Mastering PI Planning - Leadership Beyond the Framework

"PI Planning is where the framework meets reality—it’s a test of alignment, collaboration, and leadership." - Stephan Neck

In this episode of SPCs Unleashed, hosts Stephan Neck, Niko Kaintantzis, and Ali Hajou explore one of SAFe's cornerstone activities: PI Planning. The trio leads an engaging discussion about how SPCs can elevate their organizations’ PI Planning sessions from mere rituals to transformative events.

The conversation illuminates the evolving role of SPCs in guiding teams through successful PI Planning while balancing the need for structure, adaptability, and human connection.

Key Highlights:

• PI Planning as a Leadership Opportunity:
  • The hosts emphasize the critical role of SPCs in facilitating alignment, fostering collaboration, and addressing potential bottlenecks before they escalate.
  • Niko describes PI Planning as “a mirror for the organization,” reflecting its culture, communication, and leadership dynamics.
• Preparation is Key:
  • Stephan outlines best practices for pre-PI Planning preparation, such as ensuring backlog readiness, clarifying team goals, and engaging with stakeholders early.
• The Art of Collaboration:
  • Ali discusses how SPCs can act as mediators during the session, ensuring cross-team dependencies are identified and resolved while encouraging open dialogue.
• Adaptability in Action:
  • The trio highlights the importance of remaining flexible when things don’t go as planned, sharing real-world examples where improvisation saved the day.

Practical Advice for SPCs

• Start with Clear Objectives: Define what success looks like for the PI Planning session and align teams around shared goals.
• Focus on Dependencies: Encourage teams to identify and address cross-team dependencies during breakout sessions.
• Create Psychological Safety: Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable voicing concerns or challenging assumptions.
• Leverage Metrics: Use relevant metrics to track progress and ensure alignment throughout the session.

Conclusion

PI Planning is more than a meeting—it’s a dynamic space where vision becomes actionable, alignment is tested, and SPCs have the opportunity to lead by example. This episode offers practical insights to help SPCs elevate PI Planning from a framework activity to a transformative event.

References

• "Team of Teams" by General Stanley McChrystal
• "The Phoenix Project" by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford