Agile via HD
A CONTEXTUAL HD FOR AGILE TRANSFORMATION (BUSINESS)
Agile Transformation Approached differently
We have developed a proposal for agile transformation through Holistic Dialogue (HD).
This proposal came about due to the crazy rate of failed agile transformation initiatives which is around 96% (Agile Adoption Survey 2018" by the Standish Group, State of Agile Report 2016" by VersionOne, Pulse of the Profession: Capturing the Value of Project Management" by the Project Management Institute, CHAOS Report 2013" by the Standish Group)
Intro & Invitation
- Inquiry & Exploration
HD can help Agile principles manifest individually and collectively by allowing space for unhindered inquiry and exploration.
- Holistic PerceptionHD can help understand how to perceive things as a whole, which can improve communication and collaboration within teams and subsequently nurture a quality of creativity beyond the everyday traditional mind.
- Independence and AutonomyAn HD fosters an environment where each individual feels empowered to inquire/ explore for themselves, unhindered by the common expectation to agree or disagree, moving towards a place of autonomy where the distinction between the personal and impersonal is irrelevant.
- Facilitation
An HD Facilitator’s role is to clarify what is going on, when needed, and what might need attention. Especially during phases where confusion and miscommunication are dominant.
Dialogue vs Coaching vs Counseling
Counseling
Counseling concerns itself with the content of the past and, consequently, the future, and co-living in our environments with peace and no conflict.
Coaching
Dialoguing
HD does not concern itself with the content of the past or the future per se but with understanding the nature of that content as a whole and the movement of the same within an individual and a group.
The reason being, that once one implements knowledge in their own understanding, it becomes a limited structure through which one perceives, regardless of its background, relevance or even flexibility. This undermines an, often overlooked, innate ability to observe, which underlies our conjectures, opinions, conclusions, etc.
If the Agile principles are to be shared as new information, then it will not lead to nothing but a new set of rules and, possibly, compliance-caused stress and rather a limitation on creativity instead of an enabling element for it.
The good news is that what makes Agile work is that it addresses, in Tripute’s view, an innate holistic quality in us humans and nature. Instead of being taught, Agile principles should be allowed to happen naturally, both for individuals and groups. HD is looking to give space to that quality, as it seems that it can be a very powerful agent of change.
- Nourishing a safe and open environment for inquiry and exploration. The facilitator will display the necessary attitude in which an individual goes beyond the resistance to share whatever is surfacing up in their perception.
- Encouraging participation. The facilitator will actively encourage participation and ensure that an opportunity to share is present at all times.
- Keeping the conversation focused. The facilitator should ensure that the conversation stays relevant and engaging for all participants.
- Facilitating the flow of conversation. The facilitator should help to guide the conversation, encourage deeper exploration when deemed necessary, and encourage individuals to clarify their thoughts and ideas in a general and impersonal manner.
- Clarifying what is going on. The facilitator should help to clarify what is happening during the HD process and what might need attention.
- Inquiring about the terminology used in each principle, hence, the language we use, and its related meaning down to the belief system each person supposedly has, so that individuals can discover for themselves an understanding of the Agile values and principles.
- Being flexible. The facilitator should be flexible and adaptable, and be able to adjust their approach as needed to ensure that the HD process is effective.
- Facilitating the process of experimentation, allowing individuals and groups to test and try new ways of navigating and working together.
- Helping individuals and groups reflect on their experiences and learnings effectively during the HD process. Highlighting that such learnings extend beyond the workplace.
- Following up with the group after the HD process to see how they are progressing and to address any issues or concerns that may have arisen.
It's important to note that the role of the facilitator is not fixed and should be tailored to the specific needs of the group and the organization in the field and in real-time.
Generic HD Procedure
To Discover
To explore the limitation of our current communication and, potentially, go beyond it.
To understand the process of thinking and thought and how limiting it can be in relationship and creative work.
To Go Into & Unpack
To See
- Holistic Dialogue & Meditation Facilitator | Artist | Consultant
3 Months HD Program
To be agreed upon with the management team, yet we do recommend of the following frequency:
- 3 Months of weekly HDs per department, team or any agreed-upon configuration.
- 3 Months of weekly HDs for the executive team.
- 3 End of month company-wide HDs.
Each weekly and monthly HD will start with no agenda or structure but the opening talk by the facilitator on the first meeting and the maximum duration of the meeting.
A learning of a different kind is necessary. Not the traditional kind driven by goals, targets and accumulation of knowledge and experiences. Such traditional learning breeds compliance no matter how rational it sounds in psychological terms.
Ending Notes
The manifesting material results are to be observed through the work and daily interactions. As for the immediate effects, it depends from one individual to another. Also, this process, with time, might lead to filtering out individuals who are typical followers - where they can be placed in better suited roles/positions.
This is not a service that Tripute provides but rather a temporary partnership because nothing would happen unless all parties are fully immersed, especially since this endeavour is quite unpredictable and has the potential to change things fundamentally in ways that might even surprise the executive team themselves.
Together we can begin to reverse the ridiculous failure rate of agile transformation and break free from the traditional way of doing and seeking things. Through going directly into the core of the matter–the individual’s perception and system of operation–we could, factually, outgrow our animalistic heritage.
Counseling concerns itself with the content of the past and, consequently, the future, and co-living in our environments with peace and no conflict.
Coaching, on the other hand, concerns itself mainly with the content of the future, sometimes delving into the past to clear any limiting beliefs in order to achieve what is desired and make progress.
HD does not concern itself with the content of the past or the future but with understanding the nature of that content as a whole and the movement of the same within an individual and a group.
In a nutshell, Coaching and Counseling concern themselves with organizing consciousness as the individual knows it, while HD concerns itself with the total understanding of consciousness and beyond, if there is such a thing.
A workshop is traditionally rooted in discussion and problem solving. This is one of the main challenges participants face transitioning into HD. A discussion is an exchange of ideas and between two points of views or more. In HD the exchange is not that of ideas and information but a different, yet to be discovered, kind of exchange and while psychological problems do get resolved in an HD yet the mindset that would make the most out of an HD is one that is not rooted in problem solving. Instead, it requires openness to explore and understand consciousness in a broader manner holistically.