TransitionToInfluence

How about a TransitionToInfluence BOF? The transition from engineering to architecting requires substantial focus shift in getting things done. How to approach at a self-paced level and how to experiment safely. Lots of experiential opportunity, and feedback in the work world is unreliable or CareerThreateningMove.

BobLee 2002.04.22

Interesting idea. What would a good discussion be like for you? What sort of experiments would you like to do?

- BeckyWinant 4-23-2002

In 1997, I attended a 5-day management/HR class titled Influence that changed my understanding of myself. The class flyer intrigued me: it asked how often my work allowed me to exercise positional power versus requiring me to solicit help via influence. I figured that 80% of my job involved influence relationships, so why not?

Lacking feedback, I had thought myself a great listener and open to others. I discovered through the role playing, the assessments and the pre-class, classmate & instructor feedback that I had blindspots. I discovered that:

When listening, I was too frequently waiting to be heard - impatiently holding a comment on the tip of my tongue rather than hearing the others in a discussion.

I tend to run roughshod over others contributions, building frustrations.
I was more an initiator than maintainer of relationships.

I negotiated a plan with my manager to work on these blindspots and be evaluated on them. He was blown away: he was into the macho thing, and couldn't understand anybody admitting less than perfection or needing other than positional power! I decided I needed to work elsewhere... but that's a "whole 'nother story."

I'd see thinking through how an architect tries to get into win-win relationships with project managers and with lead engineers. Playing the scenarios and evaluating feelings developed would be great feedback.

Working on finding the "voice of the customer" is another scenario of interest. Practicing leaving the ownership of the priorities, business requirements, and economics in stakeholder hands would be neat.

How many skits should there be to give everybody some trial opportunities with feedback?

BobLee 2002.04.23

Bob, If I understand your comments, it sounds like you have some ideas for scenarios. That could be great to evolve on the wiki, if you want help.

I like the introduction of learning to "let go". Too often people fall into the role of controlling situations believing it has power. Letting go takes more courage and care.

How many skits? How long do you expect this to be? In three hours, for example, one or two many be just right. Three many be hard to squeeze in given that you need to allow for set up and debrief. -BeckyWinant 4-24-2002

If 3 hours is the time, then I think those two skits sound about right. I like having two so people can have a second chance after first feedback session.

I imagine the first skit, "Establishing win-win relationships with project managers and with lead engineers." being played with various oppositional attitudes in the PM and tech leads - jealousy, backbiting, turf wars, "not invented here", big-M Methodology, pressure scheduling ...

The degree of opposition should be negotiated with cantidate architect's comfort zone.

The second, " finding the voice of the customer" could involve finding real stakeholders while others try to takeover [presume] stakeholder roles:

Manager of users wants to make user interface decisions.
Product manager wants to assert customer role, plays "last thing heard is job #1" game.
Project manager & tech leads want to hijack the requirements to try out XML with J2EE and nifty new DNS servers.
Director of MIS wants to dictate requirements.

Feel free to embroider - in fact the other participants should cook some ideas up, too.

See Jerry & Becky's SessionTwo003 for some similar interesting ideas. I feel like there's an echo on this site!

--BobLee 2002.04.24 :-)

Hey, Bob! How'd you move back to Sunday?

Yes, I think there is synergy between SessionTwo003 and what you are suggesting. I think it would be cool if you could find a way to extend that or we could find a way to continue....depending on how it plays out.

I have to apologise if this next question is idiotic, but how do you want to make a BOF happen if you think you are probably not going to be able to attend AYE 2002. There many be some great insight in this for us!

- BeckyWinant 2002.04.26

Let's say I'm being optimistic - I had an interview yesterday that might do the trick - Construx Software has some really nice ideas on training budgets! :-)) Besides, I've got to keep my motivation juices flowing. BobLee 2002.04.27

Bob, I love your optimism!

Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

-BeckyWinant 2002.04.30

Ditto three times: the love I feel for your energy, let me know too if there is anything I can do to help please (I would very much like to meet you face 2 face) and indeed ... Echos everywhere! --Nynke July 23

"Deja vu, all over again!" - Yogi Berra

While the interview didn't pan out, I had a chance to learn from another mistake, and the practice was positive. Working with the "nest of NFs" at the one-sided-ring is full of joy! --BobLee 2002.07.23

About that BOF...

You just never know if you don't ask! Optimism++ rules!

--BobLee 2002.08.01

Updated: Thursday, August 1, 2002