Category Archives: Transformation

Focus on Minimum Viable Progress

What is an MVP?

@GregoryMcKeown uses this term Minimum Viable Progress (MVP) in his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less to make a point that we should focus on making smaller progress. While using this term, he does mention Silicon Valley and the use of MVP as Minimum Viable Product by the technology firms.

While talking about Progress, he refers to this term MVP as Minimum Viable Progress, as well as Minimum Viable Preparation. He also talks about Visually rewarding progress, no matter how small the progress is.

I think, we Agilists could use all three definitions. What do you think?

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Post It for creating highly effective and fun workshops

We talked about Post It note as my Swiss Knife tool, and I introduced you to several interesting uses. It can be used as a Doodling canvas as well as Yellow Card to short circuit an unnecessary, unwanted discussion. And THE most important use is as Note taking tool. Let’s look at Post It as a tool that can help you create effective and fun presentations and workshops.

Last year, I was engaged by a client in Ohio area, to jump start their Agile journey. As a first step towards that, we wanted to train the staff of 300+ people. Not only we wanted to give them basics of Agile but we also wanted them to experience those events and artifacts while in the workshop. So, we decided to do one week long workshops: Two days of classroom training and three days of ‘experience’ where they go through Release planning and be ready to start their first sprint from the following week.

To create the presentation deck for this workshop. We started with a brainstorming session: four coaches in a room with long wall, several multi color post it notes, and thinking hats on.

Starting with just a Straw man structure of the workshop; listing the days as columns and breaking each day in four sessions; each session having a main topic.

We iterated through this a few times. With each iteration adding additional post-it notes with a different color, focused on different aspect of the workshop. We added topic details (sub topics) on a different color Post Its, and then in the next iteration, added Games and fun activities using yet another color.  Here is what our Whiteboard looked like after end of this ‘ideation’ session.post it
We used this outline as a starting point for creating presentation deck in electronic form. Post Its enabled us, the four coaches, to bring together their expertise and experience, working collaboratively to create a fun and engaging workshop.

Oh! by the way, this workshop was hugely successful!

What are the ways you have used Post Its? What are the other techniques you have used to create fun and engaging workshops? Share your thoughts in the comment below.

Essentialism, Agile, transformation, getHyper

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Book-Essentialism

Essentialism by Greg McKeown @GregoryMcKeown

If you want to de-clutter your everyday life, if you want to be able to focus on things that are important to YOU, if you want to get more done with less effort THIS is the book. Read it, digest it, implement it and YOU will find more joy and happiness in the journey where you are headed. It will give you more clarity as to where you want to go.

Three Quotes from the book

  • The Wisdom of Life Consists in the Elimination of Non-Essentials
  • STOP Majoring in minor activities
  • If you don’t prioritize your life, some one else will

Three tips from the book

  • Less but better = Essentialism
  • Constantly asking: Am I investing in the RIGHT activities? Is this the most important or valuable thing I could be doing right now?
  • If you don’t prioritize your life, some one else will

[bctt tweet=”Practice ‘load the Tape’, ‘Think Week’ and ‘Monk Mode’ – inspired by Essentialism by @GregoryMcKeown http://amzn.to/23kviSW #Transformation #getHyper”]

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PostIt for taking notes

Take notes, while still being part of the conversation

We talked about the WHYs of Post It notes in the earlier post. I have used this simple tool many different ways in my quest to transform organizations to deliver value.

I have used Post It notes as my ‘Swiss Knife’, bending it in many different ways to meet my needs as an Enterprise Transformation Coach. For me, Agile is not about complaining (as to what you don’t have) but making the most of what you have been given. It is all about being resourceful!

Let me introduce you to several ways I have used this simple tool in my quest to transform organizations to deliver value. I guarantee that you will have new insights and new found respect for this tool:

Here is the first and THE most important role Post-It plays in my world.

Taking notes: 

I almost always walk around with Sharpie pen and a pad of PostIt notes. When I am having discussions or conversations, I am taking notes, capturing important points and action items. PostIt allows me to take the notes while still being part of the conversation. This is comforting and ensuring at the same time for my client.

It is calming to see you write on your PostIts. For me, it is a confirmation that you are listening, and there will be a follow through (on action items identified) -AP

I have, in fact, developed my own ‘short hand’ language that allows me to capture the essence of the discussion, quickly without any distraction [more on it in a separate blog post]

Did you think of using it in this fashion? If you have, what has been the response from your colleagues? Share your experience in the comments section below.

 

What’s your speed to market? Want to get to market at the ‘Flash’ speed? Put some upfront time in knowing (who) your customers are and cater to their needs with a minimum viable product (MVP).

[bctt tweet=”Want to get to market at the ‘Flash’ speed? Know your {Customer + MVP} pic.twitter.com/QabZAgF1f3 #Agile #Transformation”]