Into the Jungle and Back! About Leadership in IT...

Into the jungle and back…
a tale about Leadership in IT
Cosima Laube - #JavaLand 2019 - Cologne (DE)
Cosima Laube / @gazebo_c

Once upon a time...

… there was a brave crowd
of Explorers...

… ready to enter the dark and
deep jungle of IT professionalism
https://unsplash.com/photos/xMRr3WhYc0E

They heard of a tribe practising
forgotten black magic art...
https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504639369832-85ea84c60cf2

“collaborating meaningfully
and delighting the customer”

https://unsplash.com/photos/eOpewngf68w
Before entering
the deep, dark IT jungle...

https://unsplash.com/photos/WgXd5cMYVyM
3 breaths

... and jumped right in the dark…

… and found traces of that tribe soon
https://unsplash.com/photos/49EKj06dQCc

https://unsplash.com/photos/EJuxZtJjyGI
Explorers put up their basecamp -
getting ready for observations...

https://unsplash.com/photos/3WJiY5vBLT0

https://unsplash.com/photos/DWUm9SQV2Uc

“The Devs”
https://unsplash.com/photos/DWUm9SQV2Uc

Bob Backend
“the guru”
https://unsplash.com/photos/rJ5vHo8gr2U

Fran Frontend
“the exotic one”
https://unsplash.com/photos/GBEHjsPQbEQ

Sam Silent
“the one who simply does stuff”
https://unsplash.com/photos/UQt8lt5DciE

Earl Executive
“(over)C-level manager”
https://unsplash.com/photos/V9VDd-2s3aE

Sally Seller
“kind of a mini-CEO?”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kadalan_Sulawesi.JPG

diverse group
regarding personality & skills

ONE team
DevOps BizDevOps cross-functional

It was just the RIGHT TIME
for their expedition...

the tribe team had a new mission...

Creating a
delighting
new product...
https://unsplash.com/photos/E4XARZNDjzI

… in a completely new domain...

… for a brand new target group!
https://purepng.com/photo/26839/render-madagascar-penguins

ONE goal

“tangible” client

“Walking in their shoes…”
©CosimaLaube,privatepicture

They sealed the deal...

celebration
because our brains love being rewarded
early, often and in small batches

https://unsplash.com/photos/4e6uqZ3_7pU
Let’s have a kick-off
for the new product...

“Magic breaths”
1. deep breath
2. relax your body
3. what is important now?
Kick-off meeting
check-in activity

Faith Fairy
the jungle “medicine man”
https://unsplash.com/photos/RPUI6gtn49gCosima Laube / @gazebo_c

Witnessing another kind
of “strange ceremony”...

“Look! They’re unveilling
their hidden agendas...”

“The Devs”
● awesome new tech stack
(growth, appreciation)
● greenfield project so no
s**cking legacy monolith
(ease, security)

Earl Executive
● reference client on
the other end of the world
(appreciation)
● make much money
(security)

Sally Seller
● exciting business domain
(growth)
● work with another culture
(connection)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kadalan_Sulawesi.JPG

“The Clients”
● delighting product (joy)
● in time & budget (security)
https://purepng.com/photo/26839/render-madagascar-penguins

know ur WANTs
and NEEDS

and share them
vulnerability → trust

connection
security
ease
growth
appreciation
joy
https://www.cnvc.org/training/resource/needs-inventoryCosima Laube / @gazebo_c

https://purepng.com/photo/30107/gestures-dirty-hands
celebrating
breathing
talk about WANTs
reflecting on NEEDs
tangible client relationship
ONE
diverse
team
ONE goal

Human stuff???
We’re looking for PROFESSIONALism!

howling and war dance sounds….
https://unsplash.com/photos/82AKS6xsmk4

“Those devs
didn’t test
properly!”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/GGewLGcQD-I

“If the product
people only
wrote better
user stories...”
Do you know that?
TODO

“I am the guru
who knows it
all…”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/89hxasw-4E0

Apparently
some other “creatures”
joined the tribe team...

Dan Denial
“There is NO problem at all”
https://unsplash.com/photos/i7ZXmllhFfg

Bob Blamer
“It’s obvious that YOU
caused the problem...”
https://unsplash.com/photos/-KobSuU7b3g

[time-lapse]
First bigger successes...
→ the team grew a bit

“Just another
meeting! How
on earth should
we do our real
work?!”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/YOML-Wm_eFU

“If management
only did…
then I could...”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/jJfreew6A84

Joe Justify
“The circumstances
caused the problem…”
https://unsplash.com/photos/alEcQuIv-4M

“If I only
contributed
more to the
team’s
success…”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/ewUAtdqQ4wA

“I am fraud. One
day they find
out that I cannot
properly...”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/8zdEgWg5JAA

Sash Shame
“I AM the problem”
https://unsplash.com/photos/xfYiIpHnvhs

“We really
should test
this…”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/VcRbMldAFU8

[mumbled with grumpy face]
“So if nobody is
going to do this,
I will do it”
Do you know that?
https://unsplash.com/photos/DziZIYOGAHc

O. Obligation
“Someone just needs
to act responsibly...”
https://unsplash.com/photos/YwnF1Sfsagw

The behaviour
of those “creatures”
had quite some impacts...

Delivery slow.
Lots of bugs.
Unhappy penguins client.

https://unsplash.com/photos/cZDwyxjGKig
wore out people’s energy
collaboration “dried out”...
whole team mood went down

Then, in one of “those meetings”...

Then, in one of “those meetings”
regular retrospective...

Faith Fairy
The Jungle Coach
“Did you take your regular
collaboration ‘medicine’?”
https://unsplash.com/photos/RPUI6gtn49gCosima Laube / @gazebo_c

Sam Silent
“What if…
we are all just longing
for the same things?”
https://unsplash.com/photos/UQt8lt5DciE

https://unsplash.com/photos/-MouG3EXx5M

New perspectives
“just by talking”...?

Take a rest from busy-ness & listen to Sam...

... “I read some leadership books…”

Those “creatures”
are actually just patterns...

http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ResponsibilityProcess-EN.png

“…who takes the
responsibility?”
“... just behave
responsibly!”

… patterns how our brain
processes thoughts
about cause and effect

patterns are layered
NO layer is “better”
than others
it’s all HUMAN behaviour

you pass ALL the layers
EVERY time
process allows us
to deal with RESONSIBILITY
as human beings

Earl Executive
“What is that good for?”
“Do we make money with that?”

“…who takes the
responsibility?”
“... just behave
responsibly!”

https://unsplash.com/photos/NXt5PrOb_7U
“The layers can serve as a compass…”
How to take
real ownership?
for individuals
AND for teams

https://unsplash.com/photos/jyMTzkGK-qc
freedom
choices / options
power
“... like you’re flying in your own mental models”

Now, what… where to start?
https://unsplash.com/photos/qL7mba4e8n8

4 paths in YOUR jungle
to continue walking on...

Be Youthe key to success
helps to clarify your intentions
needs courage

The Want List
Get pen and paper
(Do it physically! It matters!)
Write as many sentences in the
pattern “I want…” within 5 minutes
Don’t stop writing! Don’t judge!
Don’t question your wants now!
Pro-Tipp: Commit to a timeframe (one week is a good
start) and set yourself a daily reminder.
Writing Exercise

Know your wants/needs and emotions
● overview of needs and emotions
(yes, there are actually A LOT we might not be aware of):
○ DE http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Gef%C3%BChlBed%C3%BCrfnisListe.pdf
○ EN: on request (cosima.laube@agileliving.com)
● one way to practise in pairs:
○ needs dyad: http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NVC-Dyade-A4-EN-50y.png
● take a training, e.g. http://agile-living.com/trainings/living-communication/

Be Herethe key to change
(presence part of) mindfulness
regular exercising is essential

Three breaths
1. breath
2. body
3. brain
the “magic breaths” ;-)

Be Openthe key to change
the curiosity part of mindfulness
practise asking questions & true listening

Keep asking
Remember the tribe:
● “What is … good for?”
● “What is in it for YOU?”
Other powerful stuff:
● EN: [“Why?”]{5,*}
● DE: [“Wozu?”]{5,*}
● “What else?”
● The Spice Girl Question
… and listen well!

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Spice_Girls_(6_janv)_56.jpg

Sources: Powerful Questions
● Book: The Coaching Habit (https://boxofcrayons.com/the-coaching-habit-book/)
● Book: The Listening Space (https://www.thelisteningspace.co.uk/)
● Great article and free resource collection on powerful questions:
https://abiggergame.today/powerfulquestions/
● Educate yourself on Clean Language and try experimenting with Clean
Questions:
○ EN: http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CleanLanguage-EN-A7.pdf
○ DE: http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CleanLanguage-DE-A7.pdf

BeLongthe key to growth
connection
connect with YOU - and with others

Practise
Listening
It can be fr**king hard
to TRULY listen
● listen - and stay present
● listen to friends
● listen to “easy” people
● listen to “hard” people
● listen to your self :)
● join a Coaching Dojo
● do Walk & Talk exercises
● dive into mindfulness
● ....

“Catch Sooner”
Game
0. Identify a behaviour to change
1. Catch the behaviour
2. Change the behaviour
3. Forgive yourself
4. Aim at catching sooner next time
The Responsibility Process®
gamified
https://www.mindsettlers.com/guide/2MTajnczDiWmSKAQA4gym8

3 areas to grow
your leadership superpowers...

★ Courage
( → success)
★ Curiosity
( → change)
★ Connection
( → growth)
https://unsplash.com/photos/qL7mba4e8n8

Stay Connected
Be You
Be Here
Be Open
Belong
Cosima Laube
Developer, Coach & Trainer
★ https://cosima-laube.de
★ www.slideshare.net/CosimaLaube

Sources: Responsibility Process
● “cheatsheet”: http://agile-living.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ResponsibilityProcess-EN.png
● poster: https://christopheravery.com/responsibility-process-poster
● The book from C. Avery (in EN) or the (really recommendable!) DE translation
(https://www.dpunkt.de/buecher/13227/9783864905773-the-responsibility-process.html)

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