The software landscape is changing. Processes are becoming quicker and leaner, but instead of re-evaluating some of our traditional practices, we sometimes try to make them fit where they don't belong. This holds back continuous improvement. If you want change, you first need to be willing to change.

Any time you get the opportunity to attend a conference, think of it as a chance to learn and bring some new ideas back to your team and company. It’s important to be intentional as you prepare and to know what you want to achieve. Here are ten strategies—and a worksheet—to help you get the most out of the experience.

This idea of a team in charge of itself is difficult for many people to accept. Traditional practices condition us to wait for someone to tell us what to do, and managers are accustomed to controlling everyone’s work and knowing everyone’s status. But agile teams can manage themselves—in fact, it's essential to agile.