An Hour of Innovation with Vit Lyoshin

In this conversation, Ben Gold, an AI strategy consultant, delves into the transformative role of AI in various aspects of our lives. He explains its impact on careers, workplace efficiency, ethical considerations, and future implications. Ben Gold is an AI strategist and keynote speaker with over 20 years of technology experience. He specializes in guiding companies through the AI adoption process with customized strategies. Ben offers consulting services that include assessments, pilot programs, training, strategic roadmaps, and impactful keynotes, all aimed at helping organizations achieve tangible results. By demystifying AI and translating its complexities into accessible strategies, Ben enables businesses to harness AI's power to work smarter, faster, and more effectively. Takeaways * AI can be leveraged by job seekers to improve their resumes, define career goals, prepare for interviews, and enhance job retention. * AI is transforming the workplace and education, enabling new teaching methods and improving business processes. * Centralized databases and AI analysis can provide organizations with actionable insights for decision-making. * Implementing AI at the C-level and developing policies is crucial for the successful integration and utilization of AI. * AI can significantly improve efficiency in sales by automating manual tasks and freeing up time for sales reps to focus on more important activities. * AI can be used in product management to gather accurate usage data and optimize products based on customer needs and preferences. * Ethical considerations are important when using AI, and organizations should carefully evaluate the biases present in AI models and double-check their decisions. * Deepfakes pose a significant threat, and individuals should be cautious about believing everything they see or hear, especially in the age of AI-generated content. * The future of AI is uncertain, but it has the potential to revolutionize entertainment, robotics, and various industries. The impact on the job market and society as a whole remains to be seen. Connect with Ben * Website: http://www.bengoldai.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengoldsales/ Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 05:01 Leveraging AI for Career Advancement 09:45 AI is Getting Better Overtime 15:25 Transforming the Workplace and Education with AI 20:14 Opportunities for Organizations to Leverage AI 22:49 Implementing AI at the C-Level: Developing Policies 26:43 AI's Efficiency Gains in Sales 28:48 AI in Product Management: Optimizing Products 32:41 Ethical Considerations and Bias in AI 38:42 The Dangers of Deepfakes 44:29 The Future of AI: Entertainment and Robotics 48:27 Societal Implications of Widespread AI Adoption Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

In this conversation, Erica Lenz, co-founder and strategic change officer of Kinetic Change, discusses organizational transformation, system thinking, and process visualization. Erika is a seasoned consultant, educator, coach, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in improving organizational performance and operational excellence through lean, flow, systems thinking, and agile methodologies. Erika leads and mentors technical, product, and business teams, driving innovation, value creation, and strategic leadership. She guides leaders through transformative shifts using systems thinking, process visualization, quantitative measurement, and iterative development. Erika is a principles-driven, pragmatic, and framework-agnostic expert with multiple agile certifications. She also shares her knowledge through teaching, speaking, and writing. Takeaways * Organizations are dealing with an increasing amount of change, and many employees lack the skills to navigate it effectively. * Kinetic Change focuses on optimizing organizations for rapid change by being human-centric, adaptable, and employing iterative and incremental change plans. * System thinking is a powerful approach to understanding complex systems and identifying areas for improvement. * Visualization techniques, such as causal loop diagramming and flow mapping, can help teams and organizations gain insights and improve communication. * Metrics should be tied to the specific problem being addressed and should focus on flow and efficiency rather than vanity metrics. Metrics should not only focus on flow but also on quality to avoid shortcuts and ensure zero-defect software. * The iterative approach involves building and improving something through feedback and continuous improvement methods, while the incremental approach involves working in small pieces. * A blame-free culture is crucial for driving productive behaviors and problem-solving conversations. * Staying updated in the field of agile and lean system thinking requires constant reading, networking, and seeking out educational resources. * To promote organizational change, it's important to stay motivated, take care of oneself, and reach out to inspiring individuals and communities. Connect with Erika * Website: https://www.kineticchange.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikalenz/ * X: https://x.com/Erika_L_Lenz * Substack: https://substack.com/@erikalenz Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:18 The Vision Behind Kinetic Change 07:40 Choosing Methodologies for Change Management 10:35 Implementing System Thinking in Organizations 14:17 The Power of Visualization in Process Improvement 19:45 Tools for Process Mapping 22:46 Iterations for Work Refinement 28:47 Metrics to Measure Success 34:14 Understanding the Iterative Approach 38:02 How to Apply Iteration and Increments to Change Initiatives 41:39 Driving Productive Behaviors through Feedback 51:55 Staying Updated in Agile, Lean, and System Thinking 54:40 Advice From Erika Lenz 57:56: Connect with Erika Lenz Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

Vadim Kozulkin discusses serverless technologies and AWS in the context of Java. Vadym is the Head of Development at ip.labs GmbH, a FUJIFILM Group subsidiary based in Bonn, Germany. With over two decades of experience in the Java ecosystem, Vadym specializes in designing and implementing highly scalable and available applications, focusing strongly on Serverless and AWS Cloud technologies. He is also a co-organizer of the Java User Group Bonn meetup, an AWS Community Builder in the Serverless category, and a frequent speaker at various meetups and conferences. Takeaways * Serverless technology abstracts away infrastructure management, allowing developers to focus on business logic. * AWS provides various offerings to support serverless, including AWS Lambda. * Java is a good choice for serverless due to its strong community and open-source projects. * Java faces challenges with cold starts in serverless environments. * Serverless computing provides instant scaling, but there are limits and considerations for each service. * Cost in serverless infrastructure depends on factors like API requests, Lambda invocations, and memory usage. Developers need to understand the cost and pricing of serverless services. * Observability tools in the serverless space can be expensive. * Comparing the total cost of ownership is important when considering serverless. * Security in serverless is a shared responsibility. Connect with Vadym * Website: https://dev.to/vkazulkin * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vadymkazulkin/ Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:42 What is the Serverless Technology? 11:16 How Does AWS Support Serverless? 13:50 Java in Serverless 17:13 Benefits and Challenges of Using Java in Serverless 22:18 How Can Serverless Help with Scalability of Applications? 26:17 Performance Considerations in the Serverless 28:45 Understanding the Cost and Pricing of Serverless Services 38:24 The Total Cost of Ownership Considerations 42:40 Estimating the Cost of Serverless 44:18 Security in Serverless 48:25 Advice from Vadym Kazulkin Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

Dr. Caitlin Walker discusses the application of clean language in conflict resolution, organizational development, and product management. Dr. Caitlin Walker is an expert in conflict resolution, organizational development, and community mediation, with a PhD in Clean Language Interviewing from Liverpool John Moores University. She is the originator of Systemic Modelling and #DramaFree skills and has a background in linguistics and machine language recognition research. Since 1996, Caitlin has developed processes for sustainable systemic change using Clean Language, achieving notable success in various contexts including work with at-risk teenagers and major organizations. Her methods are integral to programs at institutions like the Open University and Liverpool John Moores University, and she has designed bespoke learning and development programs for diverse clients globally. Takeaways * Clean language is a tool that allows individuals to reflect on their own system and update themselves, promoting learning and growth in groups. * The application of clean language in the workplace can lead to smarter, more intelligent interactions, reducing unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts. * Drama-free conversations involve minimizing unnecessary drama and addressing conflicts in a way that promotes positive working relationships and psychological safety. * In product management, clean language can be used to uncover the exact issues that users have, using metaphors and clean questions to guide the discovery phase. * Psychological safety and trust are essential for the successful implementation of clean language in workplace communication and product management. Clean language is essential for effective communication, feedback, and problem-solving in various contexts. * The application of clean language extends to surveys, AI models, and written language, providing valuable insights and reducing bias. * Future developments and research in clean language focus on health, diversity, inclusion, and equality, offering potential applications in workplace and social settings. * Those interested in learning and practicing clean language techniques can explore training programs, online resources, and connect with experts in the field. Connect with Caitlin * Website: https://trainingattention.co.uk/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-walker-phd-6a11a8b/ If you would like to learn more about these skills and how to use them with teams, you can join us for our Clean for Teams online training https://cleanlearning.co.uk/events/detail/clean-for-teams-July-2024-afternoons If you're interested in holding more DramaFree conversations in your work teams and communities then you can see what is going on online and in-person in Colorado in August: https://www.trebuchetgroup.com/drama-free Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:56 What Clean Language Is? 07:32 Benefits of Clean Language 09:15 Techniques to Start Using Clean Language 16:50 Drama-Free Conversations 23:49 Applying Clean Language in Product Management 28:19 Metaphors vs Analogies 31:39 Clean Language in Spoken and Written Languages 33:53 Expanding the Application of Clean Language 36:32 Clean Language in AI 40:21 Clean Language During the Facilitation of Events 45.52 Future Developments and Research in Clean Language 48:06 Advice from Dr. Caitlin Walker Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

In this podcast episode, Minaxi Panjabi, an agile coach and expert in strategy development and OKRs, discusses the topics of strategy, value streams, and OKRs. Minaxi is a passionate human-centric leadership practitioner who combines neuroscience and anthropology to enhance collaboration and drive value within organizations. With expertise in change implementation, governance, and product delivery, she focuses on shifting mindsets towards a value-oriented approach, empowering teams and organizations to thrive in a dynamic world. Takeaways * Understanding the WHY behind the strategy is crucial for effective implementation. * Value streams provide a holistic view of the actions required to deliver value to customers and promote collaboration and awareness within an organization. * OKRs serve as a feedback mechanism for measuring progress toward objectives and can help identify areas for improvement. * Starting with small experiments can be an effective way to implement value streams and OKRs. Connect with Minaxi * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minaxi-punjabi/ Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps (00:00) Intro (03:16) Developing Strategy and Long-Term Goals (05:40) Aligning Agile Practices with Strategic Goals (09:10) Executing the Strategy (13:37) Understanding Value Streams (19:07) Developing Value Stream Mapping (21:50) Benefits of Visualizing Value Streams (24:34) Other Benefits of Value Streams (27:36) Mistakes People Make When Mapping Value Streams (29:01) Introduction to OKRs (32:46) Setting Up OKRs (36:55) Lessons Learned and Pitfalls to Avoid (39:48) Final Advice Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

In this conversation, Bob Galen discusses his journey into agile coaching, the motivation behind his latest book called “Extraordinary Badass Agile Coach”, and the agile coaching profession. Bob is an agile leader, coach, author, and community builder with nearly 20 years of experience in turning around struggling organizations and teams. As a Certified Enterprise Coach (CEC), he specializes in agile leadership, scaling agile enterprises, agile testing, and DevOps. Bob is dedicated to leveraging Scrum+XP, Lean, and Kanban practices to deliver software value effectively. Takeaways * Continuous learning and self-mastery are essential for agile coaches. * The Agile Coaching Growth Wheel provides a framework for developing coaching skills and identifying areas for growth. * Coaches should focus on developing expertise in technical, product, or organizational domains. * Effective communication, storytelling, and adaptability are key skills for coaches. * Coaches should avoid complacency, be patient, and take a holistic approach to coaching. * Addressing systemic issues and looking beyond team-level coaching is crucial for success. * Finding meaningful metrics is important for tracking progress and improvement. Metrics can create dysfunction in organizations, so coaches should be cautious and use data carefully. * Coaches need to understand leaders' goals and speak their language, rather than immediately translating everything into agile terms. * Building empathy and relationships with leaders is crucial before diving into coaching. * Balancing confidentiality and transparency when accessing sensitive information is an ethical dilemma that coaches must navigate. * The coaching industry is undergoing a shift, with a focus on excellence and the rise of highly skilled coaches. * Aspiring coaches should read key books, find mentors, engage in the agile community, and focus on self-mastery. Connect with Bob Website: https://rgalen.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobgalen/ Podcast: https://www.meta-cast.com/ Other: https://www.agile-moose.com/ Connect with Vit Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps (00:00) Intro (05:45) Extraordinary Badass Agile Coach Book (09:30) The Agile Coaching Growth Wheel: A Framework for Development (13:22) Developing Competencies for Coaches (19:06) Mistakes that Coaches Make (24:15) Advice to Coaches to Enhance Their Technical Skills (28:20) Challenges of Metrics in Agile Coaching (33:49) Building Empathy and Relationships with Leaders (41:15) Balancing Confidentiality and Transparency in Accessing Sensitive Information (43:23) Agile Coaching Trends (49:05) Advice from Bob Galen Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

In this conversation, Sandy Mamoli discusses high-performing teams and their characteristics. Sandy Mamoli is a former professional athlete and Olympian from Austria, who transitioned to a career in Natural Language Processing, eventually joining Sony Ericsson in technical roles. Relocating to New Zealand in 2007, she co-founded Nomad8 and became a renowned Agile Coach, working with companies worldwide on agile methodologies, high-performance teams, and business agility. A keynote speaker at major global conferences, Sandy is also the co-author of "Creating Great Teams," focusing on high-performing Agile teams and self-selection. Takeaways * Agile teams are defined by a shared goal and purpose, dependency on each other, and a shared history. * A team's mindset, including beliefs such as sensing and responding, collecting feedback, and adapting, is crucial for agility. * Measuring team performance is difficult and context-dependent; comparing teams for inspiration and learning is more effective. * Designing teams should involve self-selection and giving teams time to learn and become high-performing. * Challenges in implementing agile practices can be overcome by focusing on fun, ownership, and continuous learning. * Organizations and leadership should have open conversations with teams, listen to their perspectives, and understand their challenges. Connect with Sandy * Website: https://nomad8.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandymamoli/ * X: https://twitter.com/smamol Connect with Vit * Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ * X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin * Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps (00:00) Intro (05:18) Definition of an Agile Team (09:23) Measuring Team Performance vs Individual Performance (11:41) Identifying Poor Performance and Behaviors on Agile Team (15:16) How to Measure an Agile Team Performance (19:53) How to Measure the Individual Performance of a Team Member (21:26) How to Compare Agile Teams (24:02) Steps to Design a New Agile Team (27:13) Prerequisites to Forming a New Agile Team (28:49) Team’s Perspectives on Agility (30:51) Identify and Fix Bad Agile Practices and Behaviors (37:30) Advice for Team (38:14) Advice for Leadership Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information.

In this episode, Paul Boos, an Agile coach at Excella and program director of Agile Coach Camps at Agile Alliance, discusses coach camps and their unique format. He shares his journey of becoming an Agile coach and explains how coach camps differ from traditional events and conferences. Paul works with executives and teams to develop pragmatic approaches to achieve enterprise agility applying Lean, Lean Startup, iterative approaches, and portfolio management techniques. Pauls speaks on many Agile topics at conferences and events. He services on the organizing committee for all of the Agile Coach Camps within the United States. Takeaways * Coach camps are unique events that offer a self-organizing and open space format for participants to explore various topics related to coaching. * The origins of coach camps can be traced back to the idea of creating a space for hallway conversations and leveraging the principles of OpenSpace. * Coach camps provide an opportunity for participants to learn from each other, share experiences, and make connections with like-minded individuals. * The experience at coach camps is conversation-based, with participants proposing topics and engaging in discussions rather than attending presentations. * Hosting coach camps within organizations can be beneficial for addressing organization-specific challenges and fostering collaboration among coaches. * Coach camps provide a collaborative and supportive environment for agile coaches and other professionals to share knowledge and learn from each other. * Participants come from various backgrounds and roles, including scrum masters, consultants, managers, and sociologists. * The camps cover a wide range of topics, from technical skills to humanistic approaches, allowing participants to explore different areas of interest. * Key takeaways include letting go of predefined expectations, making connections with like-minded professionals, and being open to new experiences and perspectives. Connect with Paul Regional Camps: https://agilecoachcamp.org/ Worldwide Camps: https://agilecoachcamp.net/ Website: https://www.excella.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulboos/ Connect with Vit Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/ X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin Timestamps (00:00) Intro (08:43) Origins and Evolution of Coach Camps (10:51) Agile Coach Camps Experience (15:27) Learnings During Agile Coach Camps (20:07) Requirements and Specifics to Agile Coach Camps (23:11) Facilitation Techniques for Agile Coach Camps (25:42) Remote Agile Coach Camps (30:17) Attendance of Agile Coach Camps (32:53) Hosting an Agile Coach Camp within an Organization (35:33) Who Come to Agile Coach Camps (41:44) Challenges Coaches Have During Agile Coach Camps (45:09) Scheduling and Locations of Agile Coach Camps (50:17) Advice to People Who Want to Participate For the First Time (53:20) Advice to New Agile Coach Camp Organizers (54:58) Coach Camps Alongside Traditional Conferences (58:37) Other Open Space Type Events Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information. Your support greatly helps and motivates me to produce more episodes like this.

Joana Kandic, Product Manager at cake.com, discusses customer support strategies, metrics, and future trends. Jovana is a seasoned professional with a strong focus on customer support and success. She excels in managing all facets of customer service, from developing strategies to overseeing performance metrics. Currently, she is leading a team of product managers, driving innovation, and leveraging data to achieve business growth. In her previous role, Jovana directed customer support efforts, establishing policies, metrics, and quality assurance programs. Jovana also recruited, trained, and led teams while implementing systems to gather and analyze user feedback. Takeaways Align customer support with business goals and focus on exceptional support Measure metrics such as first reply time, resolution time, and agent performance Utilize AI to analyze feedback and assist support teams Collaborate with other departments and prioritize communication Take care of support agents' well-being and monitor team retention Connect with Jovana Website: www.cake.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jovana-kandic/  Connect with Vit Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/  X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin  Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin  Timestamps (00:00) Intro (04:55) Customer Service Strategy (16:20) Measuring Support Team and Customer Satisfaction (27:45) Collecting Feedback and Analysis (32:27) Trends and AI Tools for Support Team (43:13) Collaboration and Communication Across Departments (47:28) Advice from Jovana Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information. Your support greatly helps and motivates me to produce more episodes like this.

Summary In this conversation, Toby Rao, an agile leader and community builder, discusses building high-performance teams, NLP techniques, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety. As the founder and principal of TORA Solutions, Toby specializes in Strategic Agile Transformation, Change Management, Program Management, and Organizational Development. With over 20 years of experience across various industries including IT, e-commerce, banking, and government, Toby is dedicated to helping organizations achieve their strategic goals through modern agile methodologies, driving business agility, and delivering tangible value. He has worked with renowned organizations such as Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, CGI, and ICF, as well as several US Federal agencies, offering his expertise in coaching, consulting, training, and mentoring. Toby is committed to giving back to the Agile community, co-founding and leading two Agile meetups in Virginia with over 1300 members. He is also a sought-after speaker at agile conferences and industry events worldwide. Takeaways High-performing teams are built through trust, empowerment, effective communication, and clear roles and responsibilities. Challenges in team dynamics include resistance to change, unclear roles, politics, lack of feedback, and unrealistic expectations. NLP techniques, such as the NLP communication model, sensory equity, reframing, and anchoring, can improve communication and problem-solving. Emotional intelligence helps individuals understand their emotions and behaviors, leading to better team dynamics. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and effectively using your emotions in relationships and communication. Developing emotional intelligence can be done through self-awareness and seeking feedback from others. Creating a safe environment for psychological safety is crucial for team success. Remote work can impact psychological safety, but building personal connections and incorporating team-building activities can help maintain a sense of camaraderie. Connect with Toby Website: https://tobyrao.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobyrao/  X: https://twitter.com/tobyrao Connect with Vit Website: https://vitlyoshin.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vit-lyoshin/  X: https://twitter.com/vitlyoshin  Other: https://linktr.ee/vitlyoshin  Timestamps (00:00) Intro (05:36) Building High-Performance Teams (08:25) Challenges Teams Face When Transitioning to Agile (13:37) NLP Techniques for Communication and Problem-Solving (24:05) The Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Team Dynamics (26:24) Developing Emotional Intelligence (34:43) Psychological Safety and Developing a Safe Environment for Teams (44:45) Effect on Psychological Safety of Remote Teams Please subscribe, leave an honest review, and share with people you think will benefit from hearing this information. Your support greatly helps and motivates me to produce more episodes like this.