Continuous Improvement in a Hectic World - Navigating Change Effectively
An excerpt from the cutting room floor!
My book Empowered Agile Transformation - Beyond the Framework was released in August 23 I had so much content for the book that there were parts that just had to be cut. This part was perfect for a solo blog, enjoy!
In today's fast-paced work environment, it’s easy to find yourself caught up in the whirlwind of daily tasks, too busy to even consider changing your approach, running faster and harder but not getting anywhere. If your team is too swamped to hit the pause button and embrace change, it could be a sign that there are underlying issues at play. Charging forward with a plan without taking a moment to assess and adapt means you might miss out on critical checkpoints and opportunities for enhancement.
To tackle this challenge, I suggest incorporating a practice of introspection. This concept, commonly referred to as a "retrospective" or "retro," encourages teams to set aside time for contemplation, to reflect on their processes and glean valuable insights. If retrospectives are already a part of your organisational culture, you're likely aware of the immense value they bring and the positive outcomes they yield. But even if retrospectives are unfamiliar to your team, you can introduce a similar notion by advocating for a pause in the relentless pace of work, a signal to observe activities, and explore avenues for insight. Once you have everyone’s attention and a focus on some areas that need fixing you can start to seed a small positive change.
Introducing change need not be an intimidating, wholesale shift towards a complete Agile transformation for every team. In reality, making small changes can yield surprisingly significant results. Allow me to share an example from my personal experience in the insurance industry. As we began incorporating Agile practices within our initial teams, they gradually adopted techniques like daily stand-up meetings and shorter, iterative planning and execution cycles. Consequently, teams still adhering to the conventional waterfall approach began to express curiosity about the benefits and started questioning their own methods. Breaking free from the rigid processes enforced by the Project Management Office (PMO) was not going to be an easy sell, but I recognized the potential for improvement.
To enhance communication and collaboration among the waterfall teams, we introduced a brief daily stand-up meeting at the beginning of each day. This 10-minute session provided everyone with the opportunity to share updates, highlight challenges, and exchange insights, resulting in a more efficient flow of information compared to the previous hour-long weekly team meetings. The daily stand-ups delivered numerous advantages, including shorter feedback loops, equal participation, and focused discussions on daily challenges.
If your team finds itself too engrossed to pause its current overall approach to delivery, there are still avenues for making meaningful changes. By introducing minor adjustments, you can gradually reshape your team's modus operandi without overwhelming them. Remember, change need not always be a grand, sweeping revolution; it can manifest as a series of contained yet purposeful steps that pave the way for substantial improvements.
Once improvement is experienced by a team, it becomes a powerful draw. Now you have introduced two concepts that the team itself can continue to leverage:
Introspection via Retrospective
Small experimental change opportunities
It's imperative to acknowledge the significance of periodic reflection and the introduction of changes to enhance team efficiency. By identifying opportunities for injecting introspection and implementing minor modifications, you can guide your team toward a path of continuous improvement and better outcomes, even amid a demanding workload.
Praise for Empowered Agile Transformation - Beyond the framework
“Just wanted to give shout out to Alexandra Stokes as just finished reading her book. Lots to take in and lots to learn from her experiences.
If you have not ordered a copy as an agile coach or product manager I suggest you do as there are so many short cuts to success and learnings of what not do do/ avoid in it.
Cant wait for "volume 2 “ - John Farrow
“As they say in the classics, "do yourself a favour!" and read Alex Stokes new book 'Empowered Agile Transformation'. This book is a pragmatic guide to helping make agile transformations stick and realise true value. Its packed full of useful thoughts, tips and hints, and is a must read for anyone involved in or thinking about transformations in general, but especially if you aiming to leverage agile delivery and ways of working. Congrats to Alex on what I know has been a labour of love. “ - Rob Loader
“I knew this book would be good but I didn’t expect to enjoy reading it so much. Alex writes of experience hard won and lessons long held and generously shared. I recommend this book to anyone embarking on a transformation or organisational change. Reading it will save you time. Thanks Alex for sharing your immense wisdom in such an eloquently pragmatic way”
- Penelope Barr
The Book: Empowered Agile Transformation - Beyond the Framework is available on Amazon. Book a session with Alex and have a chat about Transformation here. Or get in touch: alex@rebootco.com.au