👋 Hello, I’m Carlos, and welcome to my newsletter, “The Holistic Leader.” Raw notes from an Agile Coach. Share your questions with me here, and in exchange, I'll provide practical, grounded, and clear advice.
In our 2024 fast-paced world, resting on past successes is a shortcut to irrelevance.
I want to challenge the shift from "we're doing fine" to "we can always do better."
Personal Story:
Back when I was just starting out as an Agile Coach, my team and I were on a roll.
We had nailed project after project, and "We're doing fine" was our go-to phrase. We were pretty good, I am not going to lie.
But deep down, I had this nagging feeling that we were missing something.
Then came a project unlike any we'd tackled before.
It was tough, way more complex, and our usual way of doing things just wasn't cutting it.
We hit snags, got frustrated, and for the first time, morale dipped.
This was our wake-up call.
We realized that being "fine" had made us too comfortable, and we were stuck in our ways.
That's when we decided to change things up.
We took a hard look at how we did retrospectives, making them more about real growth than just a box to check. We tried new approaches, faced our failures head-on, and celebrated every little win.
This shift from just "doing fine" to always looking to do better.
“It changed everything”
It taught me a valuable lesson: Agile coaching isn't just about following steps; it's about pushing for constant improvement, questioning the usual ways, and leading by example.
This story, for me, was a game-changer.
It's something I like to share to get people thinking: How can we move from just being "fine" to truly improve?
"Good enough" is never enough in today’s competitive market
Let's chat about turning those challenges into stepping stones for growth.
What do you think?
Let’s talk about 5 key things to improve with your teams that you can start implementing right away.
1. The "Good Enough" Myth:
Believing you're fine as you are is a trap.
It's comfortable, but it stifles growth and blinds you to the evolving landscape.
Aim higher. (trust me, there is always room for improvement)
Regularly assess your performance against ambitious goals.
Celebrate wins.
Focus on the journey ahead.
Tip: Challenge each project or sprint by asking, "How can we improve our game?"
2. Retrospectives: Your Secret Weapon
Retrospectives are critical. They're not post-mortems but launchpads for better outcomes. Make them blame-free and action-oriented.
Actionable Advice: Mix up your retrospective formats to keep engagement high.
Try "Start, Stop, Continue" or the "Sailboat" exercise for fresh perspectives.
Note: Don’t just do a random retrospective. (Take in mind what problems your teams are facing and how through a customized retrospective want to bring that problem to light).
3. Continuous Improvement as Culture:
This isn't just a process; it's about embedding a growth mindset at every level.
Leaders need to show your vulnerability and learning moments.
Celebrate small, daily enhancements as wins.
Quick Win: Dedicate time in meetings for sharing personal improvements, no matter how minor they are.
4. Frameworks That Work:
Keep it simple.
The PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle or SMART goals offer clear, manageable paths to improvement without overwhelming your team.
Pro Tip: Set up an 'Improvement Board' for visibility on suggestions and progress.
5. Involving Everyone:
Improvement is a team sport. Encourage ownership by letting team members lead change initiatives.
Acknowledge and reward improvement efforts to cement their value.
Practical Step: Launch a 'Change Champion' program to spotlight those driving positive change.
When your team says, "Retrospectives aren't necessary; we're already doing “good enough," keep this in mind:
It's not just about being enough as we are. It's about always trying to be even better.
In summary:
Creating a culture where everyone always looks to improve isn’t just about following steps; it's really about making sure everyone feels they’re part of something bigger, where trying new things and celebrating small wins is the norm.
By ditching the "it's good enough" attitude, sticking to simple plans like PDCA and SMART, and cheering on every team member’s contributions through things like the 'Change Champion' program, we turn our workplaces into places buzzing with ideas and energy.
It's about all of us moving forward together, making our work life not just productive, but truly awesome.
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Thanks for reading
See you next week!
- Carlos ✌️
✍️ Quote of the Week
"The only thing that is constant is change."
— Heraclitus
📋 Last Week Post
Making People Awesome
Carlos Garcia