• Tag Archives show_up

  • A View Into You, You Are One Person Not Two

    Posted on by Tim

    Have you ever noticed that some people seem to be one person at work and another in their social life? I found it odd until I started reflecting on my behavior. I discovered you are only one person.

    How I behave at work, on my team, should be no different than when I’m at home with family and friends. I did some research on this and found a term to describe the behavior.

    The behavior is called “cognitive dissonance.” Feel free to read the article at your leisure.

    The “mind friction” between the differing behaviors leads to challenges that impact relationships.

    Teams are affected by the members’ interactions. As a performance indicator, it is worth looking at social and work behavior. There might be a weak signal that points to a degree of “mind friction”.

    One person, many adaptations

    It’s worth noting that team members do adapt their behavior to the support team’s performance. I don’t consider this a concern unless someone is miserable working on the team.

    Adaptation helps us to survive and thrive in our environment. We see it in nature with camouflage patterns. The tricky part is when the adaptation is a move to an extreme.

    Extreme adaptations can lead to “mind friction”. As a result, the team can help its members self-adjust if awareness is increased around behavior indicators.

    No one wants to be miserable on a team. It’s up to the team to look out for its members.

    Consider this, I’m not a carpenter. And yet, I wanted to work with my daughters to create something.

    I didn’t disagree with their ideas about how we would build a “rock box”. Instead, I accepted whatever came of the project.

    wooden box
    Finished rock box project

    I avoided trying to be something I am not. We owe it to our teams to do the same.

    Let’s not force them into changing against their will. Instead, help them adapt their abilities and skills to support team outcomes.


    📂This entry was posted in Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Plan Vs. Act – Rise To The Challenge

    Posted on by Tim

    As humans, we want a degree of certainty day-to-day. We plan for how we want our actions to work. And yet, all the planning in the world fails if we don’t act. We have to act, to rise to the challenge.

    I wrote about a quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower last year. You can check it out here.

    2022 is nearly half complete. What actions have you taken professionally and personally this year?

    In the agile product and service development space, teams retrospect after completing timeboxed work.

    As humans being, we should do the same. Retrospective looks back help us evaluate our progress and tune our performance.

    Actions yield results. It takes courage to look at those results and begin asking questions.

    Time to rise to the challenge

    Normally, when teams perform a retrospective, three questions are asked.

    • First, what went well?
    • Next, what did not go well?
    • Last, what do we want to change?

    If the only action being taken is planning, what results or outcomes can we expect? Plans don’t magically happen to get executed.

    James Clear wrote about motion and action together in “Atomic Habits”. Importantly, know there’s a difference between the plan (which is motion) and the work (which is action).

    Cover of Atomic Habits by James Clear

    It’s not enough to get thoughts on paper. To clarify, follow-through is essential.

    As a result, action is required to increase or sustain momentum. Finally, consider this quote.

    It’s easier to act your way into good thinking than it is to think your way to good action.

    Bill Gove, the father of professional speaking


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Scrum Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • The Magic of Business: It’s Local, Human, and Connected

    Posted on by Tim

    I’ve been sharing this concept for the past several months with friends and colleagues. All business is local business. Humans do business with humans. It requires us to build and grow trust to be successful in business.

    Business, by its nature, is both relational and transactional.

    Firstly, relational in that people do business with other people. I recognized technology is an intermediary in the business process. Amazon anyone?

    Business deals are made via human interaction, for instance.

    Secondly, transactional in that people are looking for an exchange of value. You have the money and I have the experience and knowledge to solve your problem. We exchange things of value like my ability to solve your problem with the money that allows you to get your problem solved.

    Given the advances in technology, business is now connected. And yet, business is also disconnected at times.

    I’ve learned, throughout 2020 and 2021, that technology is a double-edged sword.

    For some sales, it made work more challenging. High-touch, and relational sales have been tested. Trust is a key to relational sales and building it virtually is yeoman’s work.

    For other sales, technology is a blessing. More computers and home office materials were sold than in prior years using technology.

    Tiny Tesla technology

    Humans do business with humans

    Thankfully, we’re good at figuring out how to make business happen. When high value business deals get made, they’re done with other humans.

    We trust the people we do business with. Thus, much of the business being done is negotiated locally. As a result, people continue to build and grow relationships with other people to create value in business.

    Technology is an enabler to help people be successful in business. It is not the other way around.

    So here is my challenge to you. If you prefer technology over working with people, start taking steps to become more comfortable working with people.

    As an introvert, I know how tough it is to connect to people. I work at connecting daily with people. Connecting is a skill anyone can learn. You need to be willing to stink at it before becoming good at it.

    Believe me, it will be worth the effort and time!


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Why Balance Between Humanity And Technology Matters

    Posted on by Tim

    For as good as technology is, it should always have a human focus. When we strip away the humanity, we end up losing the vibrancy of the human experience. By adding humanity back into the mix, we restore the balance between humanity and technology in our lives.

    I’m all for reducing the error margin that technology brings into our lives. Additionally, I see how much pain and suffering tech has removed from the lives of many people. My concern is how we are seeing people disconnecting from each other and not having healthy relationships.

    If tech enables a better, richer, more productive human experience, then it should be considered as a positive. If it only serves to damage and hurt people more often than not, then it should be avoided, not encouraged.

    Developing products and services using technology is a worthwhile pursuit. In my mind, much good has happened by continuing to evolve computing and software over the decades since computers were built.

    The Space Shuttle on display at the Air & Space Museum – https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center

    Finding the balance between

    There is no quick fix to this challenge. Easy answers cover the complexity under the issue.

    To start, look at technology as a tool. It’s not good or bad, just a way to achieve outcomes.

    Secondly, look for ways to test tech’s use:

    • Does this help me be a more effective?
    • Will this help others achieve desired outcomes?
    • Does this waste more time than create more time?
    • Will this improve communication, collaboration, and other human interactions?

    Finally, if question like the ones above are a next positive, then the technology probably is beneficial.

    I challenge you to take a look around. Look hard at your tech use. Be bold and ask yourself and others tough questions.

    If the answers you find disappoint, change your engagement. Because, you own technology, not the other way around.


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Technology 📎and tagged

  • To Be Creative Nurture And Spark Psychological Safety

    Posted on by Tim

    During a coaching call with Ravi Verma, I shared learning from the field of neuroleadership. Given this field is still emerging, I perceive a connection between it and psychological safety.

    Being a life-long learner has certain downs and ups.

    • First, I find connections between concepts that may not be directly related.
    • Second, it requires a time to build connections.
    • Third, it comes with opportunity costs.
    • Fourth, it can serve to improve humanity.
    • Fifth, if no practical action comes of the learning, then it was all wasteful.

    Which brings me to this post. The post is about the fifth point.

    Without psychological safety, a business’ culture cannot reach its full creative potential.

    As a veteran working through life impacted by post-traumatic stress (PTS), I view life differently than most people.

    Drs. David Rock and Al Ringleb wrote about research on “social pain” in the Handbook of NeuroLeadership. Simply put, people will not risk their group identity or status because of social pain (along with other factors).

    Cover of the Handbook of NeuroLeadership

    If you or I inflict social pain on someone, we cannot expect them to be creative. Social pain can cause a degree of trauma and lower team psychological safety.

    For people like me, dealing with PTS, social pain can trigger a “fight or flight” response which can lead to more social pain.

    Nurture Psychological Safety

    Drs. Amy Edmondson and Timothy Clark have written about the need for psychological safety in the workplace. I say it goes further than just business, it needs to be in homes and the public domain.

    We can choose to create cultures that minimize risk of social pain. As well, we can choose how to respond to people who may not be aware of the pain they create.

    A starting point to consider is The Flow System. It brings concepts around complexity, leadership, and teamwork together in one place.

    A key component of TFS is establishing and enabling psychological safety at both the team and organization level.

    I’ll finish with this question. What can you do to minimize social pain and maximize psychological safety today?


    📂This entry was posted in Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Embracing Weakness Is The Essence Of Human Experience

    Posted on by Tim

    In high-performing teams, embracing weakness is important to team success. If everyone thinks they’re a star performer, then no one will be vulnerable in assessing their abilities.

    True strength is in accepting facts and asking for help to compensate for weakness.

    None of us are strong in every ability and skill needed to get work done. In fact, teams are created to bridge gaps in knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that one person can’t bridge!

    This is a hard concept for top performers to grasp. In both the military and business, more teams succeed than soloists in complicated and complex work. This fact does not diminish individual effort. It does highlight the need for cross-functional work.

    Inside AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, USA

    A struggle teams have is getting out of denial about weakness. That’s why people fail at recovery programs. Separately, teams fail at achieving high performance for the same reason, denial.

    How To Begin Embracing Weakness

    The following list is “thought food” and it is not comprehensive. It is a starting point for transparent conversation and a driver for outcomes.

    • Firstly, get out of denial. Confront reality and add up team strengths and weaknesses.
    • Secondly, start planning ways to minimize or narrow gaps.
    • Thirdly, ask for outside assistance if the team’s weaknesses can’t be narrowed by the team.
    • Fourthly, find and remove work that the team can’t be completed by the current members.
    • Fifthly, communicate success and note learning. Do this early and often around finished work. Communication includes stakeholders, customers, and clients.
    • Finally, celebrate success, build on strengths, and shore up weaknesses through continuous reflection and improvement.

    Make sure every team member is heard. Often the quietest people have the powerful ideas and an ability to find gaps.

    Focus on listening to what is said and what is left unspoken. Be a detective, look for clues, because weaknesses change over time.

    Remember to have fun! The joy is in the journey, not the destination.


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Need A Creative Spark? Pursuing Excellence Is Better Than Perfection

    Posted on by Tim

    While browsing my LinkedIn feed I saw a post by Daniel Pink. I can relate to what Daniel is saying. Pursuing perfection is not the same as pursuing excellence. I’m a recovering perfectionist.

    The associated article unlocks a concept that I didn’t have words to describe.

    Striving For Perfection, Rather Than Excellence, Can Kill Creativity – Research Digest (bps.org.uk)

    For me, this quote says it all:

    The results revealed that the more participants strove for excellence, the greater originality and openness to experience they showed. In contrast, the more perfectionist participants were, the fewer original ideas they had and the less open to experience they were. This suggests that an element of flexibility not present in perfectionism can improve our creative thinking.

    Emily Reynolds

    In product and service development, teams need to be creative. I encounter the “perfect” conversation weekly. There is a magnet on my dry erase board to remind me, Done > Perfect.

    Pursuing Excellence Over Perfection

    Engineering is an exacting profession. As engineers, people strive for perfection due to many factors. If lives are at stake, then it could be argued that perfection is needed. And yet, nothing is ever perfect.

    We live in a complex adaptive system the pulls toward chaos. We strive to order chaos and fail. So, if we can’t control the weather to create perfection conditions, why try to perfect every product and service going to the customer?

    This is where excellence steps in. In my opinion, excellence is knowing perfection cannot be achieved. And yet, excellence brings creators close to perfection by help them keep open minds.

    Taking this one step further, excellence help frame answers to questions. Instead of saying “it’s impossible”, excellence says, “what if it were possible and how might that look?”

    If focusing on excellence is a key to creating quality, shouldn’t that be the focus? It’s something to think about.


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Coasting Versus Conquering: Getting The Most Out Of Yourself

    Posted on by Tim

    Gaining and maintaining personal momentum is really hard. I suppose it is harder today than say 10 years ago. Each day should be a personal challenge to get the most out of yourself.

    This is not about “toxic positivity” or whatever popular phrase is trending on the internet.

    This is about subtle shifts in doing and thinking that add up over time.

    Many of the world’s most recognized and respected brands have humble beginnings. Apple and Toyota are two examples.

    Apple started in a garage.

    Toyota started with weaving looms and moved into automobile manufacturing after World War 2.

    Books in my office

    Each of us is responsible for improving daily. You’re either growing or dying, the choice is yours.

    You might be thinking, “Where do you suggest I start?” My answer is, “What is causing you the most pain?”

    Pain is relative. I deal with a whole military career of pain each day. The list of challenges I work through is long and not worth writing about.

    Personal Challenge

    You need to ask yourself a question. Am I coasting or conquering?

    Is technology a hurdle for you? May I suggest you find someone you trust to help you learning about technology?

    If you’re an introvert, like me, then public speaking could be a huge hurdle. Toastmasters can help overcome that fear.

    Perhaps you struggle with learning in general. I wrote an article on “micro learning” that can help you get started.

    Once you lock in on the one or two things you want to improve on, choose people to be accountable to for taking action. Accountability is a catalyst for personal growth (and a follow-on post).


    📂This entry was posted in Agile Teamwork 📎and tagged

  • Reflections On Agile: Creative Work To Delight People

    Posted on by Tim

    To start 2022, I’m going to write three series of posts with reflections on Agile product and service development.

    The intent is to focus on the people aspects of Manifesto for Agile Software Development. First, the four values will be covered in a set of quarterly posts. Second, the 12 principles will be covered in a set of monthly posts. Finally, the five Scrum values will be covered in a set of quarterly posts.

    Scrum Values (credit Scrum.org)

    This series is the glue between teams, technologies, and training. Foundationally, products and service don’t get created without each area. The goals is to bring all of this together by reflecting on how we can work together today.

    Since this blog covers the creative space around “humans being”, soon it will cover the concepts around how creativity can be enabled. Until now, the posts have covered my experiences around technology and teams.

    The shift toward Agile content is coming!

    I feel good about switching gears. Following the year’s end with a shift feels right. The Reflections on Agile series allows exploration.

    As a result, there will be a mixture of posts throughout the coming months. Sometimes, there will be three posts that are Agile specific. Other times, there will one post. I intend to make content writing sustainable for me in 2022 and this is a way to make cadence happen.

    When I started posting, I did not realize then the need to look at how Agile has influenced my thinking. Now, I understand how important covering Agile is to what I blog about. Subsequently, writing about this topic makes me happy.

    Enjoy the Reflections on Agile series!


    📂This entry was posted in Agile 📎and tagged

  • Could Gratitude And Kindness Kickstart Your Year?

    Posted on by Tim

    Wow, 2021 has been a wild year! As the year ends, I’ve been thinking about gratitude and kindness.

    I know, there is still a week left during the year. Alternately, I it is not too early to reflect on how the year unfolded. As well, I look forward to how next year ought to begin.

    Self reflection is a skill I have been trying to use recently. Given that I don’t like certain results, I feel compelled to look at my actions and attitudes. How did my actions and attitudes impact my results?

    The question above is really tough to answer.

    Equally as important, what beliefs do I hold that influence my actions and attitudes?

    Another tough question to answer.

    As humans being, we are all influenced by other humans being. As a result, none of us is immune to “stinkin’ thinkin'” or “so-so beliefs”. Working in the technology space, I find these concepts to be quite true given we are trying to solve complicated and complex problems.

    There are plenty of books written on topics like attitude, beliefs, gratitude, and kindness. This post is not about my experience or reading.

    Buc-ee the Beaver
    Buc-ee the Beaver greeting visitors a one of several Texas fuel and market locations

    Kickstart 2022 With Gratitude and Kindness

    This week is your starting line. Use the week for reflecting and planning the next year. Resolutions are great, but only when backed up with action.

    I get it. Planning really stinks and it’s challenging. I know some paraphrased quotes that reflect the concept.

    If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

    — Benjamin Franklin

    Everyone has a plan until they get ________.

    — Mike Tyson (said something like this one time)

    Plans are worthless, but planning is indispensable.

    — Dwight D. Eisenhower

    What if planning works for you? It could, and you might see different results in your work/life. For me, I plan to focus on being grateful and kind in 2022.

    How that looks is where my plan becomes important. I will show gratitude and kindness by making opportunities for action. That is the plan and it is simple.

    Try it, what do you have to loose? Do you know anyone who could benefit from some gratitude and kindness in 2022? Just think about how it would positively impact your colleagues and family.


    📂This entry was posted in Personal 📎and tagged