In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah talks with Jeff Langr, a software coach, author, and longtime XP advocate. Jeff has helped teams across dozens of companies navigate Agile, pairing, and collaborative programming practices.

Jack and Jeff dig into the surprising downsides of traditional agile software development and how mob programming offers a more inclusive and sustainable way to work. Jeff also shares what works (and doesn’t) about return-to-office efforts and why many organizations are failing to support effective remote collaboration.

Highlights:

• The two rules for making mob programming effective
• Rotations, engagement, and how to avoid team lead dominance
• How Jeff helped skeptics embrace mobbing

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) – Kicking things off with Jeff Langr

(01:20) – Why mob programming beats solo and pair workflows

(04:15) – Reducing work in progress to boost team flow

(06:12) – The hidden time costs of traditional agile rituals

(08:53) – What makes mob programming a bad choice

(14:26) – How to keep everyone engaged (in-person vs remote)

(18:35) – The two rules every mob team should follow

(23:48) – Navigating fear and vulnerability in mobbing

(24:26) – Turning a skeptic into a mob programming advocate

(25:41) – Why return-to-office pushes often reflect leadership failure

Where to connect further:

Connect with Jeff Langr on LinkedIn and his website

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Connect with Jack Hannah