Author page: erum

No doubt about it, transformations are deeply complex! But I keep seeing programmes not leveraging or planning in the one critical mechanism that will connect their people to the change. Communication! So is it a wonder there’s no alignment or buy-in from the people? One thing’s for sure - change is the new constant. So…

Wishing my network a very happy and restful festive season. I'm looking forward to down time with loved ones. I’ll also take some time out to reflect on year 1 in the life of The Agile Storytelling Company, our key learnings, and the one thing to do differently next year. I’d like to take this…

No? Try this? - Connect all updates to the reasons you’re changing… e.g. bigger market share, easier approvals etc. - Include what the changes mean for them personally… e.g. professional development, pain-free processes. - And what they mean for the company… e.g. adapt to change faster, survive and compete.  Doing this regularly will embed the…

I took on too much work. And that means long days! Does this happen to you? Here’s an Agile Way of Working you can try. 1. Work out your available time, taking into account meetings, admin, holidays, training, coffee breaks etc. This is your capacity. 2. Now define and prioritise the work. This is your…

Don’t assume people remember the ‘why’ behind your transformation.  It's so easy for the message to become lost in time. Repetition is absolutely key! Regularly connecting your updates back to the reasons behind the changes will land the ‘why’ in the heart of your business.

Usual approach not working?  Try this:  - Instead of asking: Do you have any updates for comms?  - Ask this: Are your deliverables in the next sprint going to make people worry/b*itch/celebrate?  Be specific. Make it quick and easy.

Try this.  Lead the way and share something that you failed at and what you learnt. Then encourage your people to do the same. Actions speak louder than words. :)

You spend ages mapping out 6 to 12 month plans and campaigns. Then everything changes.  Sick of it?  Try our Agile 2-step approach instead: Stop doing annual plans. Start doing just-in-time, 2 week comms instead. And takeaway the stress of reworks…. and you thought Agile Ways of Working is just for tech teams! ;) 

Or are you just downloading what’s front-of-mind?  Try this. Assign a goal to your comms: Is it about the functional stuff? Or to drive an action?  Or to inspire, win hearts and minds and take people on a journey? Need more help? Check out our free, ready-to-execute Agile Comms Planning tool to get started.

Or does it mean: Upskilling into new Agile team roles Improving the ways of working and the culture Being part of a successful and recognised company? It’s all in the storytelling!

Fact: Change happens. And it’s hard. So change YOUR narrative: Decide to be the comms champion.  Call out 3 things that are good about it. Share those good things with your colleagues/clients/collaborators.

So in the last in this series of three pieces of key Agile jargon, we’ll look at a minimum viable product approach, or an MVP, that you can try.  So in the last in this series of three pieces of key Agile jargon, we’ll look at a minimum viable product approach, or an MVP, that…