ALE 2015 un-CONFERENCE recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Real optionswe cannot predict the future so we crave

alternatives, to go there as safely as possible

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Is it option or is it commitment?• When to commit / when it expires?• Do it only when needed• Do you need rollback option?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Is it possible we price our options and make the value transparent – so it is clear ‘why’?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

* One thing you never did is give your boss bad news, because if he was sidetracked, you were sidetracked

* GM has long been known for hiring people who “individually were the best and brightest” but later channeled into a system that rewarded conformity

* Literally, silence can kill

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

leader’s job is to address and, when needed, change a company’s culture

• Involve everybody• Honor the good in your current culture• Use short cultural statements / visualize them• Focus on a few critical shifts in behavior• Integrate formal and informal interventions

(new rules, metrics, and incentives) – make them transparent

• Monitor progress and adjust• BEGIN and be persistent

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Is there anything we would change in our company culture?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Design thinking

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Focus on people / customers and their needs• Use: observations, interviews,

brainstorming, prototyping• Think outside of the box => innovative

solutions

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

What could we do to inspire creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

How do we engage everybody into the decision making to encourage commitment?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Endorphin – sugar; pleasure; laugh; sex• Dopamine – celebrate small goals achieved• Serotonin – say ‘thank you’ – recognize folks work; exercise • Oxytocin – hugs; gifts• Cortisol – stress / prevents creativity

May we help rising the happy hormones?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Distract with side project• Spread the activity in time• Focus on the value• Gamify• Skipping is not an option• Let the team chose their own reward• Challenge the team – self-organisation• Let the team fail and face the

consequences #ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Scaling Agile – staff liquidity

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• You need 3 folks of lvl 3

• Masters should only train

• Start assigning to folks with least options

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Blockers by count

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Blockers by days

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

How blockers affect flow

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

What should we measure?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

BeTtEr TeAmS

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Build a common purpose• Encourage leadership• Inspire taking responsibility•Define ground rules• Build feedback loops• Celebrate success• Introduce transparency

Building learning in teams

• Take it slowly – but do take it

• Invest in your idea and make it attractive

• Share your secrets• Involve everyone (even

skeptics)• Create conditions for

learning

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Would any of them work for us?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

Recap … of the recap• Real optionsPrice options and make value transparent?• Company CultureChange in company culture? • Design thinkingInspire creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking?• Sociocracy 3.0Engage everybody into decision to encourage commitment?

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

• Happy hormonesSay ‘thank you’ – recognize achievements?• How to engage folks into not

interesting tasks?• Staff liquidity and scaling

agileMasters should only train? • Measuring blockersWhat should we measure?• Building learning in teamsShall we try new practices?

Hope you enjoyed it

#ale15 recap by Simeon Kisyov

skissiov@yahoo.com