Troubleshooting Agile

A fascinating discussion unfolds around the concept of 'impossible questions' in agile practices. The hosts share a tale of a leader grappling with productivity metrics and why these tough queries should be seen as opportunities for growth. Using a Star Trek analogy, they emphasize the importance of context and dialogue, transforming ambiguity into insight. The podcast also highlights trust in communication, urging listeners to engage with challenging questions to foster deeper relationships and understanding.

Explore the intriguing connection between fear and the normalization of deviance in organizations. Discover how dropping retrospectives can stem from underlying fears, paralleling NASA's risky Shuttle launch decisions. Learn about the impact of fear on team dynamics and accountability, with real-world examples like safety practices on oil rigs. The discussions highlight the importance of addressing fears and adhering to established norms to cultivate a healthier workplace culture.

Discover how an agile team transformed their struggles with external demands by adopting the "Yes, And" approach from improv. Learn how open communication can alleviate tensions while boosting adaptability. Delve into the disarming technique for effective responses to critiques and the role of nonviolent communication in establishing stronger connections. Experience the synergy of collaboration and creativity that emerges when teams embrace acceptance and genuine dialogue.

Delve into the transformative power of Collaboration Cards, designed to enhance teamwork through clear communication and actionable steps. Discover the nuances of agile practices, emphasizing the value of understanding context over mere imitation. Experience the journey of mastery, drawing parallels to martial arts and music, which highlights the growth mindset necessary for skill development. Learn how reflective listening and emotional awareness can make a significant difference in agile team dynamics.

Dive into the Heart of Agile with insights on collaboration and reflection. Discover how attentive listening and emotional awareness can significantly elevate agile teams. The importance of active listening is explored, revealing its transformative power in leadership and team dynamics. Personal stories illustrate common cognitive biases that hinder effective communication. Plus, the discussion hints at exciting future topics, including the art of conversation and creative engagement strategies.

We are joined by the wise and thoughtful Misha Glouberman, who organises Internet cocktail parties and better, more human-friendly meetings for organisations and teams—and the two turn out to have a lot in common. SHOW LINKS: - Misha: http://www.mishaglouberman.com - Trampoline Hall: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/trampoline-hall/id1190668782?mt=2 - Internet Cocktail Party Instructions: https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-run-a-zoom-cocktail-party-and-have-better-classes-conferences-and-meetings-too-dc2c5b58f8be - Gather.town: https://gather.town/ - CITCON: https://citconf.com --- Our new book, Agile Conversations, is out now! See https://conversationaltransformation.com where you can order your copy and get a free video when you join our mailing list! We'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show. 
 Email us at info@conversationaltransformation.com

Squirrel is gobsmacked by user stories that appear to be about aliens, who want "intuitive interfaces" and "modern technology", where customers from Earth want "fun with my kids" or "relief from boredom". Jeffrey reminds us that such stories can lead to conversations that tease out the emotions and the human stories behind the words. Both agree that once we revise our stories to create empathy, we also allow the team to discover amazing new ways to solve problems. SHOW LINKS: - Personas: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/personas-why-and-how-you-should-use-them - User stories as conversation promises: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_story - Feature factory: https://medium.com/hackernoon/12-signs-youre-working-in-a-feature-factory-44a5b938d6a2 - User Stories Gone Wrong: https://www.conversationaltransformation.com/blog/user-stories-gone-wrong/ --- Our new book, Agile Conversations, is out now! See https://conversationaltransformation.com where you can order your copy and get a free video when you join our mailing list! We'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show. 
 Email us at info@conversationaltransformation.com

Jessica Katz is an agile coach who uses curiosity and conversational skills to help agile teams perform better. She explains why you need to liberate the elephant in the room, how you can do that through nonviolent communication, and how one person saying "good morning" unlocked better performance for a whole team. SHOW LINKS: - Jessica Katz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeskatz/ https://liberatedelephant.com/events/2020/10 - Agile Ireland talk: https://www.agileleanireland.org - “Creating Boundaries, Practicing Curiosity, and Making Requests” - Gallup poll: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/284180/factors-driving-record-high-employee-engagement.aspx - B Corporation: https://bcorporation.net/ - Dare to Lead: https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/ - Nonviolent Communication: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_Communication --- Our new book, Agile Conversations, is out now! See https://conversationaltransformation.com where you can order your copy and get a free video when you join our mailing list! We'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show. 
 Email us at info@conversationaltransformation.com

Jeffrey is inspired by Jon Smart and the DOES Virtual conference to discuss homeostasis as a source of resistance to change, and Squirrel tells a client story about curiosity as a way to help a complex system adapt. SHOW LINKS: - DOES Virtual "Las Vegas": https://events.itrevolution.com/virtual/ - Jon Smart: https://itrevolution.com/sooner-safer-happier/ - Complex Adaptive Systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_adaptive_system - Paradoxical Agenda-Setting: https://feelinggood.com/tag/paradoxical-agenda-setting/ --- Our new book, Agile Conversations, is out now! See https://conversationaltransformation.com where you can order your copy and get a free video when you join our mailing list! We'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show. 
 Email us at info@conversationaltransformation.com

Following last week's praise of Taylorism, a suitable approach for making complicated problems simple, this week we look at a similar revolution in democratising innovation and creating a learning organisation—by uncovering hidden complexity and removing status as a barrier to discovery of error. SHOW LINKS: Team of Teams: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22529127-team-of-teams - Cynefin framework: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin_framework - Art of Action: https://www.stephenbungay.com/Books.ink - High Velocity Edge: http://www.thehighvelocityedge.com/ - Don’t be a Zombie Organisation: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dont-be-a-zombie-organiza_b_3306513 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6kqnQZuIHg - Normalization of Deviance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normalization_of_deviance - Status as obstacle to learning: https://pedestrianobservations.com/2020/09/19/learning-worst-industry-practices/ --- Our new book, Agile Conversations, is out now! See https://conversationaltransformation.com where you can order your copy and get a free video when you join our mailing list! We'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show. 
 Email us at info@conversationaltransformation.com