This week we continue the conversation around metaphors, and we go further down the rabbit hole in trying to answer the question: should we be using mechanical metaphors when biological metaphors are more appropriate?  Enjoy!

Metaphors Matter: Mechanics or Doctors, part 2

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Originally recorded in the before times... Nov 2019... we're rereleasing this podcast, in anticipation of our upcoming conversation with the "Grand Poohbah of Lean Change"  and his co-author  about their new book "" In this episode, Hosts Chris Murman, Andrew Leff, and Jay Hrcsko delve into the intricacies of transformation offices within organizations with Jason Little.  They discuss the challenges and necessities of having an internal transformation team, emphasizing the importance of empowerment, courage, and the ability to inspire behavioral change beyond mere process adjustments. The conversation highlights the need for a balanced approach that includes internal champions, external experts, and executive backing to effectively drive change. All share personal experiences and insights on how transformation teams can sometimes hinder progress by adding complexity or failing to align with organizational culture and goals. Key Points Discussed:  1. The Role of Transformation Offices: Jason Little shares his extensive experience, highlighting that transformation offices should act as air traffic controllers, guiding and supporting various change initiatives across the organization. The discussion emphasizes the importance of these offices in connecting different teams and ensuring that change efforts are aligned and coherent.  2. Challenges and Solutions: The conversation covers common pitfalls such as the bureaucratization of transformation efforts and how it can stifle innovation and progress. Jason suggests that transformation offices need to maintain a balance between providing structure and allowing for the organic growth of change initiatives.  3. Empowerment and Support: Jay Hrcsko reflects on his experiences, stressing the need for transformation offices to be visibly empowered by executive leadership to effect real change. This top-down support is crucial for the office to command respect and authority within the organization.  4. Cultural Impact and Behavioral Change: Andrew Leff discusses the transformation office's role in not just changing processes but also influencing organizational culture and behaviors. He advocates for a transformation strategy that inspires employees to adopt new ways of working and thinking.  5. Practical Insights and Strategies: The episode is rich with practical advice, including the importance of setting clear expectations, the courage to challenge the status quo, and the strategic timing of change initiatives to coincide with organizational readiness. Links:       About the Agile Uprising  If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.  Much thanks to the artist  from  who provided us our outro music free-of-charge!  If you like what you heard,     to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories,  please jump into the fray at our  We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free.  However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a .  Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!

Revisting: Organizational Change & the Transformation Office with Jason Little

This week we have a chat with James Gifford who recently authored a post on LinkedIn regarding how we view maturity in our organizations.  Is chasing a more "mature" organization really the direction we should be moving in?  Or would it make more sense to orient around builidng capabilities?  Listen in and find out what we think! Enjoy!   If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.  Much thanks to the artist  from  who provided us our outro music free-of-charge!  If you like what you heard,     to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories,  please jump into the fray at our  We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free.  However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a .  Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!

AU Unscripted: Capability Building versus Maturity

In this episode of the Agile Uprising Podcast, Andy Cleff digs into the topic of team engagement, health, and happiness. Whether you're a team leader, a team member, or someone passionate about organizational culture, this episode is packed with actionable insights that promise to enhance your approach to employee and team engagement.  Episode Highlights:  Understanding Team Engagement: Andy explores the nuances between engagement and mere happiness, emphasizing the importance of resilience and an experimental mindset in cultivating a thriving team environment. Insightful Data and Metrics: Learn about various creative data gathering approaches inspired by models like the Spotify Health Check and Crisp's Happiness Index. These tools are not just about numbers; they're catalysts for meaningful change. Real-Life Success Stories: Get inspired by stories of teams who have successfully navigated challenges by implementing innovative engagement strategies, from revamping DevOps practices to fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation.   Key Takeaways:  Engagement is more than just happiness; it's about creating conditions that foster a healthy, resilient team ready to tackle challenges. Metrics and feedback loops are essential but should be tailored to fit your team's unique context and needs. Cultivating a safe-to-fail environment is crucial for continuous improvement and innovation.  Links:  Gallop Q12:  Blog Post with Idea Starters  Team Mood App   About the Agile Uprising  If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.  Much thanks to the artist  from  who provided us our outro music free-of-charge!  If you like what you heard,     to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories,  please jump into the fray at our  We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free.  However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a .  Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!

Cultivating Team Engagement: Metrics, Models, and Experiments

Are you ready to transform your team's communication dynamics? Dive into this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, where host Andy Cleff explores using David Kantor's four-player model to cultivate continuous improvement in high-performing teams. In This Episode:  Overview of the Four-Player Model: Learn about the mover, follower, opposer, and bystander roles and how each contributes to or hinders team collaboration. Interactive Team Exercise: Andy walks through a retrospective exercise designed to help team members identify and adopt different communication styles, enhancing understanding and flexibility. Sustained Improvement Strategies: Gain insights on integrating these concepts into your team’s daily interactions through deliberate practice and feedback.  Whether you're leading a development squad or coaching an executive leadership team, understanding and applying these concepts can lead to more effective and collaborative environments.  Key Takeaways:  Balanced team dynamics lead to better decision-making Conscious role adoption can build empathy and self-awareness Continuous practice and commitment are crucial for lasting improvement  Ready to Stretch Your Team’s Communication Muscles? Give the retrospective exercise a try and experience first hand the impact of balanced communication styles. Deeper Dive into the Four Player Model and Full Retro Details:    For info on Kantor and his body of work, see   About the Agile Uprising  If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.  Much thanks to the artist  from  who provided us our outro music free-of-charge!  If you like what you heard,     to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories,  please jump into the fray at our  We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free.  However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a .  Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!

Stretching Team Communication Muscles with the Kantor Four-Player Model

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, Andy Cleff, Chris Murman, and Jesper Ørting delve into a discussion on the concept of greed, in the context of organizational dynamics as well as personal growth. This episode marks the seventh and final installment in , focusing on how these vices manifest in professional settings, especially within the agile community. Video Version, with closed captioning:   Episode Highlights:  Understanding Greed: Chris Murman kicks off the episode with a deep dive into the definition of greed, describing it as an unhealthy desire for accumulating wealth, possessions, or status. The conversation explores how this manifests in various professional environments, particularly within the agile community. Greed vs. Envy: Jesper Ørting shares insights on the subtle differences between greed and envy, drawing on previous discussions from the series. The dialogue illuminates how these emotions interplay and drive behaviors in corporate settings. The Impact of Greed: The episode doesn't shy away from discussing the darker implications of greed, such as conflict and unethical decision-making. However, it also contemplates the potential for positive outcomes when greed is channeled appropriately. Cultural Perspectives: Jesper provides a fascinating comparison of societal attitudes towards success and communal responsibility in Denmark versus the United States, sparking a broader discussion on the balance between personal ambition and social welfare.   About the Agile Uprising  If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a review, a rating, or leave comments on iTunes, Stitcher or your podcasting platform of choice. It really helps others find us.  Much thanks to the artist  from  who provided us our outro music free-of-charge!  If you like what you heard,     to find more music you might enjoy! If you’d like to join the discussion and share your stories,  please jump into the fray at our  We at the Agile Uprising are committed to being totally free.  However, if you’d like to contribute and help us defray hosting and production costs we do have a .  Who knows, you might even get some surprises in the mail!

Metaphors Matter: Mechanics or Doctors, part 2

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