Each Monday in SAFe Connect, we shine a light on one of our incredible members. Then on Wednesday, that same member shares their Tip of the Week—a practical insight or ritual that helps them and their teams thrive. This week, our spotlight member Steve Burke , Advanced SPC and Agile coach, shares three lessons you can apply right away. 1. Make PI Planning a Ritual, Not a Meeting.
“Never underestimate the power of a well-facilitated PI Planning. In complex environments, clarity is currency—and PI Planning is where you mint it. Invest in preparation, visual storytelling, and psychological safety. Make it more than a planning event—make it a ritual of alignment, trust, and shared ownership.”
2. Start Each Day with Intention.
“My go-to productivity ritual is ‘time-boxed intention setting.’ At the start of each day, I ask: What’s the one thing I can do today that will make everything else easier or unnecessary? Then I block time for it. It’s a mix of Essentialism and SAFe’s focus on flow.”
3. Lead with Transparency.
“The best advice I ever received was to stop ‘protecting’ teams and start connecting them. Transparency builds trust—and trust builds velocity.”
