Why Retrospectives fail and what you can do

about it

Jay Packlick

Forging a path to Paradise

Jay Packlick

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Workshop Vision

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For anyone who wants more of what they desire being part of a high performing team , ‘Forging a path to paradise’ is a hands-on workshop that provides participants with experience using simple tools to: •  Stop doing retrospectives that produce few if

any results. •  Reveal opportunities to make life better that

teams often miss. •  Shift from being reactive to being proactive. •  Increase the motivation and energy on teams

to take the action needed to achieve their goals.

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Doing

Improving

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save more money eat healthier

reduce stress

get an MBA

lose weight quit smoking

get more sleep travel

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Why?

“If we define risk as “the likelihood of an irreversible negative outcome,” inaction is the greatest risk of all.” - Timothy Ferris, 4 hour work week

Failure to act

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* …that don’t help teams achieve their goals

I hate retrospectives*

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Focus

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Retrospectives Lack Focus

?!?!

Time & Effort

Outc

omes

Retrospective: reflect on past history to find opportunities to improve

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“If you’re driving around randomly at five miles per hour are you really getting anywhere?”

Retrospectives

Toyota Improvement Kata 1.  In consideration of a

vision or direction... 2.  Grasp the current

condition. 3. Establish the next target

condition. 4.  Iteratively take action to

achieve the target condition

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Prospective

You’ve Already Done This!

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Get a degree

Deliver a new product

Graduate from

high school

Find a good job

Prospectives

?!?!

Clear Goals

Time & Effort

Outc

omes

Prospective: decide the next action that moves you closer to the goal

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Retrospectives

“Begin with the end in mind!”

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Stephen Covey, ‘Seven habits of highly effective people’&

Imagine… Paradise Island…

How do you feel? What does it look like? What are you doing?

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What’s on Your Paradise

Island?

Feel? Feel?

Feel?

Condition? Condition?

Goal?

1. What does it feel like being on your island?”

2. What conditions would have to be true to feel that way?

3. What goals might you shoot for to create those conditions?

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My Vacation Island

Relaxed!

Stress

free!

Warm and Breezy!

Near a Beach!!

1. Feelings?

2. Conditions?

3. Goals?

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Entertained

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What’s On Your Team Island?

Safe!

Trust

No Personal Attacks!

1. Feelings?

2. Conditions & Goals

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Comfortable With conflict

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Create Your Own Team Island

%

1.  “What does it feel like being on our island?”

2.  What are the conditions and goals we need to feel that way?

Ask yourself…..%

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How far are we from the

island?

Constellation

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How do we get to the island?!

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Three Buckets

1 2 3 Things we can do

something about

Things we can

influence

Things that impact us but

have no control over

Concerns Influence Control

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People who focus on buckets 1 and 2…

1 Things we can do something

about

Control

•  Lower levels of stress •  Higher job / personal satisfaction •  Get along better with teammates •  Perform better •  80% more successful

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Destination: Your Island

2. Steps your TEAM can take to get closer to the island

1. Steps YOU personally can take to get closer to the island

You are here (So far)

3. Steps your team can INFLUENCE to get closer to the island

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feel proud of my

appearance

20 pounds lighter

Stop eating Junk food

Vision / Result&

Goal / Target

Condition&Action&

Feel healthier

Don’t feel winded

climbing stairs

Use stairs Instead of elevator

Know the difference

Examples…

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Have lunch with Product owner TC

Read 7 habits AP

1. Actions I can personally take to get to the island

Schedule Lunch & learns

2. Actions WE as a team can

take to get to the island

Post Burndown

in team area

Team Happy Hour

3. Actions we can influence others to take to get to the

island Get a

Team room

Order the path to Paradise

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Action

Action

Action

Ask: “What’s the ONE Thing we can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” – Gary Keller, ‘The One Thing’

Action

"The hunter who chases two rabbits catches neither.” - proverb

FOCUS!!!!! Pick ONE action.... That’s IT

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The effect can be geometric

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Make the island visible!

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Techniques To Create Focus •  Speedboat •  Remember The Future •  Product Box •  Cover Story http://www.innovationgames.com

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Stir things up!!!

Retr-o-Mat: plans-for-retrospectives.com 9/18/14& Forging&A&Path&To&Paradise&

1.  Set the Stage 2.  Gather Data 3.  Generate Insights 4.  Decide what to do 5.  Close the Retro

Some favorite recipes •  http://www.plans-for-retrospectives.com/?

id=82-19-8-48-34 •  http://www.plans-for-retrospectives.com/?

id=2-51-26-63-53 •  http://www.plans-for-retrospectives.com/?

id=3-4-37-11-60

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Prospectives….&

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•  Focus on a Vision / Goal •  Proactive vs. Reactive •  Empowers the team •  Action Oriented

Stop floating with the tide and start swimming for the

island!

Jay Packlick @jpacklick

Jay.packlick@improvingenterprises.com

Agileorganizations.com