Relationships are important at work, but co-operation is better - The Manager
CULTIVATED MANAGEMENT
Cultivated Management Newsletter - Edition 20
Hi,
Hope you've had a great weekend and are all set for a busy and productive week ahead.
It's been majorly chaotic for me with plenty of client work coming in thick and fast, lots of big ideas that I need to get implemented and all of this whilst tensing it all with life as well.
Next week marks a major life event - my 40th Birthday. I know what you're thinking - Rob doesn't look 40. In fact he looks more like he's around 25. But I am indeed 40 next week.
And so I reflect on how I've had the career I've had in this post - and why opportunities have opened for me in the way they did. I was a guest on a great podcast yesterday and I was asked what I thought formed my career in to where it is now.
It's simple - relationships.
Building strong relationships allows you to make friends, get stuff done and open doors that might otherwise remain locked. The more people you know, and of course, if they like you, the more chance you have of getting work or a job, finding new networks, getting help, providing value and building a career you're proud of.
Your network is your biggest asset, and it needs to be treated with respect, care and attention. Give 10x more than you take. Create before you consume and appreciate the wonder and value that each person brings to their work.
Relationships help you as a manager - they can open the pathways to tricky conversations, they build loyalty and trust and by nurturing strong relationships you will find levers of cooperation to pull that you've never seen before.
So how do you build strong relationships.
Provide value to people (blogs, mentoring, coaching, advice, help, support, emotional support, an ear to bend)
Develop outstanding communication skills (body language, clarity, brevity, expert listening skills)
Get out and meet people. It may be uncomfortable but you'll get better at it.
Listen.
Respect everyone and the path/journey that they are on. If you don't respect them - why would they respect you?
Start a blog or vlog or LinkedIn article writing.
Go to conferences and mingle.
Make it a habit to connect with one new person a week.
Comment on other people's work and give support (don't tear down - especially somebody you don't know very well).
Stand for something. Have a point of view.
Be as authentically you as you can. I spent 3-4 years trying to be somebody I was not. It almost destroyed me.
And so with that I would encourage you to start building relationships with those you work with, people you've never met before and those you seek to influence.
Your network really is your biggest asset, but to build a strong network you need to learn to build strong relationships. Big isn't better. Your network needn't be massive - just strong, supportive and a network/community you cherish and respect. That could be 5 people - it could be 100.
Go forth - build relationships and get stuff done.
Rob
Habits and Discipline
It's early days still, but I, and Helen Lisowski, are going to be running an "Agile Habits and Discipline" event in April.
Provisional date is 19th April and likely location will be Winchester.
Ignore the frameworks, certifications and agile buzzword bingo - agile doesn't happen because you are a certified agile bod. Agile doesn't happen because you tell people you're doing X framework. Agile doesn't happen because everyone wants it to, or execs have told people to make it happen. Just look around at the numerous failed agile projects to see it's harder than many realise.
Agile success is not because of frameworks - otherwise all projects using these frameworks would succeed - and that's simply not true. One framework would stand out as the best - and that's not true either.
Frameworks and certifications may be helpful, but they are nothing without good habits, discipline and absolute clarity over what your problems are and where you want to get to.
Releasing agility in to your organisation or team is not actually complicated, but it can be insanely hard.
Firstly, you must know what you want the future to look like. What's your purpose? Why do you want to remove barriers and move quickly?
Secondly, you need to understand what problems you currently have. What friction stands between where you are and where you want to get to? What skills are you missing? What needs to change?
Thirdly, you need to start solving these problems and developing the habits and discipline to stick at it when the going gets tough - which it will.
Fourthly, you need to keep discovering and understanding new problems and new changes in direction. This is releasing agility. The more you release, the more chance you have of moving quickly and delivering value. This leads to more problems, more value, more money, more knowledge - you can then release more agility.
No framework will help you build habits of success.
No framework will give you the discipline to get up and go to work and follow the proven process even if you don't feel like it.
The path of least resistance is a terrible teacher - yet many agile leaders and managers pander to the wishes and desires of the team - even when they know these new habits won't lead to success. Doing what you should do every day is hard. It's easy to give up, take a day off, skip a process, do it later, leave it for someone else or simply avoid bad work. High performing teams aren't built this way. High performing teams are disciplined.
In our fun, vibrant, truthful and interactive workshop you'll learn by doing. You'll be given the tools and knowledge you need to go forth and succeed in building strong habits and discipline for agile success.
What you learn in this workshop is based on success and experience. No theory or nonsense or agile frameworks. Just real-life stories, patterns, habits and guidance on getting the right levels of discipline.
All we can do is give you the tools - the rest is up to you.
If you're interested in attending - hit reply to this email and I can give you early heads up when the tickets go on sale.
The price point will be about £250 for the day. Places will be limited to around 25.
Hope to see you in April for habits and discipline for agile success.
Behind the scenes
This week I've been mostly on client sites but I did record a guest podcast which will come out soon. I've also been doing some coaching and more writing.
I'm looking to transition from a blog to a vlog...how exciting, but I'm being careful about how I do this - what do you think?
I'm still writing Zero to Keynote which will hopefully be out very soon.
And in March I'll be speaking at Aginext.io 2018 about why Agile needs HR and HR needs agile.
BTW - if you want more behind the scenes stuff then you can find me on Instagram
Have a brilliant week. Until next time.
Rob