Category: Blog
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The Enterprise Agility Manifesto: A New North Star
tldr; PMI and the Agile Alliance have released a new Manifesto for Enterprise Agility. This isn’t just another framework for teams; it’s a strategic pivot for the entire organization. If we want to move beyond the deploying operating models and drive real outcomes, we need to look at how we fund, govern, and lead in…
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The Balancing Act: Protecting Your Team Without Losing the Win
tldr Explore the critical leadership challenge of protecting a team’s psychological health while simultaneously holding them accountable for high-quality delivery. Watch out for the “Nurture Trap,” where over-protection leads to stagnation, and the “Delivery Delusion,” where excessive pressure causes burnout and dysfunction. Instead shoot for a “High Support, High Challenge” mindset, where accountability as an…
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From Directing to Coaching: The “Guide” Playbook
tldr; Directives are the siren song of efficiency that actually kill curiosity. If you want a team that thinks for themselves, stop giving them the answers. Today we look at how to build psychological safety, lead with questions, and start creating an environment of empowerment, today! In my last message, I talked about the Directive…
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Is your “directive” style sapping your teams innovation and effectiveness?
tldr; Directiveness feels efficient, but it’s often a “Checklist Trap” that kills curiosity and stalls growth. If you find yourself doing all the talking or approving every minor decision, you aren’t just managing—you’re dismantling your team’s potential. Explore some red-flags and warning signs, and try something new to unleash the greatness within your team.
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Is your chain of command killing your teams problem solving skills?
tldr; When managers get involved in resolving differences of perspective or opinion, rather than challenge their teams to work together to solve problems – they engage in a game of professional “telephone” that drains efficiency and kills engagement. The reliance on management kills efficiency, builds silos, and prevents team growth. Leaders should stop being “problem…
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The “Vacation Test” Part II: From Hero to Guide
tldr; Awareness is the first step, but action is where the transformation lives. If the “Vacation Test” revealed that you have opportunities to improve, the next step isn’t just to “step back”—it’s to intentionally build the safety and clarity your team needs to step up. Today, we look at how to move from being the…
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The Checklist Trap: Are You Transforming or Just Transmitting?
tldr; If you are trying to scale your transformation by handing out “quick tips” and checklists, you aren’t changing your culture—you’re just increasing the noise. True transformation requires moving past the assignment of tasks and, instead doing the hard work of shifting mindsets. Greatness is grown, not installed. I was speaking with one of my…
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The “Vacation Test”: Are You Essential… or an Obstacle?
tldr; It has been suggested that I type… a lot. So, here is the short version! If you stepped away for a month, would your team thrive or dive? We often blame our teams for bottlenecks, but the hard truth is that the bottleneck is usually us. This week’s post offers a simple 4-step…
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The Compatibility Trap: Why “Culture Fit” is Killing Your 3 Es
When I’m coaching leaders, I often see them fall into the “Compatibility Trap”—the dangerous assumption that a team’s success is built on how well everyone likes each other or how similar their backgrounds are. Managers often rely on their “gut” to assemble teams, which is usually just a polite word for affinity bias. They look…
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Use The 4 R’s To Improve Your 3 E’s!
tldr; If your retrospectives have turned into a “complain-fest” with no action, you’re missing the chance to teach your squads a valuable lesson. Use the 4 Rs (Reflect, Root Cause, Rethink, Retool) to turn data into insights and experiments that actually move the needle for your Squad and Crew. Healthy teams improve and balance their…