Say “Sheep Dip” One More Time…

There is no quick fix, when it comes to choosing the right methodology for your business. There is a plethora of options available, as anyone who spends any time on Linkedin will be aware. The question is, which one is right for you?

I’m not going to answer that. Mainly because, I don’t know. And also because it depends on what you’re trying to achieve. But I am going to tell you what isn’t right for you, or anyone for that matter – and that is, a little of everything.

The number of times I’ve heard company X tell its people “we’re going to have an agile ‘sheep dip’ session”, is… several. I find it quite ironic that managers will happily use a term that relates to immunising animals by coating them in toxic chemicals to try and describe an ostensibly positive experience.

Well, I believe that a one-off training session, in any methodology, that isn’t supported by ongoing practice, reinforcement, coaching, further training and delivery of outcomes, is toxic to a workplace culture (oh yes, it all hangs together in this blog).

How many TED talks have you seen where a CEO stands up and says “we dipped our toes into five different methodologies, and look at our results”…? None, right? The point of any methodology is that you only get the results it promises by fully committing to the practice. It has to become a fundamental part of an organisation’s way of working, ultimately weaving itself into the DNA of the company’s culture.

Cold water swimmers don’t get the health benefits by dipping their toes in the water. Psilocybin micro-dosers don’t unleash their full creative potential after one magic mushroom risotto. And sheep are not protected from infestation unless they are fully immersed in the good (or bad) stuff.

Likewise, your business won’t yield the benefits of Lean, Agile (Scaled or otherwise), Scrum, Waterfall, Prince2, or whatever new-fangled approach you’ve decided on, unless you commit to it hook, line and sinker. Because, if you’re not prepared to dedicate the time, effort and resource required to make it work, then why should your staff?

Honestly, take it from me: it would be better not to bother at all.

https://bergkamp101.wordpress.com/

#scaledagile, #lean, #sheepdip, #agile, #training, #coaching, #methodology, #companyculture, #scrum, #waterfall