CAL-1 Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CAL-1 facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is 'flow efficiency' in Agile organizational thinking? → The ratio of active work time to total lead time for a work item
2. How does a servant leader handle team conflicts? → Facilitates resolution by listening to all parties
3. What is the primary focus of a servant leader? → Serving the needs of the team
4. What is a 'minimum viable bureaucracy' concept in Agile organizations? → The least amount of governance and process needed to manage risk while enabling agility
5. What is 'systems thinking' in Agile leadership? → Understanding how parts of an organization interact and influence each other
6. How does an Agile team best achieve simplicity? → Maximizing the amount of work not done
7. Which of the following best describes the role of a facilitator during an agile team meeting? → Guiding the process while remaining neutral on content
8. How do Agile leaders use 'early wins' in transformation efforts? → To build momentum, demonstrate value, and overcome skepticism
9. What is 'appreciative inquiry' in Agile organizational change? → A strengths-based approach to change that focuses on what is working well
10. Why is middle management critical to successful Agile transformations? → They bridge strategy and execution and can either accelerate or block Agile adoption
11. What is 'foresight' in servant leadership? → The ability to anticipate future outcomes based on past and present
12. What does a 'coalition of the willing' mean in Agile transformation strategy? → Starting transformation with enthusiastic early adopters who model success for others
13. How does servant leadership support Agile team self-organization? → By removing obstacles and providing resources without micromanaging
14. Which Tuckman stage describes a team that has resolved conflicts and is performing optimally? → Performing
15. What is the 'best test' of servant leadership according to Greenleaf? → Do those served grow as persons and become more likely to serve others?
16. Which behavior by an agile leader most undermines psychological safety during a coaching session? → Interrupting to offer their own solution before the coachee finishes thinking
17. What is the Satir Change Model's 'chaos' phase? → A period of disruption and uncertainty after a foreign element is introduced
18. What does 'stewardship' mean in servant leadership? → Taking responsibility for the team's well-being and organizational trust
19. How often should working software be delivered according to Agile principles? → Frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months
20. What does 'psychological safety' enable in Agile culture? → Open communication, innovation, and learning from mistakes
21. What does 'fail fast' mean in Agile culture? → Learn quickly from small failures before committing large investments
22. Which Agile Manifesto principle relates to daily collaboration between business and developers? → Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project
23. What is the 'Columbian Mammoth' anti-pattern in facilitation? → A single vocal participant who controls the conversation and suppresses other voices
24. What does the Agile Manifesto value on the right side represent? → There is value in the items on the right, but the left side is valued more
25. What is the purpose of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in Agile organizations? → To align teams around measurable goals that connect to strategic objectives
26. How does transparency support Agile culture? → It builds trust and enables informed decision-making at all levels
27. What does 'team velocity' measure in Agile? → The amount of work a team completes per sprint
28. After a coaching conversation, an agile leader reflects on their performance. Which self-assessment question aligns MOST with ICF coaching competencies? → How much of the meeting time did I spend talking versus listening?
29. Which coaching stance best describes an agile leader who withholds their own opinion to allow the team to self-discover solutions? → Coach-like leader
30. What is 'T-shaped' skill development in Agile teams? → Team members have deep expertise in one area and broad knowledge across others