In the ever-evolving landscape of agile methodologies, staying updated with the latest trends and insights is crucial for professionals in New Zealand and around the world. In August we had the privilege of hosting a two-day event with the renowned Dave Snowden. This event proved to be a full-on, informative, and transformative experience, offering attendees the opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, and challenge their biases. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key takeaways from this event that left participants inspired and equipped with fresh perspectives.
- Guard Against Explicitness:
In the world of agile, it’s vital to avoid overly explicit processes or rules that can be easily manipulated. Make it challenging to trace input to output, fostering a more robust and adaptive system. - Embrace Leadership Diversity:
To stimulate a wealth of fresh ideas, it’s imperative that leaders exhibit diverse perspectives. Encourage leaders to be different, as this diversity of thought enhances problem-solving and innovation. - Break Down Disagreements:
When disagreements arise, don’t shy away from them. Instead, break complex issues down into smaller, more manageable components until consensus is reached. Conflict can be a catalyst for positive change. - Navigate Complexity with Caution:
Scrum is an excellent framework for transitioning from a complex to a complicated system. In complex systems, relying on past experiences to predict the future is often unreliable. Embrace adaptability and real-time assessments. - Prioritize Attitudes over Compliance:
Attitudes serve as leading indicators of an agile team’s health and performance. Focus on fostering positive attitudes and a shared vision. Compliance, on the other hand, should be a lagging indicator, following a strong foundation of attitudes and alignment.
The reviving agile event with Dave Snowden was undoubtedly a remarkable two days filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and the chance to challenge our biases. The key takeaways highlighted here were just a small subset of the notes that I took from the event that I could immediately apply. By embracing complexity, diversity, sense-making, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous learning, agile teams in New Zealand and beyond can revitalize their approach and navigate the ever-changing landscape with confidence.
