Importance of preparation in an agile world

1Prabhakar Karve wayofworking.org

Importance of

preparationIn an agile world

BY PRABHAKAR KARVE

https://wayofworking.org/


Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I

will spend the first four sharpening the axe

Abraham Lincoln



Prepare for the expected? (No)

Specific situation requires a specific solution

Prepare for the unexpected? (Yes)

Many possibilities require a generic solution

Murphy’s law

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong

Prepare for what?



WoW helps

To be prepared




Frontend: Visible patterns of behavior

How we - act

How we - interact

How we - feel

Backend: What drives it?

Decisions (Hereafter I/we will do this)

Opinions (Values/Beliefs/Assumptions)

Way of Working (WoW for short)



How we act & interact

InteractionsActions



Decisions actions/Interactions

InteractionsActions

Decisions



Opinions shape the decisions

InteractionsActions

Decisions

Opinions (Assumptions+Beliefs+Values)



Opinions lead to emotions

Emotions influence decisions

Emotions

InteractionsActions

Decisions

Opinions (Assumptions+Beliefs+Values)



Our own ways of working

We can do something about it

Others’ ways of working

Impact on us

Can educate us

System’s way of working

We are prisoner of the system we don’t understand

Who’s Way of Working?



All our life, at work or outside, we pass through

a series of situations; some expected some

unexpected

How do we deal with them?



Practical examples



(Situation-1)

Competitive comparison

One of your sibling is more handsome/pretty,

got better grades, and earns more than you.



Competitive comparison(Before WoW)

Hatred/

Depression




Hatred/

Depression

Do whatever it takes to get out




Hatred/

Depression

Avoid

parents/relatives





Hatred/

Depression

Avoid

parents/relativescause harm to

sibling





Hatred/

Depression

Avoid

parents/relativescause harm to

sibling


Bad luck/Past life Karma/ Look good to others



Competitive comparison(After WoW)

Loved/Worthy




Loved/Worthy

Focus on our strengths




Loved/Worthy


Good to know and care for real needs




Loved/Worthy

Showcase

achievement






Loved/Worthy

Be open with others

Showcase

achievement





(Situation-2)

Are we prepared

For an offshore team working from India, a

point of contact abroad was very supportive;

But is shortly leaving the organization



Are we prepared(Before WoW)

Continue being comfortable




Did not cultivate

others





Did not cultivate

othersRisks not

anticipated





Afraid/Letdown

Did not cultivate

othersRisks not

anticipated





Afraid/Letdown

Did not cultivate

othersRisks not

anticipated


Supportive person will always be there / Others responsible to care of us



Are we prepared(After WoW)

What if? - Anticipate risks




Know impact

and be

prepared





Build alternate

channelsKnow impact

and be

prepared





Build alternate

channelsKnow impact

and be

prepared


We are responsible to take care of ourselves




Confident /

In control

Build alternate

channelsKnow impact

and be

prepared


We are responsible to take care of ourselves



Typical patterns, reappear in different avatars

In personal as well as official parts of our lives

Way of Working is changed

Only after it has become a habit

Both situations



Practice together

To build culture of

Continuous Improvement



Information

Knowhow

Skills

Resources

Stamina

Be prepared with what?



For every success, big or small

Ask “why success”, Capability/External factors?

And “what if external factors change”

For every failure, big or small

Ask “why”, take RCA beyond external factors

And “What needs to change”

Many opportunities to prepare



Separate facts from fiction (Opinions)

Say “I know”, followed by “Because…”

Or say “I assume/believe”, with reality check

Be aware of current emotions

Experience them fully and then move on

We have a choice of systems to be part of

Decide mode - participation or interaction

Reveal hidden options


https://wayofworking.org/separate-your-facts-from-opinions/


WoW Community

WoW – Three layered structure

WoW Guidance

WoW Core




Self Improvement

Importance of preparation in an agile world