Articles for category: Initiative

May 3, 2019

Greg Thomas

It gets Fuzzy in the Middle

Of course it does. We start with great intentions, we know where we want to end up, but despite our best efforts, it always gets fuzzy in the middle. Code takes longer to build than what we planned for. Customers have many more questions than we imagined. The team changes a few times during the iteration. Processes need to be reworked to reach our final target. Whatever it is, when we look back, it’s always Fuzzy in that middle part where Delivery takes over. Sadly, this is also where we get the most frustrated with progress as it seems like

May 2, 2019

Greg Thomas

Three Questions for Your Next Team Meeting

What are we not doing well at? Where should we focus our attention? What do you need from me for us to be a success? The first question is the hardest to ask, the flood gates will open and teams will spend the most time here as people jump onto their answers and add more – good. If your team has nothing to say, keep prodding, there is always something, always. The second question gets the team to set the priority, you get to set the context – yes this is an issue – but we have these other items

April 24, 2019

Greg Thomas

The Evolution of Text Thought

Have you ever had a text conversation with someone where everything they said came out in 15 texts when it could have just have easily been 1? It’s as though you are getting an inside look at the stream of thought running through their head and how they are reacting to what you are saying as you are saying it. Little blips of thought as they come into focus thrown out in one or two word sentences. Interrupting whatever longer, more focused message you might have been writing but that took a little longer to write out, but that had

April 22, 2019

Greg Thomas

Avoiding Perk Seduction

Perks are a big thing in trying to attract top talent to a team. Coding in Bean Bag chairs. $20,000 coffee machines. Bring your dog into work. On-Site Dry cleaning. Free fitness memberships. Free Internet. Nothing wrong with these perks if they are enhancing what is already there and of value to you taking the opportunity in the first place. Challenging Projects. Flexible solution architecture. Ability to take the initiative and promote your ideas. Free self-learning options. Great team atmosphere. If the latter came with paid internet, no dry cleaning, my dog staying at home, coffee from a packet and