Harry Bailey
@harrybailey.com
Agency (creative/digital) ways of working and project delivery thoughts. Crafter of trusted tactics.
Ex-Agency Founder | Dad | Mancunian 🐝
Tactical Delivery Habits: harrybailey.com/framework/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harrybailey
Ex-Agency Founder | Dad | Mancunian 🐝
Tactical Delivery Habits: harrybailey.com/framework/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harrybailey
Pinned
Harry Bailey
@harrybailey.com
· Mar 29
Harry Bailey - Agency Project Delivery Expert
Two decades of experience. Harry helps agencies de-risk project delivery. Client alignment, scope creep & overruns. Find out more...
harrybailey.com
Hi new peeps, 👋🏻 I’m Harry Bailey.
I solve tricky client project delivery challenges with agencies teams.
Ensuring successful, profitable projects and stronger client relationships.
Questions? DM me! Or learn more on harrybailey.com #ClientSuccess #AgencyLife #ProjectManagement
I solve tricky client project delivery challenges with agencies teams.
Ensuring successful, profitable projects and stronger client relationships.
Questions? DM me! Or learn more on harrybailey.com #ClientSuccess #AgencyLife #ProjectManagement
Schrödinger's ticket. Work assigned to people who also have multiple other tickets assigned.
The ticket's work is both not being done and being done depending on who is asking. You can only find out by confirming what the person is actually working on.
The ticket's work is both not being done and being done depending on who is asking. You can only find out by confirming what the person is actually working on.
November 20, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Schrödinger's ticket. Work assigned to people who also have multiple other tickets assigned.
The ticket's work is both not being done and being done depending on who is asking. You can only find out by confirming what the person is actually working on.
The ticket's work is both not being done and being done depending on who is asking. You can only find out by confirming what the person is actually working on.
"an over-reliance on Earth." - I had to read that 3 times.
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
November 20, 2025 at 9:32 PM
"an over-reliance on Earth." - I had to read that 3 times.
It's always fascinated me that double dashes were used in place of em dashes in the principles of the Agile Manifesto / Manifesto for Agile Software Development / MASD.
"Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential. "
Keyboard limitation, human error, or AI forsight?
"Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential. "
Keyboard limitation, human error, or AI forsight?
November 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
It's always fascinated me that double dashes were used in place of em dashes in the principles of the Agile Manifesto / Manifesto for Agile Software Development / MASD.
"Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential. "
Keyboard limitation, human error, or AI forsight?
"Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential. "
Keyboard limitation, human error, or AI forsight?
A lot of software people in pain today based on my slacks and chats.
Remember to postmortem and retro when you can. They’re your path to less pain next time.
Stakeholders won’t all swallow “It’s Cloudflare’s fault.” repeatedly.
Remember to postmortem and retro when you can. They’re your path to less pain next time.
Stakeholders won’t all swallow “It’s Cloudflare’s fault.” repeatedly.
November 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A lot of software people in pain today based on my slacks and chats.
Remember to postmortem and retro when you can. They’re your path to less pain next time.
Stakeholders won’t all swallow “It’s Cloudflare’s fault.” repeatedly.
Remember to postmortem and retro when you can. They’re your path to less pain next time.
Stakeholders won’t all swallow “It’s Cloudflare’s fault.” repeatedly.
There’s a balance needed between delivering work, and delivery improvement.
It can be hard to stop the work pressures swallowing all the time up, but without the balance you see a lot of work being done, but it likely isn’t of the quality you’d like.
It can be hard to stop the work pressures swallowing all the time up, but without the balance you see a lot of work being done, but it likely isn’t of the quality you’d like.
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
There’s a balance needed between delivering work, and delivery improvement.
It can be hard to stop the work pressures swallowing all the time up, but without the balance you see a lot of work being done, but it likely isn’t of the quality you’d like.
It can be hard to stop the work pressures swallowing all the time up, but without the balance you see a lot of work being done, but it likely isn’t of the quality you’d like.
"How can we make our event pages as unreadible as possible?"
"I know... a moving background options. Perfect."
What were luma thinking?
Warning.. it's a lot... luma.com/3133upkx
"I know... a moving background options. Perfect."
What were luma thinking?
Warning.. it's a lot... luma.com/3133upkx
November 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
"How can we make our event pages as unreadible as possible?"
"I know... a moving background options. Perfect."
What were luma thinking?
Warning.. it's a lot... luma.com/3133upkx
"I know... a moving background options. Perfect."
What were luma thinking?
Warning.. it's a lot... luma.com/3133upkx
Nice
I’d add showing vulnerability
I’d add showing vulnerability
Build credibility in your teams by:
• Helping peers
• Owning outcomes
• Communicating early
• Doing what you promised
• Helping peers
• Owning outcomes
• Communicating early
• Doing what you promised
November 14, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Nice
I’d add showing vulnerability
I’d add showing vulnerability
“If AI generates it, how will we understand and maintain it?”
If a team mate generates it, how do you understand and maintain it?
If you generate it, how will your future self understand and maintain it?
If a team mate generates it, how do you understand and maintain it?
If you generate it, how will your future self understand and maintain it?
November 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
“If AI generates it, how will we understand and maintain it?”
If a team mate generates it, how do you understand and maintain it?
If you generate it, how will your future self understand and maintain it?
If a team mate generates it, how do you understand and maintain it?
If you generate it, how will your future self understand and maintain it?
People who travel with two pairs of headphones all have a devastating story about headphone failure or loss.
November 14, 2025 at 6:53 AM
People who travel with two pairs of headphones all have a devastating story about headphone failure or loss.
Today was full of things falling into place. Nice when that happens.
It’s not even a Friday.
It’s not even a Friday.
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Today was full of things falling into place. Nice when that happens.
It’s not even a Friday.
It’s not even a Friday.
Everyone wants a village, but not everyone wants to be a villager.
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Everyone wants a village, but not everyone wants to be a villager.
The Ruby / DHH situation fascinates me, despite my distance from the community.
Another great piece here.
Another great piece here.
This was such a good essay, I hope every member of the Rails core team will read it.
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
okayfail.com/2025/in-prai...
In Praise of dhh
A reflection on Ruby's past, present, and future.
okayfail.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The Ruby / DHH situation fascinates me, despite my distance from the community.
Another great piece here.
Another great piece here.
Reposted by Harry Bailey
Today is the last day to submit a session proposal for next year's Agile Manchester conference: agilemanchester.net/call-for-ses...
The event will take place from 13-14 May
Tickets now available. Discount for freelancers.
The event will take place from 13-14 May
Tickets now available. Discount for freelancers.
Call for Sessions
Our Agile Manchester 2026 Call for Sessions is open
agilemanchester.net
November 10, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Today is the last day to submit a session proposal for next year's Agile Manchester conference: agilemanchester.net/call-for-ses...
The event will take place from 13-14 May
Tickets now available. Discount for freelancers.
The event will take place from 13-14 May
Tickets now available. Discount for freelancers.
100 - % time building the thing = X
X is the discussions, handovers, testing & deployment.
X is often the bottleneck.
X is where most of the waste is found.
But we obsess about estimating and measurement of build time.
X is the discussions, handovers, testing & deployment.
X is often the bottleneck.
X is where most of the waste is found.
But we obsess about estimating and measurement of build time.
November 7, 2025 at 1:51 PM
100 - % time building the thing = X
X is the discussions, handovers, testing & deployment.
X is often the bottleneck.
X is where most of the waste is found.
But we obsess about estimating and measurement of build time.
X is the discussions, handovers, testing & deployment.
X is often the bottleneck.
X is where most of the waste is found.
But we obsess about estimating and measurement of build time.
I still chuckle occasionally about the naming of The World Series.
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I still chuckle occasionally about the naming of The World Series.
Drafted a new talk today. Now I just need to grow the balls to submit it.
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Drafted a new talk today. Now I just need to grow the balls to submit it.
Children seem to all use 'AI' in place of any content generation — text, image or video — involving a computer.
"Is that AI?" - "No it's CGI"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's a script"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's MIDI sequencing"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's Procedural animation"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's CGI"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's a script"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's MIDI sequencing"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's Procedural animation"
November 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Children seem to all use 'AI' in place of any content generation — text, image or video — involving a computer.
"Is that AI?" - "No it's CGI"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's a script"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's MIDI sequencing"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's Procedural animation"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's CGI"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's a script"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's MIDI sequencing"
"Is that AI?" - "No it's Procedural animation"
Reposted by Harry Bailey
A fantastic piece of data journalism from Sky News. A masterclass of data visualisation. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
A fantastic piece of data journalism from Sky News. A masterclass of data visualisation. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
"We don't deploy on Fridays" is a statement I always have to dig into.
Like if somebody says, "I don't like Christmas", you need to know what experiences led to that.
Like if somebody says, "I don't like Christmas", you need to know what experiences led to that.
November 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
"We don't deploy on Fridays" is a statement I always have to dig into.
Like if somebody says, "I don't like Christmas", you need to know what experiences led to that.
Like if somebody says, "I don't like Christmas", you need to know what experiences led to that.
I recently wrote about juniors being a barometer for great ways of working.
One part of that approach has to be pair coding.
A habit that is often seen as a distraction and a waste actually fosters all the key elements of strong autonomous teams.
One part of that approach has to be pair coding.
A habit that is often seen as a distraction and a waste actually fosters all the key elements of strong autonomous teams.
Onboarding through pair programming - Harry Bailey
There was a manager I worked with recently who was having serious trouble with their onboarding process. Working with several teams of between 5 and 8 developers, the business was growing fast and rec...
harrybailey.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I recently wrote about juniors being a barometer for great ways of working.
One part of that approach has to be pair coding.
A habit that is often seen as a distraction and a waste actually fosters all the key elements of strong autonomous teams.
One part of that approach has to be pair coding.
A habit that is often seen as a distraction and a waste actually fosters all the key elements of strong autonomous teams.
Random coffees are great.
I spent 30 minutes today chatting way comparing agency delivery to gov delivery.
What’s the same? What’s different? How might one approach help the another?
Both of us came away with fresh insights and ideas.
I spent 30 minutes today chatting way comparing agency delivery to gov delivery.
What’s the same? What’s different? How might one approach help the another?
Both of us came away with fresh insights and ideas.
November 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Random coffees are great.
I spent 30 minutes today chatting way comparing agency delivery to gov delivery.
What’s the same? What’s different? How might one approach help the another?
Both of us came away with fresh insights and ideas.
I spent 30 minutes today chatting way comparing agency delivery to gov delivery.
What’s the same? What’s different? How might one approach help the another?
Both of us came away with fresh insights and ideas.
It can be tempting to be all positive and confident at project kickoff, that’s what people want to see and hear.
But the start of a project is a great time to ensure success, not just hope for it.
A quick “If this project failed six months from now, what would likely have caused it?” can help.
But the start of a project is a great time to ensure success, not just hope for it.
A quick “If this project failed six months from now, what would likely have caused it?” can help.
November 5, 2025 at 7:16 PM
It can be tempting to be all positive and confident at project kickoff, that’s what people want to see and hear.
But the start of a project is a great time to ensure success, not just hope for it.
A quick “If this project failed six months from now, what would likely have caused it?” can help.
But the start of a project is a great time to ensure success, not just hope for it.
A quick “If this project failed six months from now, what would likely have caused it?” can help.
Some big-org customer service is wild. Brsk broadband for example:
B: Here's your renewal offer
Me: Sounds good, I accept
B: Done. We've applied a different offer. Pay up.
Me: wtf?
B: Sorry about the missunderstanding. Pay up though.
Me: wtf?
B: Yeah we said X, but we meant Y.
Me: wtf?
B: Problem?
B: Here's your renewal offer
Me: Sounds good, I accept
B: Done. We've applied a different offer. Pay up.
Me: wtf?
B: Sorry about the missunderstanding. Pay up though.
Me: wtf?
B: Yeah we said X, but we meant Y.
Me: wtf?
B: Problem?
November 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Some big-org customer service is wild. Brsk broadband for example:
B: Here's your renewal offer
Me: Sounds good, I accept
B: Done. We've applied a different offer. Pay up.
Me: wtf?
B: Sorry about the missunderstanding. Pay up though.
Me: wtf?
B: Yeah we said X, but we meant Y.
Me: wtf?
B: Problem?
B: Here's your renewal offer
Me: Sounds good, I accept
B: Done. We've applied a different offer. Pay up.
Me: wtf?
B: Sorry about the missunderstanding. Pay up though.
Me: wtf?
B: Yeah we said X, but we meant Y.
Me: wtf?
B: Problem?
Are we over the em dash panic phase yet — you know the AI one — so I can start using them again?
November 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Are we over the em dash panic phase yet — you know the AI one — so I can start using them again?