In focus: from intern to team leader

Lena's path to Team Coach

Lena Böing
Position:
Team Coach
Age:
35
Education:
B. Sc. Print and Media Technology

"I see myself like a trusted teacher at school"

Lena, tell us about your career: how did your journey from intern to Team Coach at Shopmacher unfold?

I completed a degree in print technology in Wuppertal that also included an e-commerce lecture. Then I had to apply for an internship and looked for something near my home town, and that is how I came to Shopmacher. During the internship I did not yet have a fixed position, but at the same time I was involved in the company's change process, which was just starting. After I was taken on, I began in support and then moved into project management, which fit the skills I brought with me.

What motivates you to keep developing, and what role did Shopmacher play in that?

At the beginning, during my internship and later when I was taken on, everything was new to me and I had to find my way. I tried a lot and found many things exciting. But there was never THE one thing I was really passionate about. Then, when the Scrum framework was introduced as part of the company-wide change process, I was really curious and wanted to learn more about it. Suddenly, with the role of Scrum Master, there was something that interested me a great deal, and I thought: this could be something for me!

How did you come to define the role as Team Coach rather than Scrum Master?

When we started looking into agile software development in 2016, we quickly decided that we wanted to apply the very well documented Scrum framework. Scrum helped us integrate the agile principles into our workflow and made our work more structured and more value-centered. At the same time, we always had to make a few modifications so that we could apply the framework at all in a service and multi-project context.
Today we often use only the artifacts that are relevant to us, like backlog refinement, daily stand-ups and retrospectives, and we partly move away from the classic Scrum structure. We see this as part of our agile evolution: here too we want to keep adapting the way we work and get the best out of different agile approaches for ourselves.

How would you describe the work of a Team Coach at Shopmacher? What do you find especially exciting about it, and why are meetings such an important part of your work?

I see myself a bit like a trusted teacher at school. My job is to clear problems out of the way so our specialists can work undisturbed. Alongside many one-on-one conversations, I organize team meetings, help shape internal team processes and support the development of my colleagues. That is a lot of meetings, but my role also means a lot of communication. There is an exchange on all levels, and I am sure these interactions are essential to ensure effective, cross-team communication.
In the end, by creating this role Shopmacher made a kind of bet. But the higher employee satisfaction, the better working atmosphere and more efficient work in the teams prove us right.

As someone who has moved through different roles in the company, how has your view of Shopmacher and its culture changed?

From my initial perspective within the team, an overall view of our company, our "ecosystem", has developed. For me it is important to keep all perspectives in mind, from the individual person, to the team, to the higher-level view of Shopmacher.

What are the challenges in your current role and how do you deal with them?

I offer ideas, but I do not have to have THE one solution. With team member A I have to approach things in a certain way, with person B perhaps in a completely different one. Besides being the organizer, I get to be coach, guide and mediator too. I could not have taken my own path the way I did if I had not held the various roles here. By doing all of this, I feel effective, and that gives me a lot!

How does Shopmacher support you in your personal and professional development?

Above all through targeted development reviews. I have concrete goals and agreements that I can measure myself against. Beyond that, I had the chance to take part in leadership coaching with Thankscoach. And if I want to learn something extra, network at meet-ups or attend a particular industry conference, I have a good chance of being able to do that too.

Are there any current trends or technologies in project management or Scrum that particularly interest you?

I currently find the questions "What comes after Scrum?" and "What if Scrum is not the right thing?" very exciting, and I read a lot about them. The topics from the agile world also keep circling around "New Work", which, with all its facets, is always present too.

What would you advise someone who wants to take a similar career path to yours?

It takes a bit of experience. Either by having already worked in a similar role at another company (for example Scrum Master, Agile Coach) or, as in my case, by having held a different role within the same company. A complete "cold start" is rather difficult.

Lena, you have taken an impressive career path at Shopmacher. Is there a personal philosophy or motto that accompanies you in your career and your life?

No, I do not have a real, overarching motto. But I really like the thought 'No matter how big the challenge is, I am not alone with it.' And that goes for both my private life and my work.