Want to know what a #ScrumMaster does? This is a must see video to see #Agile in action (not just for geeks). Get a better understanding of what my new job is and see how it applies to the job you do as well!
I don’t know why I hadn’t seen this video before today, but by the time I had finished, I knew that I made the right move going to Hobsons. Not only will I be getting better at the process he describes in this film, but I’ll be using the principles to solve important challenges in education.
I am certain that we will get better at solving the challenges of the world by using more iterative and incremental approaches that help us to fail more quickly so that we can find the solutions that work.
I’ve recently been thinking quite a bit about the application of Scrum/Agile/Lean to all kinds of challenges outside the world of software development and it’s great to see such a tangible example of that happening. What’s even better is that they didn’t shy away of calling it Scrum and they didn’t really feel the need to drastically change the process to their industry. They took the process with all of its “weird” language and implemented it as loyally as possible. They were so successful that they got bored with building cars and decided to tackle Polio. Amazing!!
Source: youtube.com
Don’t Hoard Knowledge
I learned a new trick today on a piece of software that EVERYONE in my organization uses. I thought it was so cool that I created a quick word document with screenshots on how to do it. I sent it to my team of six people and left work for the day.
I got up at 3am because my child was screaming. I picked up my phone and found an email that went out to the entire organization - including all of the client and internal leadership - with my word document.
This was a transforming experience for me, because I had been under the impression that hoarding knowledge was one way that you could stay competitive. I thought that knowing tricks that other people didn’t know would make me look better. Boy was I wrong!
If you learn something useful - especially on the job - take the opportunity to share it. Try sharing it with a few people first, and if it seems to be popular, share it more broadly. Turns out that people like to learn new things that help them to do their jobs more efficiently. There is also a chance that your name will be associated with words like “helpful” and “ideas” instead of some of the alternatives. :)
Have you had any experiences with sharing that have had positive impacts on your career or life?
Managing the Talented Can Be Harder than Managing the Rest
You might think it would be easier to manage those who are extremely talented. This blog post describes why that may not be the case. There is a lot that goes into cultivating talent, pushing the talented to new heights, and keeping talent interested, engaged, and around.
What does and doesn’t work?
No Pain Go Gain!
I’ve learned a lot these last two years working in a demanding role. While the work can get tedious and the hours can get long, pushing myself to finish the commitment I made to myself to work at least two years here has been one of the most rewarding and growth-filled experiences of my life. Great article on allowing yourself to “stress” a bit.
ESPECIALLY high performers need feedback
One of the management tips for today described how “Even high performers need feedback.” The post went on to describe the importance of sharing feedback with your high performers in a way that sounded so soft. If your high performers no longer feel they’re getting the “feedback” or inputs they need to go next level - they will leave. It really is that simple. If they don’t, they’re not really high performers after all. High performers don’t sit around and wait for good feedback. Whether it’s formal, informal, explicit, or implicit, they need those inputs that feel like a shove to the next level. They’re with your company because they thought they could get that shove. Give it to them.
Source: hbr.org
Are MBA Entrepreneurs on the Rise?
Is the attitude toward MBA’s in startups and as founders justified? Is an MBA becoming a more and more viable option for those looking to start something or get in on the ground floor of something big?
Source: reuters.com
Steve Blank - The Epiphany
This post has so many applications and transcends startups, business, and technology. I prefer to use the term revelation, and I think it’s important to not remove God from the equation. I believe that all epiphanies come from God as He is the source of all light and truth. Giving him the credit and thanking him for the insight can only increase the frequency of these epiphanies - whatever area you are seeking to apply it in.
Source: steveblank.com
