Francois Bachmann's Agility Narrative on the power of the conversation

The Agility Narratives

I really enjoyed hearing about Francois' transition from an early idealistic young agile evangelist to an independent coach and trainer. And how a crucial conversation with a wise mentor helped him make the decision to transition. The context of his Agility Narrative is leadership in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world. Key insights he shared are about sensing reality, being open about our models’ limitations, connecting through conversations and iteratively taking adaptive action. He cites examples such as COVID-19 and Climate change. He talks about types of leaders we need in a VUCA world and we discussed how aspiration or fear impacts how we respond and take adaptive action.
In his Agility Narrative, he identifies that this journey starts with ourselves doing personal work to create a culture of conversation, referencing gardening and permaculture. With his narrative theme, he invites us to improve how we have conversations, how we listen/hear ourselves, our teams and organizations, and the broader world including Mother Earth. Francois wants for his clients to venture into deeper conversations and explore the many dimensions of working together. He talks about the value of clarity, learning from antagonists, learning to let go, and the importance of generative conversations to face our future. Thanks Francois.
0:00
Welcome to The Agility Narratives Podcast
1:11
Francois's introduction to Agile
3:11
Francois's story of the young evangelist comes home.
4:57
Francois's leap into being an independent coach and trainer for scrum teams
5:59
Agile in 2008-2010 - Speaking at conferences, training and helping establish new teams in a diverse set of mandates
8:16
Francois's career at 2015-2016 - Big frameworks competing, certifications, lipstick on the pig!
10:04
Context for The Agility Narrative - VUCA World - who is suitable to lead in a world with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity? i.e. during COVID-19 and Climate Change
13:47
Impact of aspiration and fear as a driver of adaptive action. We need the type of creativity that comes from safety
16:59
One of the protagonists in Francois' Agility narrative - Your soul searching, your heart, your guts, your thinking and way of looking at the world
18:00
The WE quadrant - culture eats strategy for breakfast AND comes from gardening
19:29
The "Learning to be in conversation" is the theme of Francois' agility narrative
22:00
Listening to ourselves
23:41
Relating the power of listening for Agile and Organizations
25:37
Francois struggles with naming constraints as Villains - they are reasons for our adaptive action! How can we make this interplay between protagonist and antagonist as fruitful as possible.
29:01
Clarity in conversations around constraints enable the protagonist to refine the journey
31:27
What's at stake? My turning point in Francois's Agility Narrative journey came when I realized it is about people
32:34
What is the value of your narrative? Have I been able to deepen the conservation?
34:31
The monkey trap and what do you feel you need to let go?
36:01
Conversations, neutrality, and Switzerland - commit to be part of the conversation and a catalyst for a generative conversation
39:30
Thank you

Kapitel

1. Welcome to The Agility Narratives Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Francois's introduction to Agile (00:01:11)

3. Francois's story of the young evangelist comes home. (00:03:11)

4. Francois's leap into being an independent coach and trainer for scrum teams (00:04:57)

5. Agile in 2008-2010 - Speaking at conferences, training and helping establish new teams in a diverse set of mandates (00:05:59)

6. Francois's career at 2015-2016 - Big frameworks competing, certifications, lipstick on the pig! (00:08:16)

7. Context for The Agility Narrative - VUCA World - who is suitable to lead in a world with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity? i.e. during COVID-19 and Climate Change (00:10:04)

8. Impact of aspiration and fear as a driver of adaptive action. We need the type of creativity that comes from safety (00:13:47)

9. One of the protagonist in Francois' Agility narrative - Your soul searching, your heart, your guts, your thinking and way of looking at the world (00:16:59)

10. The WE quadrant - culture eats strategy for breakfast AND comes from gardening (00:18:00)

11. The "Learning to be in conversation" is the theme of Francois' agility narrative (00:19:29)

12. Listening to ourselves (00:22:00)

13. Relating the power of listening for Agile and Organizations (00:23:41)

14. Francois struggles with naming constraints as Villains - they are reasons for our adaptive action! How can we make this interplay between protagonist and antagonist as fruitful as possible. (00:25:37)

15. Clarity in conversations around constraints enable the protagonist to refine the journey (00:29:01)

16. What's at stake? My turning point in Francois's Agility Narrative journey came when I realized it is about people (00:31:27)

17. What is the value of your narrative? Have I been able to deepen the conservation? (00:32:34)

18. The monkey trap and what do you feel you need to let go? (00:34:31)

19. Conversations, neutrality and Switzerland - commit to be part of the conversation and a catalyst for a generative conversation (00:36:01)

20. Thank you (00:39:30)