Resources for your transformation
just a list of my favorite agile transformation books, references, and the like.
Plan to update frequently.
Let me know your thoughts in comments so I can add to and improve this.
The Open Space Handbook” by Harrison Owen
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl
“Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds” by David Grove
“The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
“Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown
“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
“The Agile Manifesto” by the Agile Alliance
“Agile Coaching” by Rachel Davies and Liz Sedley
“The Coaching Habit” by Michael Bungay Stanier
“The Power of Vulnerability” TED Talk by Brene Brown
“The Danger of a Single Story” TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“The Power of Vulnerability” TED Talk by Brene Brown
“The Value of Vulnerability” TED Talk by Brené Brown
“The Art of Asking” TED Talk by Amanda Palmer
“The Surprising Science of Happiness” TED Talk by Dan Gilbert
“The Science of Happiness at Work” TED Talk by Shawn Achor
“The Happy Secret to Better Work” TED Talk by Shawn Achor
“The Happy-Productive Worker Thesis” by David G. Armstrong and Elizabeth J. Armstrong
“The Inner Game of Work” by W. Timothy Gallwey
“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl — This classic book explores the concept of logotherapy, which helps individuals and teams find meaning and purpose in their work, leading to increased productivity, creativity, and overall satisfaction.
“Dancing with Shiva” TED Talk by Harrison Owen — In this talk, Owen discusses the power of open space technology as a tool for facilitating collaboration and communication, and how it can create an environment for deep personal growth and transformation.
“Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and Opening Minds” by David Grove — This book explains how using clean language, or non-leading and open-ended questions, can help individuals access their own unconscious thought patterns and insights, leading to deeper understanding and self-awareness.
“The Power of Positive Deviance” by Richard Pascale and Jerry Sternin — This book introduces the concept of positive deviance, which involves seeking out and amplifying the exceptional behavior and practices of a few individuals or teams that are producing better results than their peers, in order to replicate their success and drive better outcomes across the organization.
“The Culture Code” by Daniel Coyle — This book delves into the science of creating and maintaining a positive culture, and provides practical strategies for leaders to build trust, foster collaboration, and drive innovation within their organizations.
“Agile Coaching” by Rachel Davies and Liz Sedley — This book is a comprehensive guide to agile coaching, covering everything from the principles and practices of agile coaching to the skills and mindset required to be an effective coach.
“The Leader’s Guide to Radical Management” by Steve Denning — This book explores the principles of radical management, which focuses on empowering employees and enabling them to drive innovation and continuous improvement within
The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries — This book discusses the principles of lean thinking and how it can be applied to startups and businesses in order to drive innovation and adapt to change. Ries discusses the importance of testing and iterating on ideas in order to find the most effective solutions.
“Agile Leadership” by Jim Highsmith — This book delves into the concept of agile leadership and how it can be applied to organizations in order to drive adaptability and innovation. Highsmith discusses the importance of embracing change and building a culture of continuous improvement.
“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni — This book outlines the five dysfunctions that can hinder team performance and offers practical solutions for overcoming them. Lencioni emphasizes the importance of building trust, creating a sense of accountability, and fostering open communication in order to drive collaboration and adaptability.
“The Agile Manifesto” — This document outlines the principles and values of the Agile movement, which emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Agile Manifesto serves as a guide for organizations looking to embrace agile principles and practices.
“Lean Thinking” by James Womack and Daniel Jones — This book explores the principles of lean thinking and how they can be applied to drive efficiency and effectiveness in organizations. Womack and Jones discuss the importance of eliminating waste, continuously improving processes, and empowering employees in order to drive adaptability and innovation.
“Agile Coaching” by Rachel Davies and Liz Sedley: This book is a comprehensive guide to the role of the agile coach, who helps teams and organizations implement agile practices. It covers topics such as facilitating agile retrospectives, coaching teams through change, and using agile tools and techniques to drive continuous improvement.
“The Open Space Agility Handbook” by Harrison Owen: This handbook provides practical guidance on how to use open space technology, a facilitation method that allows individuals and teams to self-organize and collaborate in an open, supportive environment. It is an excellent resource for those looking to incorporate invitation-based leadership into their open agile solutions practice.
“Agile Adoption Patterns: A Roadmap to Organizational Success” by Craig Larman and Bas Vodde: This book offers a roadmap for organizations looking to implement agile practices, including patterns for organizational change and how to overcome common obstacles. It is a valuable resource for organizations looking to transform their approach to work through open agile solutions.
“The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups” by Daniel Coyle — In this book, Coyle explores the factors that contribute to high-performing teams, and provides practical tips for building strong team culture. This is a valuable resource for coaches looking to create a positive, supportive environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
“Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector” by Jeanne Liedtka and Randy Salzman — This book explores how design thinking, a problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy and prototyping, can be applied to social sector organizations. It offers practical tools and techniques for driving innovation and creating positive change in the world.
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business” by Erin Meyer — This book examines the cultural differences that can impact communication and collaboration in global organizations. It offers practical tips for bridging cultural divides and creating an environment that supports adaptability and agility
“Organizational Culture and Leadership” — In this classic text, Schein explores the role of culture in shaping organizational behavior and offers practical guidance on how leaders can create a positive culture that supports innovation and continuous improvement.
“The Corporate Culture Survival Guide” — In this book, Schein offers a framework for understanding and managing organizational culture, with a particular focus on how to create a culture that is adaptable and responsive to change.
“Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling” — In this book, Schein explores the importance of humility and empathy in leadership, and how these qualities can help leaders create a more open and collaborative culture.
“The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference” by Malcolm Gladwell — This book explores the concept of “tipping points” and how small changes can lead to significant impacts in various contexts.
“The Change Book: Change the Way You Think About Change” by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschäppeler — This book provides a concise, practical guide for navigating and managing change in personal and professional settings.
“The Change Leader’s Roadmap: How to Navigate Your Organization’s Transformation” by Linda Ackerman Anderson and Dean Anderson — This book provides a step-by-step guide for leading organizational transformation, including strategies for building consensus and navigating resistance.
“The Open Space Agility Handbook: A Practical Guide to Leading and Participating in Open Space Events” by Harrison
he Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu: This ancient Chinese text is a classic for those interested in the principles of agile leadership. It emphasizes the importance of letting go of control, embracing change, and finding balance in all things.
The Apology by Socrates: This dialogue from ancient Greece is a great resource for those interested in exploring the role of self-awareness and self-reflection in agile coaching. Socrates’ emphasis on questioning, listening, and learning can be seen as key principles in the agile approach.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull: This book by Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull offers insight into the company’s successful approach to creativity and innovation. It highlights the importance of fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and continuous learning, which are key values in agile organizations.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu as uniquely defined by stephen mitchell. expand on why this is so relevant to open agile solutions, the shadow of agility, and adaptive synergy. it practically defines adaptive synergy
The Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu and translated by Stephen Mitchell, is a classic text that is highly relevant to the principles of open agile solutions, the shadow of agility, and adaptive synergy. At its core, the Tao Te Ching is a guide for living a balanced and harmonious life, with a focus on cultivating inner peace, compassion, and wisdom.
One of the key themes in the Tao Te Ching is the idea of “wu wei,” or non-action. This means letting go of the ego and allowing things to unfold naturally, rather than trying to control or manipulate situations. This concept is particularly relevant to open agile solutions, as it emphasizes the importance of being flexible and adaptable in the face of change. By letting go of our need to control and instead allowing ourselves to be guided by the wisdom of the universe, we can more effectively navigate the complexities of modern life and work.
The Tao Te Ching also emphasizes the importance of cultivating inner peace and mindfulness. This is especially relevant in the context of the shadow of agility, which involves exploring and integrating the unconscious, “shadow” aspects of ourselves that may be holding us back. By cultivating inner peace and mindfulness, we can more easily access and understand the deeper motivations and patterns that drive our behavior, and make more conscious choices that align with our values and goals.
Overall, the Tao Te Ching is a rich and timeless resource for anyone seeking to cultivate adaptive synergy and live a more harmonious and meaningful life. Its insights and teachings are highly relevant to the principles of open agile solutions, the shadow of agility, and the pursuit of continuous improvement and growth.
Friedrich Nietzsche starting with ‘insanity is rare in individuals; but the norm in groups’:
“Insanity is rare in individuals; but the norm in groups.” This quote speaks to the power dynamics and groupthink that can often occur within organizations. In order to truly embrace the principles of open agile solutions, it’s important to recognize and challenge these dynamics, rather than allowing them to dictate our actions and decisions.
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” This quote highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of change and challenges. In the context of open agile solutions, it’s important to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and learning, rather than viewing it as a threat.
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” This quote speaks to the importance of purpose and meaning in driving motivation and engagement. For open agile solutions to be truly effective, it’s important to ensure that team members feel a sense of purpose and connection to the larger goals of the organization.
“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” This quote highlights the importance of individuality and authenticity in the workplace. In open agile solutions, it’s important to encourage team members to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the table, rather than conforming to the norms of the group.
“One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes.” This quote speaks to the importance of accountability and integrity in open agile solutions. By consistently following through on our commitments, we build trust and credibility within our teams and organizations.
EVERYTHING TALEB
Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s work on risk and uncertainty has significant relevance to open agile solutions, the shadow of agility, and adaptive synergy. Taleb’s concept of antifragility, which he introduces in his book “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder,” is particularly relevant in this context.
Antifragility refers to the ability of a system to not just withstand stress and volatility, but to actually thrive and grow stronger as a result. This concept is particularly relevant to open agile solutions, as it emphasizes the importance of building resilience and adaptability into systems and organizations.
Taleb’s work also highlights the dangers of over-optimization and the importance of embracing uncertainty and unpredictability. In the context of open agile solutions, this means being open to experimentation, learning from failures, and constantly seeking ways to improve and adapt.
Some quotes from Taleb’s work that relate to open agile solutions, the shadow of agility, and adaptive synergy include:
“The fragility of complex systems comes from their inability to learn from the past, and particularly from Black Swans, those highly improbable and hard-to-predict events that have a disproportionate impact on outcomes.”
“Systems that are fragile are those that break when subjected to stress, volatility, or disorder. Systems that are robust are those that resist stress, volatility, or disorder. Systems that are antifragile are those that not only resist stress, volatility, or disorder, but actually improve as a result of it.”
“The antifragile is beyond the resilient or robust. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better.”
“The most fragile thing in the world is stability, and the most fragile of all stability is stability in the absence of stress.”
“To survive and thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world, organizations need to embrace antifragility, constantly seeking ways to improve and adapt.”
CARL JUNG
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” — Carl Jung This quote speaks to the importance of self-reflection and self-awareness in the process of agile transformation. By examining our own reactions and responses to challenges and conflicts, we can gain insight into our own unconscious patterns and beliefs, and work to address any limiting factors that may be holding us back. This is particularly important in the context of open agile solutions, which emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore and grow.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” — Carl Jung This quote highlights the central importance of authenticity and self-expression in the process of agile transformation. In order to create meaningful and lasting change, it is essential that we are able to fully embrace and express our own unique perspectives, strengths, and values. By encouraging individuals to be true to themselves and to bring their whole selves to the work at hand, we can create a culture of trust and collaboration that is essential for successful agile transformation.
“Everything that has a beginning has an end.” — Carl Jung This quote reminds us of the importance of acknowledging and accepting change as a natural and inevitable part of life. In the context of open agile solutions, this means being open to the possibility of change and being willing to embrace new approaches and perspectives as they emerge. By remaining open and flexible, we can more effectively navigate the challenges and opportunities of agile transformation, and create meaningful and lasting impact.
“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” — Carl Jung This quote speaks to the power of self-acceptance and self-compassion in the process of agile transformation. By embracing our own imperfections and vulnerabilities, we can more fully embrace and appreciate the unique strengths and contributions of others. This is particularly important in the context of open agile solutions, which emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of empathy and understanding.
“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” — Carl Jung This quote speaks to the power of relationships and connection in the process of agile transformation. By building strong relationships and fostering a sense of community, we can create a supportive and collaborative environment that is essential for driving meaningful and lasting change. In the context of open agile solutions, this means actively seeking out and amplifying the exceptional behaviors and practices of “positive deviants,” and working to replicate their success across the organization.
everything Edgar Schein
“Culture is the pattern of shared basic assumptions that the group learned as it solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration, that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think, and feel in relation to those problems.” (Edgar Schein, Culture: The Missing Concept in Organizational Studies) This quote speaks to the power of culture in shaping the way organizations operate and solve problems. In the context of open agile solutions, understanding and working with an organization’s culture is crucial for facilitating change and driving lasting results.
“Leadership is the ability to create and maintain the internal motivation in a group to work towards common goals.” (Edgar Schein, Leadership and Culture) This quote highlights the importance of strong leadership in driving success within an organization. In the context of open agile solutions, effective leadership is key for guiding teams and organizations through the process of transformation and helping them achieve their goals.
“Organizations can be thought of as cultures in miniature.” (Edgar Schein, Culture: The Missing Concept in Organizational Studies) This quote emphasizes the interconnectedness of culture and organization. In the context of open agile solutions, understanding and working with an organization’s culture is crucial for facilitating change and driving lasting results.
“The basic assumption underlying all human behavior is that it is purposive. People act in order to achieve some goal or purpose that they value.” (Edgar Schein, Organizational Culture and Leadership) This quote speaks to the importance of understanding the motivations and goals of team members in driving success within an organization. In the context of open agile solutions, helping team members align their work with their values and goals can lead to increased motivation and engagement.
“The culture of an organization is expressed in its artifacts, espoused values, and underlying assumptions. These three levels of culture interact to produce the behaviors that we observe in an organization.” (Edgar Schein, Culture: The Missing Concept in Organizational Studies) This quote highlights the multi-layered nature of culture and the importance of understanding all aspects of it in driving organizational change. In the context of open agile solutions, working with an organization’s artifacts, espoused values, and underlying assumptions can help facilitate transformation and drive better results.
Finally, Socrates
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” — This quote from Socrates highlights the importance of humbly admitting when we don’t have all the answers, which is crucial for open agile solutions. By being open to new ideas and approaches, we can more easily adapt and find solutions that work for us.
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” — This quote encourages us to constantly reflect on and question our beliefs, values, and actions. In open agile solutions, it’s important to continuously reflect and improve upon our processes and practices in order to achieve better outcomes.
“Know thyself.” — Socrates emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, which is crucial for adapting and improving in open agile solutions. By understanding our own motivations, strengths, and weaknesses, we can better navigate challenges and make more informed decisions.
“The only way to do good work is to love what you do.” — This quote highlights the importance of finding purpose and meaning in our work, which is crucial for maintaining motivation and engagement in open agile solutions.
“He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it.” — This quote emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior in open agile solutions. By acting with integrity and treating others with respect, we can build trust and create a positive culture that supports continuous improvement.
“An honest man is always a child.” — This quote suggests that honesty and a willingness to learn are essential for growth and development. In open agile solutions, it’s important to be open to feedback and willing to learn from others in order to continuously improve.
“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavour to be what you desire to appear.” — This quote highlights the importance of authenticity and living up to our values and beliefs in open agile solutions. By being true to ourselves and our principles, we can build trust and create a positive culture that supports continuous improvement.
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” — This quote encourages us to think carefully about what we say and do, and to only speak up when we have something valuable to contribute. In open agile solutions,it’s important to cultivate a culture of mindfulness and intentionality, rather than simply reacting or speaking out of habit or ego. By taking the time to carefully consider our words and actions, we can more effectively contribute to the conversation and help our teams and organizations achieve their goals. Additionally, this quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity and genuine communication. By being authentic and genuine in our interactions, we can build trust and create a more open and collaborative environment. This is especially important in open agile solutions, where teamwork and collaboration are key to success.
Frederic Laloux
“The biggest challenge for organizations is not to implement new processes, but to evolve the collective consciousness of their people.” — From “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux
“Cultural evolution is not a choice. It is an imperative. We cannot afford to be stuck in traditional, command-and-control mindsets if we want to thrive in a rapidly changing world.” — From “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux
“The most evolved organizations of the future will be those that can continuously adapt and reinvent themselves, in harmony with their environment.” — From “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux
“In evolved organizations, people are empowered to act on their own intuition and creativity, rather than being confined to a predetermined set of roles and rules.” — From “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux
“In a culture of self-management, people are trusted to take ownership of their work and to make decisions that align with the organization’s purpose and values.” — From “Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic Laloux
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