Welcome to Pictor
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
That line captures everything we've learned about Agile coaching over decades in the field. The challenges will keep coming - sprint planning that goes sideways, retrospectives that feel pointless, teams that struggle to self-organize, transformations that stall when early enthusiasm fades. You can't make those challenges disappear. But you can get better at navigating them.
Why Pictor Exists
We built Pictor with great love, drawing on decades of experience to create the tool we always wished we had. A safe, private space where you can turn daily complexity into a clear path for growth.
The core insight: different situations call for fundamentally different coaching approaches. When an agile practitioner asks "How do I run a better retrospective?", effective coaching means knowing whether to:
- Give them a specific framework to try (Expert mode)
- Share wisdom from experience about what works and why (Mentor mode)
- Ask powerful questions that help them discover their own solution (Coach mode)
The difference between these approaches isn't just style — it's about what that person needs in that specific moment.
Three Modes, One Goal
Expert mode is for when you're stuck and need a clear path forward. "Tell me what to do." Sometimes you just need the answer - a retrospective format that works, a facilitation technique that fits your situation, a specific practice you can try tomorrow.
Mentor mode is for when you need wisdom and context. "Help me understand." It's the difference between knowing what works and understanding why it works. Mentorship builds your judgment so you can adapt practices to your unique context.
Coach mode is for when the best answer is the one you discover yourself. "Help me think this through." Powerful questions unlock insights you already have but haven't quite articulated yet. This is where real growth happens.
A conversation is not always linear. Your needs evolve as you talk. You might start by asking an Expert for a specific practice, then pivot to seek a Mentor’s wisdom, or end with a Coach’s powerful question. With Pictor, you can switch modes mid-conversation—the support always matches your rhythm.
Not Just Conversations
Here's what makes Pictor different from just chatting with an AI: it connects conversations to growth.
Every week, Pictor analyzes your coaching conversations through the lens of the Lyssa Adkins Agile Coaching Competency Framework. You get a Monday morning email showing:
- Which competencies you're actively developing
- Where you're making progress
- What might deserve more attention
And here's the critical part: you can turn any insight - whether from a conversation or from your weekly analysis - into an action item. The system connects Talk → Insight → Action into a closed loop that drives actual growth.
What's Next
Pictor is in active development, and we'd love your feedback on what would make it a better partner in your growth. On the roadmap:
- Coaching Dojos - Practice spaces for developing facilitation and coaching skills
- Tool integrations - Connect with your fovarite agile and collaboration tools
- Team programs - Bring adaptive coaching to your whole team, not just individuals
But right now, the core is solid: adaptive coaching when you need it, insights that show your growth, and a system that helps you turn understanding into action.
Try It Out
Start with Pictor's free plan—real coaching conversations in Expert, Mentor, and Coach modes. Track your growth with weekly insights. Turn understanding into action.
No credit card needed. Because the best way to understand adaptive coaching is to experience it.
Have questions about Pictor or thoughts on this post? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at info@yourpaths.eu or connect with us on LinkedIn.