• Agile Transformation

If you want to improve, you also have to look at things differently

What do you feel when you put your hand in your coat pocket? Keys, coins, old receipts. Definitely recognizable. But since a few months I also feel a die in my coat pocket, between the keys and coins. I put that die in there very consciously, after training in perspectival agility (what?!). How that die helps me in working Agile with clients? You can read about that in this article.

That die, not only has six sides, but also a very good reason. Because yes, of course, as a Scrum Master and interaction designer, I know you can look at everything from different perspectives. But no, I don’t always do that. Often enough it is much easier (not more effective) to go with your first reaction to an event. Hop, you throw it out almost casually.

At exactly such a moment, that hexagonal die in my coat pocket reminds me of the other ways I can look at something. By feeling that die, something happens. I consciously notice what I am thinking and I start producing five more thoughts.

What a stubborn customer

An example. We are currently developing a multimedia tour for a museum. We encounter a problem and the client immediately has an idea about how we can solve this problem. But I have another idea, a much better idea. So it echoes in my head: ‘What a bad solution. What a stubborn customer!’ Hey, I consciously notice that I am thinking, ‘ What a bad solution. What a stubborn client!’ Stop the time.

What a space I feel

This is one of those die moments; how else can I look at this? I spin the die through my fingers and think of alternative perspectives: ‘what an engaged client,’ ‘what a thoughtful client,’ ‘in terms of technology, their idea could be a great solution,’ and ‘how good to notice that the client is also doing everything possible to make this tour as cool as possible.’ I feel the die again and change perspective once more. How can I look at myself differently? ‘I notice that I have a very clear idea about this and that means it matters to me. How lucky I am to be doing work that I care about.’ I slip the die back into my pocket; what a space I feel!

Agile working? Train your mindset in agility

To improve your team, it helps when you discover each other’s perspectives. And just as you train your muscles while playing sports, you can also train your mindset in agility. So a dice in your pocket can help you do that. If you want to get started right away with your whole team, consider an Agile Kickstart training. Do you often have that one thought (“What a stubborn customer” or “My idea is much better”) while developing new services and products? Then treat yourself (and therefore your client) to the Design Thinking & Lean Start-Up training. Design Thinking is the proven approach to customer-centric innovation with empathy for the customer at its core.

Curious how the multimedia tour at the museum turned out? Want to know what other practical tips I have for training your mindset? Feel free to contact me and together we’ll look at it from the other side.

PS How do you guys on your team actually look at Agility? What image do you have of Agile working in the organization? You can measure that very easily with this free tool.