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These “soft” skills are applicable throughout one’s career, yet are often overlooked, out of date, or ignored.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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