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Sunday, December 24, 2023

Understand Perspectives

Quite often, people jump on a point they disagree with using statements like, "You are wrong," or "You are ignorant ..." While the second has some merit when people literally talk about subjects they are unfamiliar with - the issue we need to talk about is the matter of perspectives. Everyone, regardless how informed, has a perspective based on where they stand. Let us discuss how this understanding helps us build better communication and relationships.
Whenever we interact with others, understanding and appreciating diverse perspectives is crucial for effective communication. Assumptions and assertions as well as our own bias can easily have us miss important points, fail to build agreement, and ultimately result in failure to come up with an effective way forward.

Who is right?

In the pursuit of truth and understanding, we quickly encounter contrasting perspectives. In order to pursue growth and collaboration, we need to acknowledge diverse viewpoints and also successfully navigate conversations to come up with solutions.

Assertive statements like "You are wrong," "You should ..." or a sentence that categorize the person are often hastily thrown into the discourse, with consequences that reach far beyond the statement itself.

This style of communication hinder productive dialogue and pollutes the atmosphere - individuals who get attacked with such statements are less inclined to explore, learn, and collaborate:

Defensive Reactions

Statements asserting that someone is "wrong" or "ignorant" come across as verbal violence and can trigger defensive reactions. People become less open to considering alternative viewpoints and focus more on defending their own position.

Communication Breakdown

Assertive language without considering the other person's perspective may lead to a breakdown in communication. It can create a hostile environment where participants feel attacked rather than engaged in a meaningful discussion.

Strained Relationships

Telling someone what they must think strains interpersonal relationships, as this implies an imbalance of power. Building mutual respect and understanding becomes challenging when communication is characterized by one-sidedness.

Closed-Mindedness

Assertive statements often contribute to a closed-minded atmosphere, where participants are less likely to engage in open-minded exploration of different ideas. Feedback that a perspective is not welcome will hinder the potential for collective learning and growth.

Barriers

When dismissing another person's perspective outright, they are unlikely to consider the perspective of the dismissing person more valid than vice versa. With this default position, dialogue is extremely challenging.

Missed Opportunity for Understanding

Categorical statements may close off opportunities for understanding the nuances of the other's viewpoint. They often assume a binary right-wrong dichotomy, neglecting the possibility that both perspectives can offer valuable insights or even overlaps.

Ten tips to improve your communication

Aggressive language is evitable. Instead of using confrontational language, here are some tips for a more constructive approach:

10 Tips to utilize Perspective

Express Curiosity

Instead of asserting that someone is wrong, express curiosity about their perspective. Ask open-ended questions to understand their reasoning and the experiences that shape their viewpoint.

Listen Actively

Practice active listening to truly understand the nuances of the other person's perspective. Engage in the conversation by paraphrasing, summarizing, and asking clarifying questions. This demonstrates a genuine interest in their viewpoint.

Adapt and Connect

Be aware of the different cultural backgrounds and adapt your communication style accordingly. This fosters a respectful environment and also promotes effective understanding.

Seek Common Ground

Identify areas of agreement or common ground before delving into differences. This can create a foundation for more constructive discussions.

Acknowledge Agreement

Acknowledge valid points from the other person's perspective. Recognize areas of agreement to build rapport and establishes a foundation for finding common solutions to shared challenges.

Use "I" Statements

Share your own perspective using "I" statements to convey your feelings and thoughts without implying anything about the other person's perspective.

Offer Information

You may believe the other person might benefit from additional information. Consider sharing it in a way that is informative and invokes curiosity. Prescriptive suggestions trigger defensive mechanisms, and these do not advance the conversation.

Be Patient

If your perspective is not immediately understood, exercise patience and elaborate your perspective. Use clear and concise language, provide examples, and repeat your key points to ensure effective communication.

Frame respectfully

Frame disagreements as differences in perspective rather than absolute right or wrong. This allows for a more respectful exchange of ideas.

Stay Constructive

Apply constructivism when you offer feedback. Focus on the specific behaviors or ideas that you want to address. Avoid making personal attacks. This encourages a positive and solution-oriented atmosphere.

Don't worry if you miss out on using these occasionally - it takes a lot of practice, self-awareness and patience to master these.

Conclusion

In the complex landscape of communication, the ability to navigate diverse perspectives is not only a skill but a necessity. By adopting a mindset of curiosity, empathy, and open dialogue, we can transcend the limitations our own biases and beliefs. Avoiding the use of overly assertive language helps us create environments conducive to mutual understanding and collaboration. As we engage in discussions, let us remember that true progress lies not in scoring points by declaring someone "wrong" - but in our collective willingness to explore, and embrace the richness of human experience.

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to open up a controversial perspective when the response might be backlash, personal attacks or outright bullying. Ask yourself: Do you want to be the person who makes it easier, or harder, for others to say what they think? Do you want to be the one who builds bridges, or burns them? Do you want to work towards understanding - or hostility?

With that, I would leave you with the following default stance - whenever someone starts a conversation,

Assume Positive Intent.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

10 Signs You're Facing an Agile Fanatic

As "Agile" popularity rose in recent years, so did fanaticism — a rigid adherence to a fixed set of ideas that doesn't embrace the spirit behind them. In this post, we'll delve into ten signs that may indicate a person's journey into Agile has taken a detour into fanaticism. From dogmatism to denialism, we'll unravel the subtle but impactful shifts that can hinder the true essence of Agile and its intended goal: delivering value to customers.
So here we go -
10 Signs of Agile Fanaticism

Denialism

Denying the existence of bad Agile practices "because I've never seen that" hints at a lack of awareness and narrow-mindedness.

See also: "Argument from Ignorance."

Tunnel Vision

Rejecting ideas from anyone who isn't a recognized Agile Thought Leader indicates a narrow perspective and a filter that severely restricts opportunities to grow.

See also: "Ad Hominem Fallacy."

Guru Idolatry

A line of reasoning that depends on quotes from Agile gurus, using the name of the gurus as the primary evidence, may not have a point to begin with.

See also: "Argument from Authority."

Manifesto Memorization

Reciting the Agile Manifesto from memory without flexibility in its application reveals an unhelpful focus on form over function.

See also: "Formal Fallacy."

Dogma Defense

When the first reflex is to reject ideas conflicting with "Agile," without entertaining their possible validity, opportunities for improvement are lost.

See also: "Personal Incredulity."

Framework Fundamentalism

Insistence that a "proper" use of an Agile framework is necessary - shows a misunderstanding on the core Agile concept of adaptivity.

See also: "False Dilemma."

"Not Real Agile"

Labeling deviations from a personal interpretation as not "real" Agile betrays unconstructive dogmatism that doesn't encourage finding better ways of working.

See also: "No true Scotsman."

Purity Over Delivery

Prioritizing the "correct" application of "Agile" practices and methods above the delivery of valuable products to customers necessitates reevaluating one's focus.

See also: "Slippery Slope."

Blaming

Immediately responding to challenges or failure by blaming others for incorrectly following Agile practices destroys trust and the opportunity to address the deeper issues.

See also: "Attribution Error."

Elitist Tribalism

Those who separate the world into the categories "Agilists," "Those who can be converted," and "The irredeemable rest," not treating the latter as equals - are dangerous company.

See also: "Othering."

Conclusion

Always remember that Agile is ultimately about suceeding and helping others succeed. Flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement lay the foundation for this success. Embrace the principles, resist the notion of dogmatically following ideas or practices. This paves the way for a more resilient, innovative, and ultimately successful Agile journey.

If you spot signs of fanaticism in yourself, reconsider your position. If you spot some signs in those around you - address them. And if someone gets a full Bingo on the list above - do yourself a favor and steer clear.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

In Scrum we do ...

"How do you do this in Scrum?" - A common question, and still: not a meaningful question. Why? Let's explore.

Scrum has no prescriptions.

Scrum is but a container, and something that works within Scrum should also work without Scrum. If that's not the case, and something only works because of Scrum - you probably misunderstand Scrum.

Does it make sense?

If something makes sense irrespective of Scrum, you may want to try it. If you believe that it has to be done because of Scrum, but your senses are tingling - they may be right.

Does it work for you?

Whatever "this" is - how are you currently doing it, and does it give you the results you're looking for? If so - why would you want to change it?

A better question

We're currently doing this, and those are the issues we're facing. How could we address these?

Whenever you hear or say, "In Scrum, we do ..." - whatever follows next is either complete and utter nonsense, or has very little to do with Scrum. Most likely, the first.