the lean influencer's mantra

the lean influencer’s mantra influencing the understanding of lean adopters’ philosophy, forces & dynamics

(c) INFLUENCE Contact: Siraj@influencecorp.com (202-415-2138)

today

✤ today’s goal = influence the team’s appreciation of the philosophy, forces and dynamics of lean adoption

✤ philosophy of lean process improvement.

✤ forces influencing lean process improvement.

✤ dynamics influencing the success of the initiative.

mantra

✤ what is the “mantra” for the Lean Influencing team?

✤ mantra = man + tra = “mind” + “liberation“ and “this moment here and now”.

✤ the Lean Influencing team wants to be there a moment before the entire organization.

✤ in fact, every moment is an opportunity to succeed or fail

introductionSIRAJ - process improvement influencer, observer and student

Intro to Siraj

✤ 19 years experience with process improvement consulting and coaching.

✤ excellent track record of coaching leaders and teams on process improvement (Kanban, Agile, Scrum, CMMI, SOX)

✤ broad and deep (varied domain / functional) experience.

elemica lean coach - product development

shoretellean agile coach - business and technology initiatives

winn dixie process coach for business and technology initiatives

winn dixie agile coach for pmo - business and technology initiatives

Hakuna Matata Process and Team Coach

philosophy the philosophy of agile adoption

respect

✤ all process improvement styles and techniques are about respect for humanity.

✤ and

✤ respect for the forces.

✤ and

✤ respect for team dynamics.

dynamicsteam dynamics that enable success of the process improvement initiative

continuous

✤ nature’s own continuous improvement is our guide.

✤ it is almost as if continuously improving processes is the only aim of process improvement.

✤ every day is a new day for process improvement.

✤ it is the journey and the destination.

clean slate

✤ the no-baggage policy of the agile influencer

✤ clean slate adds to the commitment to each team member and creates the emotional heartbeat of the team.

flexibility

✤ rigidity is the enemy!!

✤ create a team that can have learning conversations, share differences, withstand stress

✤ and yet unite and move forward

✤ authentically!!

visibility

✤ the processes that become visible provide best candidates for process improvement.

✤ agile influencers strive to provide visibility of their own processes to set the tone for visibility for the organization.

trust ...but verify

✤ In GOD we trust, every one else bring data!

craftsmanship

courage

✤ courage (plus grace)

✤ allows the influencers to face facts, realize concerns, develop solutions.

✤ influencers need courage in their heart, mind and soul

✤ to be courageous and yet caring.

grace

emphasis

swarming

celebrate

answers

✤ always lie with the team.

✤ when in doubt “ask the team”.

recognition

reality

anomalies

✤ anomalies test the boundaries of comfort for the organization.

✤ they stretch the organization’s limits for process improvement one day, one team, one individual at a time.

✤ they are also pioneers

✤ and

✤ nomads!

nomads

pioneers

supplication

✤ the agile influencer reaches out to a greater source of energy

✤ plugs in to the larger self

✤ offers supplication

atrophy

forcesforces to respect before, during and after the process improvement initiative

context

✤ knowing the context helps

✤ economy, industry, competitors, divisions, finances, strategy, influence

✤ culture is context.

✤ the team is a subset of the context.

✤ context, context, context.

uniqueness

✤ every leader and team and their process improvement opportunity is unique.

✤ the challenge is to recognize this uniqueness

✤ enjoy the moment before starting process improvement

✤ you will never be the same again

contradictions

✤ process improvement initiatives explore the contradictions that make the organization a living organism.

✤ contradictions are neither good nor bad.

✤ they are just present.

✤ contradictions provide “leverage” for process improvement initiatives.

leverage

✤ The leverage exists within this uniqueness.

✤ finding this leverage is the challenge.

✤ the agile influencer’s mantra provides deep insight.

✤ but you still have to find it in your unique context.

mystery

delay

✤ delay exists naturally in every context.

✤ actions / events of today have long term consequences.

✤ sustainability requires attention to delay.

feedback

balance

✤ the context seeks natural balance and a shared vision.

✤ always!

✤ equilibrium triumphs over all change initiatives.

✤ “agile” is a disruption of this natural equilibrium unless agile also seeks true balance.

heartbeat

✤ the living organism that is your organization, has a natural heartbeat and a natural pulse.

✤ recognizing this cadence is essential for the agile influencer.

consequences

learning

safety

✤ safety provides the net for leaders, followers and teams to explore process improvement.

✤ the level of safety in an organization is the ceiling level of process improvement.

✤ especially for the agile influencer

the influencer’s mantraapplying the lean influencer’s mantra

Siraj@sirajuddin.com / 202-415-2138

Gratitude Thank You and Best of Luck