How We Completely Turned Around Silo Mentality in Just 3 Months
A: “Hey! I wanted to talk to you about the importance of testing our stories and how it helps us know when something is truly ‘Done.’ I know sometimes it may seem like testing is a separate responsibility, but it’s…
Here’s Why Chasing Industry Standards Holds Your Software Development Teams Back
Last Sunday, my husband finished the Antwerp Half Marathon, something he was really looking forward to. He was so determined! He stuck to a special diet, followed his training plan like clockwork, and made sure to get plenty of rest….
3 Simple Tips to Elevate Your Flow Metrics
Managing flow isn’t just about delivering results predictably. It’s also about making reliable data-driven decisions that lead to consistent business outcomes. “Sonya, what exactly is flow?” Simply put, flow means work goes smoothly without interruptions. Think of this concept in…
How to Handle Outliers in Data: The Path to Improved Predictability
To keep or discard, that’s the dilemma in handling data outliers. Should they be removed? A client recently asked, “Would eliminating these outliers make our forecasts better?” Instead of giving you a simple “yes” or “no,” let’s break it down…
How to Identify Team Productivity Issues in 3 Steps
Ever since I brought my team together, I’ve been on a constant quest for improvement. Optimizing our work processes, speeding up deliveries, finding ways to engage and motivate the team, just name it. It’s been a continuous journey right from…
What Is the Ideal Sprint Length in Scrum?
I could have spent our time together today to talk about all kinds of practices when it comes to determining the perfect sprint length for your Scrum team. However, I’d prefer to offer an alternative perspective instead. While fixed timeboxes…
Strategies for Risk Mitigation: How to Make Reliable Delivery Commitments
How can we make reliable delivery commitments when there is so much uncertainty that we have to deal with? How can we mitigate the risk of failure while managing realistic expectations? The secret lies in accepting that there is more…
How to Identify the One Problem You Should Focus On Right Now to Build Better Products Faster (In 3 Easy Steps!)
Are you struggling to make real progress in improving your processes? What if I told you there’s a straightforward three-step exercise that can help you identify the one obstacle holding you back? If you’re anything like me, you’d love a…
The Fundamental Mistake Most Teams Make When Visualizing Their Workflows (+ How to Avoid It)
How do you visualize your process on a board to set your team up for success and get the most out of your data? You might think: “Just create a few columns and add the names of your steps.” Sounds…
How to Reduce Cycle Time Variability through Right-Sizing
What does it take to deliver on your commitments? Do you need a team of people who are proficient in estimating how much time the work takes? Or perhaps, all of your items should be of the same size? Not…
Meet the Author

Sonya Siderova is a passionate product manager and a driving force behind Nave, a Kanban analytics suite that helps teams improve their delivery speed through data-driven decision making. When she's not catering to her two little ones, you might find Sonya absorbed in a good heavyweight boxing match or behind a screen crafting a new blog post.