Day 109. That’s right... FAT is good... that is: Failure Accelerates Transformation. Nothing makes transformation faster than experiencing failure...first hand. Continue reading
Superstar is not needed; we need the whole team to work together as one unit... not dependent on one person — the superstar — for favorable results/outcomes. This axiom applies at the upper levels: at program level, large solution level, at portfolio level...and also at the enterprise level. Dependency on a superstar is not good... having a single point of failure is not good. Even if we have more than one superstar, the saying, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ still applies. There was a time when the USA Dream Team — the men’s basketball team…
Here is a suggestion to leaders of companies transforming to Lean Agile: Slow down... you might be moving too fast that your teams can barely keep up... fumbling... feeling frustrated. Slow down... get your teams feelin' groovy! Here is your song -- 'Feelin' Groovy' by Simon and Garfunkel: https://youtu.be/So0ZrTwf8vI
When is the right time to start a transformation? When is the right time to start a family? to lose weight? etc. The thing is, its never the right time. There is always an excuse not to start doing something to create something of value. Nike -- Just do it Take Nike’s famous slogan, “Just do it!” Love that slogan. I take it as: Do it without making a huge fuss about it; Do it without being paralyzed by fear; Do it not just for you but also for someone else; Do it without apology; Do it now! Not later…
Status: Sense of worth. If a person's sense of worth/status is threatened, that person will negatively respond to the change. Avoidance-response occurs. In contrast, if a person's sense of worth is perceived to increase, that person will positively respond to the change and move towards it. Approach-response occurs. Have you ever wondered why your company asks you to self-assess yourself in your 360 degrees performance review? This is to lessen the threat to your self-worth. During your coaching conversation with your coachee... be aware to not threaten the coachee's self-worth. Example: When providing a feedback, you use words like 'I've…
Have you ever wondered why politicians -- when they go campaigning, knocking door to door, strolling along the streets, eating at the local cafeteria, sipping coffee at coffee shops, eating pizzas, ice cream with the locals -- act, dress up, eat, talk, think at the wave length like those they are trying to get to vote for them? They are influencing them to move ... towards voting for them. Yup ... they are using the concept of 'Relatedness'. They are silently screaming: 'I am just like you...we want and need the same things... I understand you... send your votes my…
Transformational Coaching entails rewiring... helping people ditch the ineffective way for an effective way. Example: Transforming from waterfall to lean-agile. Anti-patterns and Muscle memory: One technique that a transformational coach should be aware of is ... to be aware of the Agile anti-pattern that the coachee is exhibiting... and nip it in the bud...the moment it is observed. There will be a lot of these 'nipping in the bud' activities... so do the transformational coaching the moment you observe the anti-pattern; eliminating one anti-patten at a time. Don't do it all in one go...what the brain can absorb and the…
The body has auto response to protect itself and seek for survival. Likewise, in social situations, the brain responds accordingly: threatened? Response is to retreat or fight; reward is on the horizon? Response is to move towards it. If there is a perceived pain that is associated to moving towards a certain direction, people will be hesitant and won't move towards it at all; in contrast, if there is a perceived pleasure that is associated to moving towards a certain direction, people will be enthused and will move towards it. If there is a perceived pain that is associated to…
SAFe uses burning platform as a a visual / mental image of a catalyst for change... the 'tipping point' as SAFe and a lot of folks call it. 'Tipping point' causes one to change ... once reached, stubbornness of sticking to status quo softens... the road to transformation starts... transformational coaching begins! To be continued.
None... if / when a person does not want to change at all. Humans -- just like the burro (Spanish for donkey) in the pack burro racing -- could be very stubborn... won't move... won't change... However ... To be continued.
"Pivot is a change in strategy without a change in vision" -- unknown. On April 17, 2018, we made a key decision: change the name and web address of our Blog site ( referring to another Blog site of ours, the predecessor of this Blog site). Why? The new name makes more sense in portraying what our Blog site is all about: Sharing knowledge and absorbing knowledge; providing enlightenment, guidance, coaching and encouragement; and being a Servant-Leader and a Guru. There were other things — that were observed (as part of the learning process) and measured — that were…
If you want small changes in your life, work on your attitude. But if you want big and primary changes, work on your paradigm -- Stephen Covey. Paradigm Shift! One of the first steps to transformation. Lean-Agile requires a Paradigm Shift…it is not optional. Failure to work on or shift your paradigm means failure to transform! According to the Merriam-Webster.com website, 'Paradigm Shift is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way.' To effectively change -- not a small but big and primary…
Efficiency is the foundation for survival. Effectiveness is the foundation of success. — John C. Maxwell. Lean is Efficiency. Efficiency — doing things right with zero to least waste — is the foundation for survival. Agile is Effectiveness. Effectiveness — doing the right things at the right time through prioritization -- is the foundation of success. We have in our hands the best of both worlds: being 'Lean and Agile'! We have the ability to 'survive and succeed' in any endeavor that we may choose to undertake; this is applicable to an individual, a family, a team, a team…