PO wants too much? They try to shove requirements in the mid-sprint? Here are a few ideas on how to pushback correctly.

1. Scrum master Pushback tips Gil Nahmias, CSP

2. How many times have you heard this… We need these 5 features done by the end of July But we can only finish 3 by July... Try harder! Do Overtime! Please prioritize for us Manager Team It already is. All is must. Ok we will do our best... 

3. Back home… I’ve convinced them to do more! Yay!  This project is so failing...  Manager Team

4. What do you think is going to happen, ultimately?

6. Stress

7. Quality issues over stress

9. It’s a scale Bad surprises Always “Yes” Spineless Pushback Poor improvement driver Always “No”, Comfort zone

10. Consider 4 different endings...

11. different ending – using visibility We need these 5 features done by the end of July After estimating, it seems like 3 first features will probably get done. 4th feature – maybe and last one will probably not get done by July. But we need all of them! Deliver all the features! Manager Team Well we can SAY we will deliver. That won’t change reality. However we promise to let you know once our prediction changes. Ok. keep me in the loop.

12. Different ending – smaller bites We need these 5 features done by the end of July As it is, seems too big. Can you chop them into smaller pieces? How is that going to help? This way we can identify sub-stories we can live without, or ones to give some other team with more capacity. Manager Team Can you start working before breaking down? In the coming 2 weeks – yes. Not later. Enough time to get ready on your end?

13. Different ending – there is more money than time We need these 5 features done by the end of July Looks like a lot of work. Help? I can extend the team Too late to add people now (see: Brooks’s Law). But we can use manpower in other ways Manager Team I’m all ears The new guys can help by taking easy and managerial tasks off our load so we can focus on the special things only we can do.

15. Have the product guys test the business

16. And we need a faster build serverManager Team I can filter noise and talk to the product. Build server is out of reach now. What can you do with that?

17. Remember: Pushback is an advanced scrum master skill! Use it wisely.

18. Not sure? Ask me more! gil@agilesparks.com myagile.co.il @gilnahmias