I was thinking about some of the changes my clients are considering. Most of them want to use agile approaches, all the way through the organization. A laudable goal because it will produce the business results they want to see. What’s the first thing people can do? Change their behavior. Not change their system. Not
What Behavior Can You Change? Read More »
We live in a world filled with constraints. Sometimes, those constraints are on where we can travel or be. Sometimes, those constraints are about our physical capabilities (such as my vertigo or my height). Many constraints we impose on ourselves or allow our organizations to impose on us. Often, we fight against those constraints inside our organizations,
When Do Constraints Help? Read More »
At this time of year, many people start their todo lists or write down resolutions. Actions and resolutions are about the “what we want to accomplish.” Many people start with “what” instead of “why.” For example, many people (including me) want to lose weight over the coming year. You might want to learn a new
How Can You Think About Who You Want to be Next Year? Read More »
I was wandering around the kitchen this morning, making my breakfast. I notice this tag on the counter. I held it up and asked, “Can I delete this?” Mark immediately cracked up laughing. So did I. In the real world, as opposed to our computers and the virtual world, we throw out trash. We don’t
Can You See Your Own Mental Models? Read More »
I rented a car last week for a 2+ hour drive from Portland to the Oregon coast for a workshop. I used a GPS app on my phone to get the directions. I expected the phone to tell me when to turn. It didn’t. No noise, no directions, nothing. I had no reason to disagree
What Clues Did You Miss? Read More »
I see people optimize for speed, on the highway, in their projects, and often in their personal lives. I wonder if speed, quickness, is everything these people actually want. On the highway, I’ve seen (and I bet you have, too) the person weave in and out of traffic, finding the “right” lane and creating little
When Should You Optimize for Speed? Read More »
I take multiple walks through my neighborhood to get my steps in. Most of the time, I pass the houses and it’s quiet, just me and my rollator and my thoughts. One house, however, has a totally adorable little white dog on the first floor. Every time I pass by that house, the dog barks
Who’s Your Guard Dog? Read More »
I was in Prague last week (Agile Prague and a client). One of the nice folks at the client explained that beer in Prague Is inexpensive. For years, in The Czech Republic, the beer is less expensive than water or a soft drink. (There is now a law that says the bars and restaurants have
What’s Your (Beer) Emergency? Read More »
I like my routines. I have exercise routines, eating routines, writing routines, to name three. I find comfort in my routines. I think of my routines as a groove. My grooves smooth the paths towards my accomplishments. And, every so often, my groove turns into a rut. I discovered I’m in a rut now. I need
When Does Your Groove Turn Into a Rut? Read More »
At the Agile 2017 conference last week, I volunteered for “Agile Therapy,” a chance to discuss a topic of your choice for 20 minutes with an experienced coach. I was the coach. Just in case you weren’t sure. One of the people who came to me asked about automation. We had a wide-ranging discussion which
What Is Your Obligation? Read More »