Writer
I’ve written two books and published articles on many platforms (links below).
I explore topics like: complexity, systems, psychology, sociology, lean, agile, ethics, cult dynamics, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.
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Newsletter: Short think pieces published once or twice each month (sign up or read previous issues).
LinkedIn: Thoughts, news, and insight gleaned from current projects.
Books
Radical Alignment
Radical Alignment: How to Have Game-Changing Conversations That Will Transform Your Business and Your Life is a book about building better relationships. Why do so many organizations, teams, couples, families, and groups who should be working together end up wasting energy on unproductive conflict? What’s often missing is a deeper alignment based on mutual trust, respect, and empathy. This book will teach you a simple, guided methodology that allows groups to increase empathy and trust. It can be used in sales, when launching a team, or at any point during the project where some refocus is needed. Available on Amazon
“Successful communication leads to intentional action, which can only happen with enrollment. Radical Alignment offers you a breakthrough in finding all three.” ―Seth Godin, author of Leap First
Agile Business
Agile Business: A Leader’s Guide to Harnessing Complexity is an engaging introduction to Agile Development from a business perspective. It contains practical real-world advice from over 30 coaches, executives, developers and managers who are actively using Agile in their organizations and helping others achieve Agility. Available on Amazon
“Agile Business is more than just a savvy guide to the ins and outs of the Agile Development process. It is a call to take your game up to a new level where customers are not only satisfied but delighted, and where work teams are not only productive but inspired.” —Geoffrey Moore, author, Crossing the Chasm
Articles
Columnist for Inc Magazine and The Huffington Post and featured in: Forbes, Pando, Container13, Simple Programmer, and Productive Flourishing.
This Simple 3-Step Formula Can Help You Run Great Meetings
Nobody likes meetings--but you'd be surprised how little it takes to make them bearable and productive.
The 1 Thing Top Performers Ask Before Taking Any Job
The most important part of a job offer isn't the salary, title, or perks. It's this.
Skills won’t get you promoted — here’s what will.
You don’t need more technical skill to get ahead. Here’s what you actually need.
Agile: Are You Doing it Right?
“Should we adopt agile?” “Are we doing agile well?”
Don’t try to create a positive workplace. Do this instead.
There are few things more infuriating than being told to smile — or worse — to “lighten up.”
In the Company of a Group
Groups are an essential and important feature of being human.
In the Company of a Group (part 2)
We are one of the most social species that’s ever existed — second only to ants, bees, and termites …
Exploit Variability, Don’t Eliminate It
If you don’t understand complexity and consciously work with it, it will eat your business for lunch. Here’s how to take yourself off the menu.
The Epidemic of “Performative” Care
Will someone please stop the pseudo-caring movement?by Bob Gower and Srini Pillay, M.D.
Aligning Purpose
The wall between IT and business is killing your ability to create real value.
Faster, Better, Happier: Principles for building great stuff together.
The mindset, processes, and tools that will help you be more efficient, improve quality and create better organizational culture
The Efficiency Trap: doing more isn't always doing better
The industrial age was built on efficiency – the information isn’t.
Why you need to think like a chef — not a cook
Cooks choose a recipe but chefs write them.
Moving Faster Part #1: Throughput
When people ask a team to speed up they are usually thinking about throughput – but what is it?
Moving Faster Part #2: Cycle Time
The amount of time it takes me to get my stuff – not how much stuff the system produces
Moving Faster Part #3: Workflow
How to maximize throughput and minimize cycle-time and move really fast.
Moving Faster Part #4: Let's Get Small
When it comes to doing the most work in the least time, size matters – a lot.
Moving Faster Part #5: Human to Human
Conversation between people working in a system is the best way to improve that system's performance