A 40 Minute Conversation: That Changed My Perception towards "Agility" in a "Rhythmic, Poetic & Holistic Way"

Dov Tsal is an agile coach and a self-proclaimed Taoist. Peter Merel is the author of The Agile Tao, a deep-thinker, a translator, and a joy to talk to.

I heard Peter and Dov in the year of 2k19-20 on "Apple Podcast" and that was episode one (1) where they introduced the significance of "Taoism , Agility & Mind". Furthermore about Collaboration , Eco-system , The End of Agility , Embracing change and all about form & functions , usability and craftsmanship.

Yesterday, in week 39 of 2021, I got an opportunity to meet them on "Agile Network India" platform in Premier Annual LEAN-AGILE Conferences 2021. Much obliged for this wonderful and thought provoking collaboration.

About 2500 years before the Agile Manifesto, "Lao Tzu" wrote a book on the "Agile Mindset". And here "Peter & Dov" helped us to understand what Lao Tzu had said about agility, transformation, leadership, and life in a "Rhythmic, Poetic & Holistic way".        

10 Key takeaways from the Conference and "The Agile Tao's" Book Insights-

1. Agility is practical ; not mystical. It is a way of working, not a state of grace.
2. Agility builds collaboration, not competition; Feeds interdependence, not dependence; Empties peoples’ mouths to fill their bellies; Softens their hearts to strengthen their bones.
3. A weapon may take revenge, but cannot redress. So agility reserves weapons for defence, Calmly, with tact, Not to hold power.?
4. Agility doesn’t worry about power, But helps people join together Like streams into a river And rivers into the sea.?
5. People love to talk about agility And that may be all there is to it, Yet there are three values Agility represents and the agile express: Compassion, openness, and discipline.
6. As water treats all forms the same, The agile treat all people the same. As water flows where it isn’t blocked, The agile don’t struggle with people. But seek channels of mutual benefit, Discarding old forms to discover better ones, And benefiting without competing.
7. The agile lead without authority And govern without force: People support agility to feel themselves supported So the agile never lose their support. - Inpired by "Servant Leadership".
8. The agile don’t explain themselves When explanation doesn’t serve harmony. They reserve their words and judgements To ease differences and calm disagreements. This reduces their distance And helps their people organise themselves.?
9. Agile governance is best: Promoted without promotion, Celebrated without ceremony, And served without servitude.?
10. So an agile business profits no one More than it profits everyone. Agile work achieves nothing But makes all work easier. Agile manners are gentle, Agile ideas, simple, Agile words, genuine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. For Apple podcast show , Thank you so much for wonderful music recorded by Guitarist Gilad Hekselman, bassist Petros Klampanis and drummer Ziv Ravitz. You guys gave the different dimensions to the Peter and Dov's words (valuable & precious).

Cheers!!!