#160 - Deliver Better Results: How to Level Up Your Value Delivery System - Gil Broza
Jan 29, 2024
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Agile leadership expert Gil Broza shares insights on leveling up the value delivery system to deliver better results. He discusses systems thinking, ways of working, mindset, and the importance of prioritizing people. He introduces the SQUARE Model and offers strategies for enhancing fitness level. Key topics include reinforcing and balancing loops, clear decision making, and the dangers of metrics.
Changing the system and way of working is crucial for delivering better results.
Designing a customized way of working based on values and objectives can optimize for adaptation and collaboration.
Progressing from Level 2 to Level 3 requires strategies such as stabilizing the system and increasing release frequency for more adaptability and satisfactory results.
Deep dives
Achieving Better Results through Changing the System
To deliver better results, it is important to change the system and the way of working. This involves focusing on system thinking, cause-effect relationships, reinforcing and balancing loops, and shifting mindset to prioritize people before processes. The square model detailed in the book 'Deliver Better Results' by Gil Brouser offers a framework for assessing fitness for purpose and enhancing performance. The model emphasizes managing the project portfolio strategically, designing a way of working based on key objectives, stabilizing the system, establishing clear and appropriate decision-making, increasing safety, teamwork, and collaboration, and deferring commitments to allow for adaptation and greater release frequency. By following these strategies across the system and valuing people, organizations can achieve higher levels of fitness and deliver better results.
Building a Customized Way of Working
Designing a way of working that aligns with an organization's values and objectives is crucial for achieving better results. This involves rational decision-making based on what matters most for success. It requires collaborative efforts to articulate and validate values, beliefs, and principles, and derive suitable tactics and processes. Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, organizations can create a customized way of working that optimizes for adaptation, collaboration, and productivity. By prioritizing people over processes and considering the specific context, organizations can enhance performance and foster engagement.
Strategy for Increased Fitness and Sustainability
Moving from Level 2 to Level 3 in terms of fitness and performance requires strategies aimed at stabilizing the system and establishing clearer decision-making processes. This involves creating a home for product-impacting decisions and ensuring collaboration, teamwork, and safety. Additionally, it is beneficial to focus on deferring commitments and increasing release frequency, allowing for more adaptability and flexibility. By implementing these strategies across the organization and engaging employees in planning processes, organizations can progress toward Level 3, achieving more sustainable and satisfactory results.
Emphasizing People and Mindset
A fundamental aspect of achieving better results is prioritizing people and mindset. This involves recognizing the impact of words and language, using terminology that reflects a positive and inclusive environment. Leaders should work collaboratively with colleagues across the system, considering a holistic approach to decision-making and fostering trust, safety, and autonomy. By valuing people over processes and aligning mindset with key objectives, organizations can create a supportive and effective working environment.
Summary
The book 'Deliver Better Results' by Gil Brouser provides organizations with a comprehensive framework for achieving higher levels of fitness and delivering better results. By changing the system, designing a customized way of working, and prioritizing people and mindset, organizations can increase productivity, collaboration, and adaptability. The square model outlined in the book offers strategies for strategic goal alignment, decision-making, and sustainability. By implementing these strategies across the organization and valuing people, organizations can enhance performance and achieve their objectives.
“If we want to deliver better results, we need to change the system and our way of working."
Gil Broza is an Agile leadership expert and the author of the latest book “Deliver Better Results”. In this episode, Gil discusses ways to level up our value delivery system to deliver better results.
We first delve into the fundamental concept of systems thinking and cause-effect relationships, which are exemplified by reinforcing and balancing loops. Gil also explains the importance of ways of working, particularly on shifting mindset and focusing on people first before the process.
Gil then explains the SQUARE Model detailed in his book, and how the model helps us understand and assess our system’s fitness for purpose easily. He also shares some of the 10 strategies from his book that we can use to enhance our fitness level and deliver better results.
Listen out for:
Career Journey - [03:43]
Deliver Better Results - [06:25]
Systems Thinking - [11:15]
Reinforcing & Balancing Loop - [14:15]
Ways of Working - [16:24]
Mindset: Values, Beliefs, Principles - [19:08]
People First vs Process First - [23:22]
SQUARE Model - [27:08]
What Matters Most - [34:36]
Clear Decision Making - [40:48]
How to Get Started - [45:58]
The Danger of Metrics - [47:07]
3 Tech Lead Wisdom - [50:52]
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Gil Broza’s Bio Gil Broza specializes in helping tech leaders deliver far better results by upgrading their Agile ways of working. He also supports their non-software colleagues in creating real business agility in their teams. Gil has helped over 100 organizations achieve real, sustainable improvements by working with their unique value delivery contexts and focusing on mindset, culture, and leadership. Companies also invite Gil for specialized support, such as strategic mapping of their improvement journey, facilitation of organizational mindset workshops, and keynotes for internal conferences. He is the author of four highly acclaimed books: Deliver Better Results, The Agile Mind-Set, The Human Side of Agile, and Agile for Non-Software Teams. He lives in Toronto, Canada.
Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard. Get a 45% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead45 for all products in all formats.
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