To uncover Excellence

Well that was a misleading illustration, that is NOT how you achieve excellence, but part of "know-how" is also "know-not-how". C. Northcote Parkinson's Law from 1955 (read here...) is a masterpiece in showing how NOT to create results but getting stuck in internal interests instead of looking at those we are supposed to serve - the customers. The bureaukrats in Parkinson's Law have little interest in serving the outside stakeholders, instead the focus is on compliance to procedure, generating work for each other and looking for the next subordinate. In a bureaucracy the system has been designed by an expert, the rest of us don't think but do as we are told.

A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say “no” but none to say “yes.”

– Russell L. Ackoff

Years later submarine captain David Marquet said:

“The basic assumption is that excellence is achieved when everyone is thinking.”

One of the chiefs - Andy Worshek - on board the aforementioned submarine the Santa Fe - added:

“Our world radically changed when our mindset shifted from avoiding errors to achieving excellence.”

How come people like David Marquet could change the way people in a submarine function and achieve excellence and others can't. We try to discuss that on one of our free webinars on Thursday the 16th on Meetup, register here..., join us for a conversation about what leaders who want to take their organization to the next level of agility.

Tom Mellor, former chairman of the Scrum Alliance and an avid trainer and practitioner of agile principles, will give his perspective on the question in a North American context.

Mario Gadet provides the Central European perspective based both on recent studies and ample experience guiding business leaders.

The Scandinavian contribution is presented by Arne ?hlander from Sweden – a valued agile veteran whose perspectives are always based on thorough research and experience. I, Kurt Nielsen, CEO of AgileLeanHouse will participate as well.

Our mission is to help people get more out their effort through teaching, supporting and toolmaking. As part of this mission we also offer free add-on education to our Network of interested parties, in particular those who have participated in our training courses. On Monday the 20th of December there is a free course for network members on Agile Lean Leadership, how to build your organization for effectiveness and predictability.

Read more here..., and register if you are interested.

All the best Kurt Nielsen