Why are so many smart people unhappy at work? W/Christopher Avery

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, host and Professional Kanban Trainer Troy Lightfoot sits down with Certified Scrum Trainer Chris Li to discuss the pervasisive online sentiment that common agile of ways of working like Scrum and Kanban just suck. If you read LinkedIn you'll see these types of posts frequently.  They discuss why so many people feel this way, is it a fault of the ways of working themselves or something else?  They also give practicial tips to address common issues! Links Spark Plug Agility: Trainer Immersion Program: ProKanban.org: Kanban Pocket Guide: The Secret HIstory of Kanban and Why it Matters: Contact Info 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 Troy Lightfoot, Andy Cleff, and Andrew Leff discuss the impacts of focusing on outputs and outcomes including some very potentially controversial takes! Additional they discuss why Quitting is so critical and how to know when to quit. (Working on getting the Author of Quit on the podcast as well for a future episode!)     Links Mentioned 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!

As our summer break continues, we are bringing back a classic episode, too good to not bring back!   Join Brad Stokes and Christopher Avery as they discuss The Responsibility Process®. When Christopher Avery was a management consultant, this was his driving question: Why are so many smart people unhappy at work? 20 years ago, Christopher realized that the most useful skills he was teaching his smart, ambitious, professional clients were coping skills. They needed coping skills because they were stuck in a suffocating culture that systematically disempowered and controlled them. An insidious control cycle kept well-meaning, high-performing leaders and key contributors at all levels from doing their best, taking risks, learning, and operating with freedom, power and choice for the organizations’ best interests.   His own career trajectory changed forever when Christopher began working with an emerging behavioral science framework — The Responsibility Process®. This powerful framework is the world's first proven how-to approach for understanding, teaching, and taking personal responsibility. It helps us apply our innate leadership ability to face and overcome any challenge. Operating in freedom, power, and choice, we encourage and support those we lead to do likewise.  Links and Contact Details Twitter:  Facebook:   Website:  LinkedIn:     Join the conversation at  Support the Agile Uprising by making a contribution via 

In this episode of the Agile Uprising podcast, hosts Andy Cleff and Chris Murman are joined by guest Matt Barcomb for a spirited discussion on cooperative ventures in business. Barcomb challenges traditional organizational structures, discussing the shift from domination-based systems to cooperation-based models. The conversation delves into worker cooperatives, democratic decision-making processes, and the potential for these structures to address the shortcomings of Agile and Lean methodologies. Matt shares insights from his extensive reading and experiences, highlighting the potential of worker cooperatives and democratic business models. The episode also touches on the challenges of scaling cooperative practices and the importance of radical transparency and equitable wealth distribution. Tune in to gain insights into alternative business models, the principles of cooperation, and how these ideas might shape the future of work. Matt Barcomb's Contact Info Links Mentioned 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 Andy Cleff explores the virtues of humility and vulnerability in leadership. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the courage to admit "I don't know" as foundational to effective leadership and personal growth. Drawing on insights from thought leaders like Dr. Brené Brown, Cleff discusses how vulnerability fosters innovation, creativity, and psychological safety within teams. He shares real-world examples from leaders like Satya Nadella, Ed Catmull, and Jacinda Ardern to illustrate how embracing vulnerability can lead to trust, collaboration, and positive change. Tune in for practical tips on integrating these virtues into your leadership style. (Part of series ) Show 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!

In this episode of "," Andy Cleff explores the often-overlooked power of gratitude in the workplace. Discover how cultivating a culture of appreciation can significantly boost motivation, employee engagement, and overall performance.  Andy unpacks the connections between gratitude and appreciation, sharing compelling research that underscores their impact on productivity and innovation. He offers practical, actionable strategies for incorporating appreciation into your daily work life, from keeping a journal to creating rituals for teams. Learn how gratitude intertwines with other crucial virtues like empathy, courage, and resilience. Whether you're a team leader or individual contributor, this episode provides valuable insights on how to harness the transformative power of gratitude and appreciation to drive positive change in your organization. Show Notes / Links Take 5 and Show Some Appreciation Chapman and White tool Motivation by Appreciation Tool:   Book: OC Tanner Culture Report: 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!  

Continuing last week's conversation of where agile is headed, we go from the anecdotes to arithmetic.  We sit down for a chat with Evan Leybourn, Head Imaginarian of the Business Agility Institute to discuss what he's seeing from his vantage point regarding our industry and where it looks to potentially be going.  Have a listen! 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 Agile Uprising, Andy Cleff, Chris Murman, and Jay Hrcsko engage in a candid, unscripted discussion about the current state of the agile community. They explore the challenges and opportunities arising from the industry's upheaval, emphasizing the need for a shift in narrative from doom and gloom to constructive optimism. The conversation touches on the importance of unity among practitioners, the role of agile in various sectors, and the future of agile coaching. With a mix of humor and deep insights, the hosts encourage listeners to focus on building a positive, resilient future for agile methodologies. 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 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!