Organizing Conversations with Mike Burrows

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host Andy Cleff explores the importance of building alliances to support continuous improvement. He discusses how alliances can enhance both individual’s and teams’ journeys by providing diverse perspectives, psychological safety, and interpersonal trust.  The pod explores four types of alliances (that come from the ):  Support Pack: A group focused on execution, helping figure out the "how" in a pragmatic way Wild Pack: Creative thinkers who provide bursts of brave, innovative thinking. Caring Pack: Soul nurturers attuned to group dynamics and our all-so-human vulnerabilities. Inner Board: Individuals who offer direct, wise counsel and help navigate cross-functional boundaries. …and offers practical advice on how to cultivate these alliances and how to leverage them for meaningful and sustainable improvement the journey of meaningful change. Show Notes / 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!  

This week we sit down with frequent guest Mike Burrows to discuss his newest book Organizing Conversations.  We talk about the idea of dialogic organizational development, how writing this book was actually harder than he thought, and Mike shares some insight into his newest writing project.  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!  

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host Andy Cleff delves into the virtue of resilience and its critical role in driving positive change within organizations.   Building on  , Andy explores how resilience enables individuals and teams to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to stressful situations, and persist through adversity.   He outlines five key characteristics of resilience: positivity, focus, flexibility, organization, and proactivity. Through real-world examples, such as Spotify's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andy illustrates how these traits can be cultivated intentionally.   He also shares practical tips for building resilience at both personal and organizational levels, emphasizing the importance of practices like gratitude, mindfulness, and continuous learning.   Join the conversation on the Agile Uprising  to share your own resilience practices and insights.   --- Show Notes / Links Empathy and Resilience in Leadership Resilience, Courage, Vulnerability, and Alliances Real Flow with Brandi Olson Steve Martin, LinkedIn Posts on Resilience and  Celebrations Grids from Management 3.0 Deliberately Developmental Organizations with Andy Flemming Who Decides Who Decides: Getting Started with Sociocracy Intent-Based Leadership with David Marquet 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!

What does it truly mean to embody courage when driving organizational change? In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host Andy Cleff delves into the virtue of courage and its critical role in enabling meaningful change within organizations. Inspired by recent discussions on the Andy explores courage from a secular perspective, emphasizing its components: honesty, perseverance, vitality, and bravery. He shares insights from experts and offers practical advice for building courage muscles through small, consistent reps. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on courageous individuals they admire and to foster a culture of bravery and honesty in their lives and on their teams. Join Andy as he unpacks how courage can transform organizations and help them thrive amidst constant change. Show Notes & Links More on Brendan, someone I admire who has demonstrated profound courage over time: More on “Organizational Silence” Podcast on Organizational Debt All kinds of virtues: More on fear: The “Fear and Vulnerability” Retrospective: Embrace Dissent with David Marquet: and --- 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!  

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host Troy Lightfoot chat with Prateek Singh author of Scaling Simplified and the new course for Product Management "Accelerating Product Value" about taking your product management career to the next level with Probablisitc Thinking and Flow. Troy's Next Product Value Class: "AgileUprising" for 20% off! The episode is rich with insights, making it a valuable listen for anyone involved in organizational change. Probabilistic vs. Deterministic Thinking in Product Management: The discussion highlighted the importance of probabilistic thinking, where multiple future outcomes are considered, rather than deterministic thinking, which often leads to rigid and potentially inaccurate expectations. Challenges with Traditional Product Prioritization: Traditional methods of product prioritization, such as backlog management, are seen as potentially obsolete the moment they are established due to the dynamic nature of market and development realities. Advantages of Rapid Experimentation: Getting ideas to production swiftly and with minimal initial investment allows for direct testing with customers, providing real feedback and reducing the risk of significant investment in unproven ideas. Financial Impact of Flow and Learning: Faster realization of product value through improved flow can significantly enhance ROI, by reducing the costs associated with delays and increasing the effectiveness of learning from the market. The Role of Flow Metrics in Learning Systems: Flow metrics like cycle time and throughput are vital for transforming product development and operations into learning systems, where the speed of learning and adaptation is critical. Concept of Thinking in Bets: The podcast also touched on using the concept of “Thinking in Bets” (from Annie Duke’s work) to manage investment in product development. This approach advocates for small, incremental bets to minimize losses while exploring the potential success of new ideas. Links Read More   ---- 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!

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, hosts Andy Cleff and Chris Murman chat with Jason Little and Ken Rickard co-authors of . They explore the origins and motivations behind their new book, which aims to help organizations navigate change. The discussion covers the importance of understanding one's own context, the pitfalls of superficial efforts. They emphasize the significance of people in the process and the necessity of being comfortable with disruption.  The episode is rich with insights, making it a valuable listen for anyone involved in organizational change. Read the Book: Grab your copy of to dive deeper into the Six Big Ideas. Join the Conversation: Visit to explore interactive tools, watch explainer videos, and share your experiences with the community. Upcoming Courses: Stay tuned for Jason and Ken's virtual course series, where you can learn to apply these concepts to your own context. Links Read More Podcasts Contact Info Events ---- 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!  

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!  

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!        

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!    

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!