This week I’m finishing up an Agile sprint. Not just any sprint, though, my last sprint as a technical writer embedded on a sprint team at ASI. I’ve learned so much there in the last couple of years that I’ve decided to make a go at consulting. I want to help people with content strategy, social media, and any tools they need along the way such as collaborative authoring, wikis, web content management systems, or DITA.
This week is my last Agile sprint for a while, but I think I’ll adopt some Agile principles and apply them to my new work lifestyle as an advisor for LugIron and a contractor for Informatica here in Austin.
- Only deliver things that an actual customer would find useful.
- Deliver something that I consider to be done, shippable, and customer- ready.
- You can do any task, no matter how daunting, if you slice it thin enough.
- You should list and prioritize all tasks, large and small, that get you incrementally closer to your goals.
- Create prototypes all the time, no matter how rough or simplistic. Keep polishing as you go.
- Reflect periodically, and change what’s not working well.
- Understand the business goals. Clarify when needed by asking questions and seeking the details.
- Welcome changing expectations and requirements. Embrace change.
- Maintain a sustainable pace. I should be able to maintain a constant pace forever.
- And if all else fails, don’t overthink it, and go get a beer.