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SessionTwo009

C09. Increasing Your Effectiveness as a Change Agent
BobKing, DonGray

Methods and the Methodologies containing them exist to help us act profitably. Sometimes they take on a life of their own - perhaps over-shadowing their original purpose. In other cases, no thought is given to how to act profitably; any action will do.

In this session, we will explore methods for applying methods - a meta-method. What are some good rules of thumb to have handy to help us figure out an action makes sense and money? When should they be applied? Can we mix and match methods from disparate methodologies? What similarities exists from methodology to methodology?

Learning Objectives

- begin to understand when and how to apply certain methods
- how to see and deal with methods myopia

Prerequisites

- frustration with evangelism surrounding any particular method
- willingness to discuss when and how to apply methods

Reports from Teams

Didn't get to 2 teams for debrief...These notes are rough, please edit as you see fit.

Team 3
Method:

1. Think about big picture first
2. Solve what you can
3. Guidelines:

- use pencil - solve easy clues - find theme

• Have/use expert
• guides, resources, steps (actions)
• only send the oracle when you selling the method - don't give her up.

Team ??
Method:

1. look for information from title or theme
2. look for information from author/editor
3. try to answer clues and iterate
4. Use any resources (including answer sheet)

Consultant stayed out of the customer hair and found that the team did not use the method given. Time constraints prevented sharing method of symmetry.

Team 5
Method:

1. get the puzzle
2. Use pencil with eraser
3. Systematically read clues and solve, if possible
4. Go to 3 until done
5. Ask for help

• resist telling them what to do - tried to lead rather than just doing it.
• acknowledge differing styles
• Methods must be adapted to people using it - dynamic in application somehow.
• Inappropriate to impose our individual techniques on other people because of varying purposes in application of techniques.
• mismatched method for problem.

Team 6
Method:

0. Comformability Check - pencils, copier (optional) - standard crosswork puzzle - team able to communicate
1. Everyone does a pass
2. Integrate
3. Prepare quadrants - rotate - repeat
4. Group Grope/Integrate
5. If stuck, try something else
6. Do what works
   

Didn't work:

- algorithm part was useless - non-ideal for exceptional skills - automatic zoom to "average" people - methodology doesn't include delivery of methodolgy

Worked well:

- methodology had 3 parts: resources, algorithm, policies

Consulting delivery matters:

- willingness to punt - give up expert role

• Wandered around looking for tips from other teams
• Implemented their own method - not the one provided by consultant

Learnings

• Identify an expert and consider having them just do it!
• Test "Will the method work?"
• If you get stuck, try something else
• Think first, do what you can. Doing means different things to different people.
• Methods must be adapted to people using it - dynamic in application somehow.
• Inappropriate to impose our individual techniques on other people because of varying purposes in application of techniques.

Methods for Change Agents

• make sure that you care about what your are doing
• have some experience in domain
• step back, look at who has what
• do no harm
• check your own biases and prespectives and adapt
• create feedback loops
• what you call something (or someone) matters
• start with what you know, then observe where you are and use the feedback loops
• work on what's easy first
• how much can/should I do for others?
• be flexible
• get information you need
• keep option of leaving / not going open
• look for correct closure early (or a way to exit...)
  

BobKing 2002.11.10

Team 1

• Had too little diversity in team (all 'P' possibility seekers!)
• Few understood the crossword numbering scheme.
• Developed sensible suggestions for normal crossword puzzling.
• Only team to implement a System Test as part of their methodology.
• Ran more than 7 minutes over in "completing our methodology"

Didn't get debriefed due to overall group size.

This session was about increasing your effectiveness as a change agent. Here are the 8 Rules of Thumb for Change agents I said I would post.

Rules of Thumb for Change Agents Herbert A. Shepard, OD Practitioner, Vol 7, No 3, Nov 1975

Rule 1: Stay Alive - This rule counsels against self-sacrifice on behalf of a cause that you do not wish to be your last.

Rule 2: Start where the system is

Rule 3: Never work uphill

Corollaries

1: Don't build hills as you go.
2: Work in the most promising arena.
3: Don't use one when two could do it.
4: Don't over-organize.
5: Don't argue if you can't win.
6: Play God a little.

Rule 4: Innovation requires a good idea, initiative and a few friends.

Rule 5: Load experiments for success.

Rule 6: Light many fires.

Rule 7: Keep an optimistic bias.

Rule 8: Capture the moment.

2002.11.10 DonGray

Flawless Consulting, A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, Peter Block Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, ISBN 0-89384-052-1

Communication Gaps and How to Close Them, Naomi Karten, Dorset House, ISBN 0-932633-53-6, Section 4, Change Gaps

2002.11.11 DonGray

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