I am super excited for the release of the Navigating A Transformation white paper from LeadingAgile. This white paper represents the debut of Navigator, LeadingAgile’s SaaS transformation management system, that I’ve been working on for the past 2+ years. This is a bit of the secret sauce to the methods and tools that LeadingAgile uses to help our clients achieve better business outcomes and ultimately, accomplish their goals of going Agile.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw
Beginning with the first three habits of independence and then the second three habits of interdependence, we have gradually explored the musings of Stephen R. Covey from “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” as it relates to agile transformation. Now, we conclude this series with the all-encompassing Habit 7 – Sharpen the Saw, otherwise referred to as the principles of balanced self-renewal. All-encompassing because Habit 7 truly encompasses all the prior habits towards continuous balanced renewal. Covey declares Habit 7 as the habit that makes all the other habits possible.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 6 – Synergize
Habit 6 – Synergize, in our exploration of Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, is quite significant when it comes to effective agile transformation. This habit, considered the “principles of creative cooperation” by Covey, is the culmination of all the prior Habits 1 through 5. As we’ve seen, each habit builds upon the last, and now with Habit 6, we are at the peak of what it takes to be highly effective.
Covey emphasizes that done right, Habit 6 can produce extraordinary results by producing new alternatives never before considered. He offers up a simple meaning to what it means to synergize.
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. One plus one equals three or more.”
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 5 – Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood
We are 4 down and 3 to go in our exploration of Stephen R. Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, with regard to effective Agile Transformation. Our focus this time is Habit 5 – Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood. Quite frankly, Habit 5 is the answer to Habit 4 – Think Win/Win or rather, seeking first to understand makes Win/Win possible.
Habit 5 centers around the highest form of listening, what is referred to as “empathic listening.” With this Habit, Covey challenges us to develop the powerful skill of empathetic listening to first diagnose, seek to deeply understand, before prescribing a fix to the problem.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 4 – Think Win-Win
We are at the midway point in our Agile Transformation-focused exploration of Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” with Habit 4 – Think Win/Win. I’m sure we’ve all said it in business and even relationships, but how does Covey intend it towards being highly effective and what does it mean to an Agile Transformation?
Before we explore the answer to that question, it seems appropriate for a quick refresher on the first three habits. Habit 1 – Be Proactive, and Habit 2 – Begin With The End In Mind ultimately enable Habit 3 – Put First Things First. In terms of what we’re here to talk about, an organization that is proactive (Habit 1) with an end state vision (Habit 2) and realizes it through a focus on what’s most important (Habit 3), is well on their way towards effective Agile Transformation. With that, let’s now consider Habit 4 – Think Win/Win.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 3 – Put First Things First
Last time we explored Habit 2 – Begin With The End In Mind of Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” as it relates to Agile Transformation. With Habit 2, we concluded that it’s essential for an organization to begin with the end in mind, their end state vision, for an Agile Transformation to be successful and that they must be proactive (Habit 1) in support of that. This time we’ll explore Habit 3 – Put First Things First for which Covey considers the fulfillment of Habits 1 and 2.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 2 – Begin With The End In Mind
In the first blog in this series, we explored Habit 1 – Be Proactive of Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We concluded that a company’s choice to pursue an Agile Transformation is a proactive response to their circumstances that powerfully affects their effectiveness and ultimately their success. Continuing on with the exploration of how the 7 Habits apply to Agile Transformation, let’s take a look at Habit 2 – Begin With The End In Mind.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation: Habit 1 – Be Proactive
So, I’ve done a thing and made a commitment to a new blog series on the LeadingAgile blog. Inspired by Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I’ll be exploring The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agile Transformation. Check out the first blog post in the series on Habit 1: Be Proactive.
Agile Open Florida 2020: Expect The Unexpected & Adapt
You know what they say … when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
Join Agilists from across the state of Florida and beyond for Agile Open Florida 2020 coming to you live and virtual on Friday, October 16th. Our theme, Expect the Unexpected & Adapt, is super appropriate to our world right now.
Goodbye Catalina, Hello World
We all talk about working ourselves out of a job, but do we ever really do it? I did! I’m excited to announce that effective April 1st, I will no longer be with Catalina Marketing as their Executive Director of the Enterprise Agility Office. In my 2 years with them, I built an awesome team (truly my dream team), established the most effective delivery & execution process they’ve ever seen, and essentially worked myself out of a job. Over the next several months I will be exploring opportunities looking for my next big adventure. Let’s go!
i.am.agile 