Responsibility Redefined received a favorable mention last week at the Agile 2008 conference in Toronto (even though I wasn’t there for the first time in years) and was written up in InfoQ:
I missed this year’s Agile conference due to other priorities and commitments. Maybe next year.
I’m sorry to see such important subject matter continue to be referred to as “touchy feely”—an obvious slight to the realities of humans and collective performance. That type of language is going to continue to support people in casting aspersions on what obviously works and in disconnecting their brains from the rest of their minds at work as in the rest of their lives.
Another common phrasing is “soft” versus “hard” skills. I turn that around. I say that anyone with a brain can do physics, but dealing with the interpretive filters of humans and our relationships is truly both hard and worthy.
The truth is that the seductive suggestions of efficiency and specialization led us corporate types for decades to assume that we could each merely tune up the technical processing power of our brains, get plugged into a CRT, and produce role-based outputs that someone else would be responsible for integrating into a valuable solution that would make the company money and fund our paychecks. That never really has been true, and now agile approaches are proving just how much can get done when people share responsibility for the wholes, the parts, the customer, and the processes that weave wholes, parts, and customers together.
By the way, I’ll be teaching my team skills courseKnowledge Team Leadership: The Art & Science of Being Amazingly Effective in Any Team October 21-22 (yes, a new two-full-days format) in Boulder, CO.
Ask Christopher Avery, my monthly “first Tuesday” Blog Talk Radio show (which you are listening to right now), this month addressed six important questions submitted by listeners. Maybe I’ll answer your question next time…
Q: Why do so many folks refuse to accept personal responsibility, preferring to pass blame onto their spouse, business partner, children, etc.?
Q: Any suggestions for using the Responsibility Process to help oneself overcome inertia and start taking action on business goals, rather than simply studying, learning, and having analysis paralysis?
Q: How do I retire in a responsible way from a volunteer team where I play a crucial role & maintain relationships.
Q: In our choice to operate from a position of responsibility with our senior parents my husband and I would like your input on how to Honor our parents when we do not agree with their choices or belief system.
Special guest Mr. ElderCare joined me to offer his views on this question.
Q: How does one install personal responsibility in one’s 12-year-old children (twins)?
Q: How does the Responsibility Process deal with a persons truth, particularly when you agree with that truth, but recognize they are not taking 100% responsibility and staying stuck behind that truth?
Submit your question now at http://www.AskChristopherAvery.com
I was inspired to make a short video for you this weekend while at a 4-H shotgun tournament. Yes, I’m a certified shotgun coach recognized by the National Sporting Clays Association, the National Rifle Association, and the 4-H. That means I could serve double duty as your leadership-for-life coach and your shotgun coach! No jokes about bird hunting with politicians in south Texas, okay?
The video is only 2 minutes long and offers a tip about success and mental leadership. If you wonder what I look like in a straw cowboy hat (the real thing Texans wear in summer to shade one’s head and keep cool—felt hat for winter and straw hat for summer) here’s your chance…
Let’s get together in Atlanta, Georgia September 25th and 26th, 2008 for the Agile Project Leadership Network (APLN) Atlanta Leadership Summit. This is one of several regional leadership summits APLN hosts each year around the country to great success.
I’m honored to be giving the closing keynote on personal agility and Responsibility Redefined™. At APLN Atlanta Leadership Summit you’ll also find sessions by some inspiring agile practitioners including one of my favorites, David Hussman of DevJam (although I’ll miss David’s session as I’ll be flying back from the UK where I’m giving two other keynotes that same week—I ought to be warmed up at least!).
The APLN exists to develop and support great project leaders according to the values of the Declaration of Interdependence (DOI). I co-authored the DOI and co-founded APLN and served as a director for 2 years.
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