Honesty and Scrum

Are people honest and transparent?

Short answer: Not completely.

Let’s digress first, and then come back to a better answer.

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To digress….why are honesty and transparency important?

IMO, in two ways. The main reason: we can manage better with the truth.  For example, we get better feedback in the Sprint Review.  If we can see the product transparently and if people speak honestly.  The same notion applies in all official or unofficial meetings a Scrum team might have.

And because there is less to remember.

Honesty is also important in personal relationships.  People tend to like people who are honest.  More trust.  More sense that they know the real person.

And, of course, as it has for centuries, honesty has a bad side too.  These days we use the phrase ‘too much information’ or ‘over-sharing’.  Or we wince when someone gives feedback harshly.  Or says something in an ‘awkward’ way when a ‘smoother’ way would have been just as effective.

Then we have to face life, and some of us find certain parts of life very discomforting.  By this, I mean by work-related things, and things only indirectly related to work.

Here are some general facts we must face:

• our strengths and weaknesses
• time is short
• ‘all things must pass’
• humans are a lot like primates
• humans are not as rational as we want them to be (at least sometimes)
• certain body functions (was that delicate enough for you)
• the classic topics: sex and religion (and politics and money)

I tease.  Humans are primates. And in so many ways, maybe for good or ill or both, we refuse to think of ourselves as animals. Weird.

There are plenty of roughly similar ‘hard to discuss’ topics at your work.  But I won’t list those now.

As we work together, we must expect these ‘awkward’ topics to surface.

To some degree, as we gain trust with our teammates; they forgive us and we forgive them.  And its okay.  We talk openly, give feedback, and set some better boundaries.  But it can be awkward some times.

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The main points here are a few.

1. We want more transparency and honesty in Scrum.  Mostly this is just to help make work better.
2. Much of the honesty is refreshing and welcome.  It’s fun to be known for who we really are.
3. Still, humans will never be completely honest.  Ever (I think).
4. Sooner or later, you are gonna hear things you do not want (or need, in your opinion) to hear.  We will tease ourselves with this quip: Some things you can’t unhear.

The ScrumMasters, the Team and others will forever be working to help people be more honest.  Also, sometimes ‘less honest’ (about some things).

People will make mistakes; that it will be painful sometimes…is to be expected.  It will just happen.

Mostly it is better. “No place to run to, no place to hide” is a good song, mostly.

Christmas Baskets Program - You are Invited to Help

Every year a local Kiwanis group sponsors a “Christmas Baskets” program to help the children at Berryhill school.

Berryhill is an elementary school in Charlotte, NC with children and families that are struggling.  This is probably true at many schools in our area, but this is the school they selected.  And the Communities in Schools program facilitates this with Berryhill.

You are invited to help or donate funds.

Please contact Cassandra at the office, (704-376-8881) or email (info@leanagiletraining.com). She will put you in touch with the right person.

Below are details with some explanation.  You will be glad you gave; it is not hard to do.

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What is it really?

Families with children at Berryhill elementary school sign up, asking for help.

We provide about $75 of food and other ‘essentials’ per family. (Donations toward this are gladly accepted by that Kiwanis group.  They do the shopping. I suppose you could help them shop.  Or find a firm to donate some items.)  The families typically do not have the funds for a holiday meal.  And, again, it is not only food, other basic necessities are requested.

People select specific families to buy presents for.  Basically, presents for the children. Typically, they need clothes, shoes and similar basics.  They also want toys and games, to have a festive holiday.

So, you are invited to ‘take a family’ and buy presents for them, (3 kids and a mother, for example).  They are most grateful.  You will receive a sheet with ‘requests’ and clothing sizes and ages), get a ‘return receipt’ (often the sizes will be off), wrap the presents and then deliver them.

You do not have to do the delivery; but I recommend it.  I believe the delivery will happen on November 19th.  I have had my daughters participate in the deliver every year for many years now.  It is a good experience for them.  It should respect for the receipts (whom we are helping, but really only helping a little bit), and it… it changes you.

On the delivery day, you will work briefly with a group of people who volunteered for this.  Some coffee and donuts.  Some briefly friendly chatter.  Some work (organizing stuff into boxes).  Some packing into cars.  Maybe a picture.  This is done at a church that is roughly near the Harris Y (but toward South Park Mall).

Some of the families who ask for help have their ‘act together’ to a good degree.  They may not have much money, but they are making progress, getting there.  Other families are struggling more.  It is a fairly wide range. But all the kids, as I recall over the years, all the kids are optimistic and have their whole lives ahead of them. They are always ‘playful puppies’ (if you do not mind a ‘masculine metaphor’ covering boys, girls, and all kinds of kids).  They have happy eyes, and they are eager to learn.

It is not very much work (especially if you do the shopping with your children and let them help with the wrapping).  It is fairly easy to do — when you deliver, the people are friendly, you talk with them briefly, wish them Merry Christmas (or sometimes Happy Holidays), and then you are on your way.

You will be glad you did it.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Cassandra at the office (704-376-8881) or via email, and she will put you in touch with the right person.

Poppendiecks: The Tyranny of the Plan

Here is a transcription of Mary Poppendieck’s talk. (The tyranny of the plan).

You will find this insightful on many levels.

You might find it more fun to see the video.  Your choice.