAD.

9. And let’s be honest,
SOME THINGS ARE
STILL BAD.
(Ahem…Skype for Business.)

10. SLIDO.COM
EVENT CODE #9311
A
B
C
D
I feel shy. AI STILL USE A SPIDERPHONE.
WHAT’S A SPIDERPHONE?
I USE SKYPE FOR BUSINESS
AND I LOVE IT.
I USE SKYPE FOR BUSINESS
AND I DO NOT LOVE IT.
@lightling

11. A lot has
happened in the
last five years.
TAKE
ANOTHER
LOOK!

12. FIRST, PROOF THAT IT’S POSSIBLE!

15. c o l l a b o r a t i o n s u p e r p o w e r s . c o m / P O D C A S T S

16. www.collaborationsuperpowers.com/book
@lightling

17. THERE’S NO ONE
RIGHT WAY

18. M A K E
C O M M U N I C A T I N G
E A S Y
W H A T I S
N O R M A L ?
W O R K O U T
L O U D
@lightling

19. M AK E CO M M UNICATING EASY

20. People think they
want to be co-located
What they really want
is HIGH BANDWITH
COMMUNICATION.

22. Use GOOD
EQUIPMENT.

23. I N F O P R E S E N C E

24. M E E T I N G O W L

25. Use VIDEO.

26. SLIDO.COM
EVENT CODE #9311
QUESTION:
I don’t turn on my
video because…
A
B
C
D
E
F
I FEEL SHY.
I JUST DON’T LIKE VIDEO.
I’M IN MY CASUAL CLOTHES.
THERE ARE DISTRACTING
THINGS IN MY BACKGROUND.
I WANT TO MULTITASK
WITHOUT OTHERS KNOWING.
I DO USE VIDEO!

27. Have GOOD
LIGHTING.

28. Pay
attention to
SOUND
QUALITY.

29. WHAT IS NORMAL?

30. Define your ETIQUETTES.
MEETING | EMAIL | CALENDAR | HOME OFFICE | TASKS | SLACK

31. M A K E
C O M M U N I C A T I N G
E A S Y
W H A T I S
N O R M A L ?
W O R K O U T
L O U D
@lightling

32. WORK OUT LOUD

33. Hold daily
STAND-UPS.

34. iDoneThis

35. webcam

36. Sococo

37. Kubi

39. BeamPro

40. rumii

41. Holograms
Tupac Shakur’s “hologram” at Coachella Christopher Polk/Getty Images

42. @lightling

43. You’d like to
know how
SUCCESSFUL
DISTRIBUTED
AGILE TEAMS
are making it
WORK.

44. M A K E
C O M M U N I C A T I N G
E A S Y
W H A T I S
N O R M A L ?
W O R K O U T
L O U D
@lightling

45. THERE’S NO ONE
RIGHT WAY

46. SLIDO.COM
EVENT CODE #9311
I use Skype for Business
and I DO NOT love it.
QUESTION:
To enhance my virtual
team experience, I’m
going to…
A
B
C
D
E
F
UPGRADE MY INTERNET CONNECTION.
INVEST IN BETTER EQUIPMENT.
USE VIDEO.
CREATE A TEAM AGREEMENT.
TRY A VIRTUAL OFFICE OR
TELEPRESENCE.
WORK OUT LOUD.
@lightling