Do not embrace status quo and constantly push to reinvent yourself.
Category Archives: Transformation
PostIt as a Yellow Card
In this series of Blog posts on 5 unique uses of PostIt notes, so far we talked about using Post It for Doodling and Visual note taking. Let’s talk about another unique way to use it.
In the (controlled) chaotic world of Agile, we are always looking for ways to have everyone participate in the ongoing discussions in the room. We are looking to have collaborative sessions where everyone brings in their view points.
When you have more than two people in the room, it is very easy to get off-track. We need a ‘referee’ to keep things moving in the right direction and stay the course. Unlike Soccer where only referee can raise the Yellow flag, we can empower entire team with this Yellow card.
This acts as a visual indicator and anyone in the room can raise it, if they feel that:
- the conversation is off-track and we are wasting everyone’s time
- conversation does not help us get to the goal we set out for in the beginning of the session
- the conversation is going into ‘weeds’
- S/he needs to break the conversation to give everyone a pause and ensure being on track
The team member has to briefly explain the reasoning for raising the Yellow card and request the team to get back to the appropriate discussions.
Often times, the out come of raising a Yellow card is additional items going on to the Parking Lot. Agile teams generally should have yellow Post It notes handy, and being agile, you make the most of what you are given. So, I came up with this idea of (re) using yellow Post It notes as Yellow card.
In a collaborative session that we want to have, you need every one to actively participate, yet stay on the central topic of the discussion. it is easier said than done! This is a simple concept, yet, very effective tool to aid the team and keep the communication and collaboration on the right track, making the sessions more productive for the team.
It improves productivity, enhances collaboration within team, as well as helps build the chemistry and trust among team members. It also helps those who are ‘soft spoken’, those ‘introverts’ in a sense that it provides them a tool to voice their concerns.
Go ahead, and make your next session very productive. Don’t be afraid to use it!
[bctt tweet=”Use this Yellow Card to keep your #collaboration sessions on track! pic.twitter.com/LSVuPV7TPo #scrum #transformation”]
Are you struggling to get to market quickly? Want to get to your customers, your market at ‘Flash’ speed? Start with two questions:
- Do you know your Customers?
- Do you know the minimum viable product (MVP) – the minimal functionality that you need to build and get to your customer?
[bctt tweet=”Know your {Customer + MVP} to get to your customers (market) at a ‘Flash’ speed! pic.twitter.com/QabZAgF1f3 #Agile #Transformation “]
Pencil drawing of ‘Flash’ above by awesome A
Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul
If you are in any kind of transformation work, you can not afford to ignore this book. Book is filled with nuggets of genius and his passion for enriching his customers lives. It showcases how focusing too much on growth and taking eyes off the core customers can spell trouble for the business. He also shows us how the business can transformation can be achieved even in the worst economic times.
MUST read for anyone involved in transformation work. Period.
Three Quotes from the book
- How could it be wrong to invest in your own people?
- Starbucks is in the business of exceeding the expectations
- We could not and should not underestimate the ability of our competitors to steal our customer
Three tips from the book
- Do not embrace status quo and constantly push to reinvent yourself
- Work should be personal, infused with meaning and purpose
- Experimenting with new ideas with the risk of ridicule
[bctt tweet=”Do not embrace status quo and constantly push to reinvent yourself – Howard Schultz in Onward http://amzn.to/1PtHOVF”]
Doodling and Visual note taking on ever extending canvas
We talked about Post It notes as my Swiss Knife tool, and I introduced you to the first and THE most important use; that being the Note taking tool.
Today, I want to talk about using it as a Canvas. I have two passions in my life: the Agile Transformation and the Art. The artist within me likes to doodle, and I often come up with some quick illustrations to provide visuals on a topic that I am going to be discussing or presenting. As they say, Picture is worth a thousand words. Here are some of my Agile Doodles.
And, if you are into visual note taking, PostIt notes can also morph into an ever extending canvas. Here is an example.
Visual Note taking with (ever extending) Post It canvas
This was done by a student in one of a workshop on ‘Jump start your Agile teams’, capturing notes about what is Agile and Scrum, all using Post It notes and Visual note taking.
All right, let’s summarize: We discussed three uses of the Post-It notes so far:
- Taking notes during discussion and conversations; while still actively participating in them
- Canvas for doodling
- Ever extending canvas for Visual Notetaking
Go ahead, start doodling! And, share your many ways you use Post Its in the comments section below.