Kate Megaw

[Startup Archive @StartupArchive_]

Jeff Bezos: “Any high-performing organization has to have mechanisms and a culture that supports truth telling”

As Jeff explains in the clip below:

“Truths often don’t want to be heard. Important truths can be uncomfortable, awkward, exhausting, challenging. They can make people defensive, even if that’s not the intent. But any high-performing organization—whether it’s a sports team, a business, a political organization, or activist group—has to have mechanisms and a culture that supports truth telling.”

And one of the things you have to do to support this kind of culture is talk about it:

“You have to talk about the fact that it takes energy to do that. And you have to remind people that it’s ok that it’s uncomfortable. You have to literally tell people: it’s not what we’re designed to do as humans… we mostly survive by being social animals—cordial and cooperative.”

He continues:

“You also want to set up your culture so that the most junior person can overrule the most senior person.”

And in every meeting Jeff attends, he always speaks last:

“I know from experience that if I speak first, even very strong-willed, highly-intelligent participants of that meeting will [wonder if their ideas are incorrect because they’re different from Jeff’s]… Ideally you try to have the most junior go first and then go in order of seniority so that you can hear everyone’s opinion in an unfiltered way… Because we really do change our opinions—if somebody you really respect says something, it makes you change your mind a little.”

Jeff also points out that a lot of the most powerful truths aren’t always based on data—they turn out to be hunches, are based on anecdotes, or are intuition-based:

“You may feel yourself leaning in. It may resonate with a set of anecdotes you have. And then you may be able to say: ‘something about that feels right. Let’s go collect some data on that and try to see if we can know if it’s right.’”

And lastly he discusses fighting inherent biases. For example, most companies usually have an optimism bias. As Jeff explains:

“If there are two interpretations of a new set of data—one is happy and the other is unhappy—it’s a little dangerous to jump to the conclusion that the happy interpretation is right. You may want to compensate for that human bias of trying to find the silver lining and say ‘that might be good, but I’m gonna go with it’s bad for now until we’re sure.’”

[Anu Smalley @AnuSmalley]

Come join @KateMegaw and myself for these fun learning days as you gain your certifications with Scrum Alliance on your ScrumMaster journey. For questions email [email protected]. https://t.co/QBchlnNn6I

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

This week we talk with @JeffDVanB about the balance of onsite, remote & hybrid work that teams want in "The Future of Work" https://t.co/uQBkgfnstK

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Do you have multiple people working on a product that aren't full time members of the Scrum Team? This week we discuss Program Teams and how they can work with Scrum Teams!
@ARCLightAgile

https://t.co/sGOh5O90NC

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

How does your Scrum Team deal with work it doesn't get completed in the Sprint? Does it automatically roll into the next sprint? What does the Product Owner say? In this weeks podcast we discuss this very issue! https://t.co/QmPH7bHI9s
@ARCLightAgile

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

I am speaking at 2022 PMI Professional Development Days. Please check out my talk if you're attending the event! - via #Whova event app

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

What's my role in Scrum? This weeks podcast explores the roles outside of the Scrum Team?
@ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/caS8nPiFAw

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Most people know my love of Retrospectives! Retrospective are the answer to lots & lots of Scrum challenges - AKA "Ask The Team"! This weeks podcast looks at ways to have ROCKING Retrospectives!
@ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/nymzocEt68

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

In this weeks podcast, Team KatAnu (@AnuSmalley & @KateMegaw) talk about the Mindset Shifts required for leadership agility!
@ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/sHtkLCyvjy

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Excited to be delivering a virtual session "The Stepping Stones to Leadership Agility" at Agile Birmingham tomorrow evening @ 5:30 CDT!
#leadership #agile @ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/ReCvLG6qFL #Meetup via @Meetup

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Are you trying to be Agile in a Waterfall Environment? This weeks podcast may have some ideas for you!
@ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/ZheyupT4m2

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

How does your team deal with emergent work? On this weeks ARCLight Agile Podcast we explore some of the ways teams deal with emergent work!
@ARCLightAgile
https://t.co/FHuIX2wWzJ

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

I'm pleased to announce the launch of the ARCLight Agile Podcast. Our first podcast discusses "Why the Product Owner & Scrum Master should not be the same person!" Stay tuned for Week 2 coming next Monday! https://t.co/hHfbkDcPha
@ARCLightAgile #scrum #cspo #csm

[Anu Smalley @AnuSmalley]

Been wanting to take the Scrum Alliance program for leaders - Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) - but find time is what is stopping you?

Does this sound like you or someone you know!!
Join Team KatAnu as we kick off out next 6 mon…https://t.co/rOQcpRFveZ https://t.co/fmqe7cMdic

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Are you ready to become an AMAZING Agile Leader?
Join Team KatAnu for a free webinar.
The Mindset Shifts Required to Become an Amazing Agile Leader Webinar will be held virtually on June 27, 2022 from 1:15pm – 2:00pm EDT.
Sign up here: https://t.co/utIbbl9CQv

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Kicking off Stepping Stones to Leadership Agility Cohort in July! Looking to get your Certified Agile Leadership certification but can’t get away for 8 hours at a time? We meet for 4 hours a month and cover CAL ETO. #agileleadership #leadershipagility
https://t.co/1MAFEinDb9

[Scrum Alliance @ScrumAlliance]

Advice for my younger self:

“Be intentional about where you want to go.”

@KateMegaw #GSGDEN22

[Scrum Alliance @ScrumAlliance]

"Agile leadership is the mindset shift of being able to pivot and helping your teams be able to grow. No matter our role, we can help those around us… And make it ok for people to try something and fail."

@KateMegaw #GSGDEN22

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Team KatAnu rocked out the virtual session today - ROCKING Remote Retrospectives. Slides and Info are available on my blog https://t.co/R2vQ2MWECq
@AnuSmalley @ARCLightAgile
@ScrumAlliance
#GSGDEN22 #retrospectives

[Kate Megaw @KateMegaw]

Team KatAnu getting ready for our “ROCKING Retrospectives” virtual session at #SGDEN22 Day 2! What’s your favorite tip for remote retrospectives?
@AnuSmalley @ARCLightAgile
#retrospectives