We recently connected with Jessica Bahr and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jessica with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from being raised around people who expected a lot from me, from seeing those same people hold themselves accountable for their own integrity, and from others reinforcing that I was capable of achieving.
My parents expected me to do well and praised me when I did. I faced hardships in life, and I stumbled through my formative years with not much direction. I would joke (well into my 30s) that I just need to figure out “what I want to be when I grow up.” I have made and still do make mistakes, but I have high expectations because that was my environment, and I saw others act with integrity. I would continue to receive the message from others that I was capable and relied upon.
Rather than focusing on surveys and meetings to create action items, I believe it is so crucial for leaders to create environments of success. So asking ourselves, how are we reinforcing this system of people so that their collective integrity matters? Teams are not simply people that work together, they are people who trust each other. You lead by example. You hold yourself to a high standard and expect the same from those you delegate. Accountability matters. Accountability is compelling.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
When my friends and family ask what I do for a living, my answer has become: I coach individuals, teams, and organizations into increasing levels of effectiveness and process maturity, enabling them to deliver high-quality results to their customers. I do this work with software teams now, as a Scrum Master, but I also provide leadership to a scaled program and an enterprise with lofty goals in a complex, fast-paced, environment with shifting priorities and strong commitments. I’m a team coach, mentor, trainer, and facilitator.
The life of a Scrum Master can be a wild ride, but for me, it is quite satisfying. I work with software engineers who are responsible for pushing our society, collectively, into a digital future. It’s amazing to be part of the iterative approach that helps them deliver these systems of the future!
My focus now is on growing the next generation of Scrum Masters into deeply-skilled, intentional, servant leaders. I coach and mentor a small group of freshly minted Scrum Masters who want to break into their first role and also newly transitioned Scrum Masters who want to mature their skills as facilitators. This work really brings me joy and ignites the fires of purpose in my heart. Sharing the lessons I’ve learned along my journey gives me hope that they will surpass my own aptitude and truly advance the art of Agile.
I currently take coaching and mentoring clients through my profile on MentorCruise.com (https://mentorcruise.com/mentor/jessicabahr/) or by messages to my LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagbahr/).
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I hope everyone can really lean into self-advocacy, specifically in these three ways –
1) Asking for what you want / not self-rejecting / stating your goals
It is so important to identify leaders that will support your journey and then share your intentions and goals with them. Do not filter yourself out of an opportunity by assuming anything about their response to your stated desires. The answer is “No” for 100% of the questions you don’t ask. So, start asking because, at some point, you’ll be in proximity to an opportunity you want to be considered for.
2) Put in the work to hone your craft and manage yourself
Let it be known that you are willing to put in the work it takes to grow your skills, then do that work. Share your journey with others, both to build your network and to promote a growth mindset in others. Follow industry thought leaders on LinkedIn. Listen to relevant podcasts and read recommended books. Join virtual coaching circles and become members of local professional organizations. The work you do is important, so give it the attention it deserves. We are in the business of changing lives, one user experience and product workflow at a time.
And it isn’t easy! Personalities clash. Tempers flare. Targets are missed. And it can feel heavy. Support yourself and invest in your own mental health care practices. Prioritize them with the same zest and vigor as any project at work because your mental health and ability to stay calm under pressure are part of the value you bring to a team or organization.
3) Success starts in your mind before it’s ever an outcome
Humans have a funny way of manifesting exactly what we believe about life. If you expect success, you will notice and discover opportunities to enable that success, or you will change how you define success, or you will outsource or devise one or several of an infinite amount of options to make that success a thing. Conversely, if you believe that you are not deserving of success or that you can’t be successful because of something, then the outcomes will never be far off from this expectation.
We believe and have faith before we experience the outcome. We work hard to give ourselves the best chance for a positive turnout. In this way, we fulfill our own prophecies.
I was able to recognize and improve these areas in myself by regularly meeting with a professional coach who helped me uncover the underlying assumptions that kept me from moving past my own blockers. I was able to create action plans and accountability to move myself out of the ruts I’d dug for many years.
None of what I’ve mentioned above is easy, so having someone to help support your emotions as you balance on the growing edge of your skills is so very helpful and comforting.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I have found that the most successful clients of mine are those who are open to discovering new things about themselves and their surroundings and who will create accountability mechanisms for themselves. (These mechanisms have as many flavors as there are humans, maybe more.)
My goal is to bring forward the power of what is already present in my clients and help them organize an approach based on their measures of success. I want the person who is working with me to invest in this partnership and do the work required to hone their craft. A person doesn’t even necessarily need to know what they want, so long as they know they want to take the next right step and do the work to figure it out. Honesty is important. Motivation is also important. Willingness is key. Accountability is everything.
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