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December 14, 2018 by Drew Kincius Leave a Comment

Surprise! Agile’s Effect on Nonprofit Organizations

12.14.18 | Kendrea Williams |

If you are currently a Scrum Master, you’ve probably heard this a thousand times:

“Scrum is an Agile framework that is used to build complex products and/or software…incrementally.”

But let’s say you’re not a Scrum Master. Nor do you have any experience with Agile methodologies and the frameworks within them. Did you know that it’s possible to take an Agile framework, such as Scrum or Kanban, and apply it to the management of projects outside tech to other industries?

Yes – it’s true.

Imagine using Agile outside the world of tech. Perhaps managing a nonprofit’s fundraising campaign or its marketing strategy? Or, maybe applying it to something as simple as planning a family vacation?

If it is efficiency you desire, then it’s time to adopt an Agile framework. It may help you get to your end goal faster, and with fewer errors and hiccups.

Scrum Starts with the End in Mind

No matter what the goal, starting with the end in mind allows a project to be effectively divided into separate small and manageable tasks.

When applying Agile principles, Scrum emphasizes dividing large pieces of work into manageable tasks amongst the team. This allows the team to complete and deliver their assigned tasks while being able to remain flexible in the event the needs of the organization change, or the goal of the overall project to become obsolete.

Scrum also allows you to identify inefficiencies early in a project while increasing transparency. This process reduces the potential of unnecessary financial and human capital waste later on in a project.

Real Impact: Implementing Agile Frameworks

Agile environments allow self-organized teams to collaborate and share ideas. The goal of this method is to produce solutions and successfully manage the ever-changing needs of a project, as a team.

Below are a few nonprofit organizations who have seen tremendous success by dropping traditional project structures and organizational management and implementing Agile frameworks such as Scrum.

  • New BoCo – a nonprofit organization focused on making their community more resilient to the changing economy by supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and tech education. The organization uses Agile frameworks to manage their projects.
  • Data Arts – a national nonprofit service organization that promotes data-informed decision making in the arts and cultural sector. They accomplish this primarily by providing access to high-quality financial and programmatic data collected through its flagship service, the Cultural Data Profile (CDP). The organization uses Agile frameworks to provide program-based data to its constituents efficiently.
  • Vermont Arts Council – a nonprofit organization that is committed to building a culture in Vermont where art, culture, and creativity are at the heart of our communities. The organization uses Agile principles to manage various methods of communication, across the organization.

How Can We Help You?

When it comes to nonprofits, organizational leaders can use Scrum to understand their “organizational why,” as it provides a process for organizations to deconstruct their goals and activities using impact mapping and other techniques.

These techniques can help an organization determine which specific actions or tasks hold the highest value, and which functions should be acted upon sooner rather than later.

I’m a huge fan of the mission at beLithe: helping individuals be catalysts for organizational transformations using Agile frameworks for empowering impactful, dynamic results.

If you’re in the nonprofit world and struggling to meet your organization’s lofty ambitions, Team #Slinkythink can help. Shoot an email to marketing@belithe.com and mention this post to sign up for a complimentary assessment.

But wait, there’s more: check out VAULT, the 2019 programming open enrollment calendar featuring Agile frameworks training, soft skills development, and much more.

Let’s connect. 
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December 12, 2018 by Drew Kincius Leave a Comment

Introducing: The Framework Series + The Interchange

12.12.18 | Chris Daily |

In a previous post, I mentioned that at beLithe, we want to join in your Agile journey by providing roadmaps, tools, webinars, and workshops that allow you to further explorer the concepts.

Well, Drew and I started talking about these offerings from our first chat about working together. Lately, we’ve been focusing on what courses we offer. That conversation continues, but we have decided on an initial approach of how we are going to group like-minded sessions together.

Please say hello to The Framework Series + The Interchange.

Framing Your Foundation

The Framework Series consists of workshops diving into topics which are foundational to your Agile Journey. From the perspective of the learner, they are primarily outward-facing, focused on how to “influence” those around us.

Current courses include topics like Product Owner I & II, Scrum Master I & II, Management 3.0, #Workout, Work Together Anywhere, Kanban, User Story Mapping, and Agile Testing (TBD) to name a few.

As an entry point, these courses are more accessible for folks new to the concepts to consume, and typically easier to get the boss to approve. Why? After it’s all said and done, you now have a new skill.

Most of the traditional courses touted today fit in a limiting category: the defining achievement of completing the class and a test resulting in a certification (CSM, SSM, PSM, ACP). Certifications aren’t bad but should be considered an entry point as opposed to a final destination. My own Agile journey started in a CSM course 9 years ago.

Embracing Humanity, In and Out of Work

The Interchange will be brimming with workshops focused on topics that are foundational to your work life. From the perspective of the learner, they are primarily inward-facing, providing an opportunity for the learner to take a look in the mirror and discover themselves.

Planned course offerings include concepts such as Agile Facilitation, Agile Behaviors, Agile Intelligence, Change Management (TBA), Agile Coaching, Design Thinking, etc.

These “soft” skills are applicable throughout one’s career, yet are often overlooked, out of date, or ignored. Many of us are less than excited about the topics in general. Why would you want to pay good money to take a workshop to be uncomfortable? Consider someone whom you personally know and admire in business. It’s a safe bet that they have mastered some, or all, of these skills. Yet, these skills are the ones that most of us ignore.

The Path to Balance: “The Middle”

When forced to choose between a Framework or an Interchange workshop, most of us select Framework.

It’s a more straightforward, more binary concept to grasp – and it’s easier for us to demonstrate our knowledge after the course by passing the certification test.

Yet, the Interchange workshops provide a more in-depth understanding by transcending our professional lives.

We’ve all encountered people at both ends of the spectrum. Picture an individual that is chained to the process, ticking all the boxes while going through the motions. They are on one side of the spectrum.

Now, picture someone that knows all about themselves, but can’t spell “process” to save their lives are on the left. Throughout the majority of my early career, I will admit that I was certainly more of a “box checker.”

Ideally, we should strive to be somewhere near the middle of the spectrum, taking both into account.

We’ve got a name for our cumulative collection of programs: VAULT. The first three months of 2019 are already scheduled, with enrollment now open. Over the next few months, we’ll announce even more courses, because why not? Please take some time to check them out.

Here’s to empowering your Agile journey. Hope to see you in the middle.

Chris

Let’s connect. 
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December 6, 2018 by Drew Kincius 1 Comment

Pushing the Right Buttons: Guiding Remote Teams

12.06.18 | Kendrea Williams |

Open space offices, remote workers, and innovative video conference systems are more and more becoming the norm within modern workspaces.

Looking to secure a leadership position? You should first understand that today’s innovative work environments include many non-traditional ways of getting work done.

Minding the Proximity Gap

So how do we quantify an “innovative” workplace? It means learning how to manage teams remotely by developing crucial soft skills that will help you get there. In addition, you must possess the right combination of digital tools and resources. Building a culture of trust, consistency, and responsiveness will minimize the challenges that come with individuals lacking physical proximity to one another.

The Biggest Challenges

I recently completed a four-week online webinar series, courtesy of Chris Daily and the beLithe team, on managing remote teams, using the principles of Work Together Anywhere. We discussed our own experiences regarding challenges we’ve witnessed with leading groups remotely.

I was surprised at the consensus from the group of common challenges:

  1. A lack of communication or transparency, which results in a lack of trust
  2. A lack of focus as online meetings are being conducted, as participants are sometimes focused on other things
  3. A lack of consistency, as some teams use an incredible variety of communicative/task platforms, resulting in team members becoming overwhelmed

Developing a Plan

Do you find that your team has some of the same challenges? Or, even worse, are you currently managing your remote unit with a fireman’s mindset? Meaning: do you only address issues as they arise?

Creating a plan to address and correct fundamental challenges is the first step in bringing consistency and value to remote team culture.

First, gather the team. As a group, discuss the current existing challenges when it comes to working, and or meeting, as a team. Allow the team to decide as a group the time of the meeting. While you are at it, identify what technology platforms they are most familiar and works best for them.

Finally, and most importantly, determine what method of communication works best. Whatever you decide, doing it as a team. By documenting the group’s decision, you and your team can confidently move forward with a document of reference.

This process is instrumental in developing the best remote team culture upfront.

Technologies Worth Noting

Below are some of my favorite tools for effectively working remotely.

Hopefully, some of these platforms can help you and your team work together seamlessly, anywhere.

  • Slack is a collaboration hub that connects organizations so you can get things done. Slack can help you cut down on unproductive meetings.
  • Trello is a collaboration tool that organizes projects onto boards. It allows you to track the progress of outstanding tasks in one simple platform. It is essentially an online whiteboard with sticky notes that lets you easily visualize the status of your team’s work.
  • Zoom is a reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing. Zoom provides organizations with a mechanism to host face to face meetings, regardless of their geographical location.

Let’s connect. 
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November 29, 2018 by Drew Kincius Leave a Comment

A Curious Path to Improvement

Improvement can be a curious thing.

11.29.18 | Chris Daily |

“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” – Matty Mullins

In many of my Agile classes, typically the time we’re talking during a retrospective, I boldly proclaim…

“If you get nothing else out of this class, leave with an understanding that you need to improve continuously. If you do this, you will be able to fix the problems you encounter.”

Hello, Scrum.

During the last 10 years, I have certainly tried to improve continuously. It typically wasn’t by choice, but out of necessity. I originally had left an employer due to cost-cutting initiatives and found that I was between the proverbial “rock and a hard spot.” I was leading a large group but had general management skills that were not in demand in Indianapolis. I needed to figure out something, and that’s when I stumbled upon Scrum.

But that was just the start. What was I going to do next? It was apparent to me that achieving a CSM certification was just the start, not the end.

So that’s when I learned that I needed to embrace the idea of being a continuous learner. The will is there: I have about 20 books that I need to get through stacked on my desk.

“Too Busy to Be Better”

As I train and work with Agile teams, I am consistently surprised by how many people are not continuous learners.

As we continue the dialogue during the retrospective, I’ve been witness to a few primary reasons (or excuses, whatever label you desire to use) for not prioritizing continuous improvement.

  • The 1st reason is the tried-and-true “I’m too busy.” I’m not going to spend any time on this one because you know it’s a matter of prioritization. Often, we value and rank other things above learning right now. This is reflected in our core values of “not wanting to get too far behind.”
  • The 2nd reason I hear – “If it’s part of the job, then the company needs to allow me time to learn.” Unfortunately, the days of employees being taken care of by their employer are over. What’s more – should you leave the company, not having relevant and current skills will make finding your next adventure that much more difficult.

Improvement Fueled By Curiosity

So what is one to do?

Live curiously by becoming a continuous learner.

Get started by spending one hour a week learning something new. The topic doesn’t even need to be related to your job today, nor does it need to be tied to work at all. Pick a time that you can commit to every week. After four weeks, renew your commitment by increasing to two hours a week. Spending two hours a week translates into 2 ½ weeks of robust learning throughout the year.

This can make an incredible difference in your job performance and your life. Think of how 2 1/2 weeks of vacation can completely change your mindset, your perspective, and your drive.

Pick something you’re passionate about and get started. I promise you’ll be more engaged and energized. Repetition creates a habit – this is a habit you want to keep.

Let’s connect. 
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November 16, 2018 by Drew Kincius Leave a Comment

“beLithe,” An Exercise in Linguistics

11/16/2018 | Chris Daily |

Ok, I get it. Our company name, beLithe, is confusing.

It seems like I get asked at least twice per day either how to say it or what it means. 

So, let’s take the easy part first. The name, beLithe, is simply a mashup of two words: “be” & “lithe.” 

In case you need a refresher:

Definition of lithe 

1: easily bent or flexed: lithe steel, a lithe vine

2: characterized by easy flexibility and grace

In 2015, Tana and I were trying to figure out what to call our side gig, providing reduced-cost/free Scrum training for college students.

Most of the firms in the Agile space had the term “Agile” in it. Tana came up with the concept that we could be different by using a synonym and then found the term “lithe”.

So, the concept of wanting to “be Agile” became beLithe.

Be flexible. Be lean. Be Agile.

An incredibly fun aspect of our mission is that Agile methodologies can be applied within any industry, by anyone, both personally and professionally. We meet individuals on their journey. Whether someone is curious and wants to discover Agile for the first time, we’ll satiate that curiosity. For teams working on projects that are at risk and need help, we provide actionable guidance to reach a new, more effective, level of Agility.

Back to the name: I’m not a linguist, but when I say the company name, I treat the letter I in “lithe” as a long I. 

As the head of #slinkythink, deciding how we pronounce our business name is one of the many perks of small business ownership.

Pronounce it how you like, but you heard it from me first. Let’s hope this prevents a GIF-esque controversy down the road.

Let’s connect. 
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | www.beLithe.com

beLithe | People. Culture. Agile. It's what we do.

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