Be Awesomer!

Using A Strategically Focused Radar To Continuously Improve Awesomeness

Audience believe there here to listen to a presentation on a focused radar, but it is actually a presentation on improving their awesomeness

Radar doesn't sound too exciting, why would it appeal to the audienceAwesomeness Everyone wants to be awesome....

Leverages - Golden Circle (Simon Sinek) Talk to the Why- We use some disruption by taking the audience to a peak where they feel they have reached awesomeness before confronting them with a new level of awesomeness to be obtained.

Why are we talking about a focused radar = a focused radar can be used to improve our awesomeness

Everyone wants to be awesome what we are providing is a product/tool that will help people achieve awesomeness and the process to become awesome using the product is outlined in this presentation

We Are Already Awesome...

Not by accident that we are awesome. Awesome comes with practice, by doing, by learning new things. What practices make us/you awesome?

Section Objective:

Highlight how awesome the team already is this can be tailored for each team being presented to or based on the generic awesome factors related to the focused radar focus on the current state but question how we move to the next level, how do we improve etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Achievements are what makes us awesome at this time, we can improve these and provide a process for through the use of the CI Focus Radar.

Awesome factors related to the focused radar:- Strategic Focus- Goal Awareness- Continuous Improvement- Shared Understanding- Knowledge Sharing

Leverage: Journey from Awesome to Awesomer We are creating/using a CI Focused Radar to help us on this journey. We have some goals to achieve and the radar can show us how to do this using our current awesomeness.

Impressive Knowledge

Current State Impressive Knowledge

Knowledge refers to learning concepts, principles and information regarding a particular subject(s) by a person through books, media, encyclopedias, academic institutions and other sources. Skill refers to the ability of using that information and applying it in a context.

What is impressive...- Current Knowledge- Leverage audience to highlight there current knowledge such as understanding of Specification By Example, Telecommunication systems etc.

Talk to the mindmap image used to show the ways knowledge is acquired through learning, teaching, industry etc.

Knowledge is not the peak...we can gain wisdom and enlightenment- John Kapeleris (talks on creativity and innovation)- Whiteboard Data/Information/Knowledge Wisdom/Enlightenment

What is holding us back...- Knowledge gaps: What knowledge should do we need?- Amount of knowledge to acquire: What knowledge should we acquire?- Ability/Capability to share knowledge: How could we share it better?

Mad Skills

Current State: Mad Skills / Competence

Knowledge refers to learning concepts, principles and information regarding a particular subject(s) by a person through books, media, encyclopedias, academic institutions and other sources. Skill refers to the ability of using that information and applying it in a context.

Mad Skills that we have...- Actual implementation skills Testing/Development/Infrastructure- Leverage audience to highlight their skills such as JMeter testing skills, Python developments skills, Puppet provisioning skills etc.

Talk to the image of the skills implementation (card tower) and the multitude of skills that people have (the builder who can drill, paint, clean, fix etc).

What new skills do we need...- How do we know what skills are needed?- How do we identify useful skills to learn?- Skills focus, would this be a useful thing?

Do A Lot

Current State: Do A Lot

Goals/Aims achieved Feeling of Contentment

Individual, team, organization goals achievements

Goals/Achievement - Getting lots done, meeting expectationsFeelings We feel content with what we are achieving

We are achieve plenty but...- Do we want to achieve more?- Could we achieve more?- How do we achieve more?

Question - Are we doing the right thing?- Are the things we are doing aligned to our individual, team, organization needs?- Is the most important thing we need to do or should we be doing something else?

...But Want To Be Awesomer!

The 'Why' we are creating/going to use a Focused Radar

Answer the questions we raised in the previous section:- How can we improve on our impressive knowledge?- How can we improve our skills?- How can we ensure we are doing the right things?

Some ways....- Impart wisdom need to gain wisdom (Knowledge)- Improve skills proficiency (Skills)- Do (Most important for the Radar and Strategic Focus)...Align what we do with a strategy (Personal, Team, Organization etc)

Leverage: Journey from Awesome to Awesomer We are creating/using a Focused Radar to continue on this journey

Gain Wisdom

State Transition: From Knowledge to Wisdom

We have have discussed the impressive knowledge we have obtained, now we want to gain wisdom through application of this knowledge through application of the knowledge.

Leverage audience to identify ways they can gain wisdom

Emphasis the constant need to acquire knowledge and the journey from knowledge to wisdom, so we not only want to acquire knowledge we know want to become wise in its application (taken it to the next level)

Are we already wise? - Probably in some circumstances, but what we are really discussing is the journey of knowledge from data to enlightenment.

How do we best gain this wisdom...- What knowledge should we apply?- How do we apply this knowledge?

Become Proficient

State Transition: Competence Proficient

We have have discussed the mad skills that we have, now we want to move from competency to proficient through implementation of skills.

Leverage audience to identify ways are becoming proficient

Emphasis the constant need to improve skills and the journey from novice to expert, so we not only want to implement skills we now want to become proficient in them (taken it to the next level)

Are we already proficient? - Probably in some circumstances, but what we are really discussing is the journey of skill implementation from novice through competence to proficiency/expertise.

How do we become proficient...- What can we do to become proficient?- How do we decide what to become proficient in?- Do we need to become proficient at everything?

Aligned Achievements

Transition Stage: Doing a Lot to Aligned Achievements

Aligned Achievements = Strategic FocusRecognition/Praise = Move from content to appreciated/happy

We have have discussed the we get lots done, but that we may not be doing the right thing. Now we want to align what we do with some strategic goals be they individual, team, organization or industry based..

Leverage audience to identify ways they can align achievements

Emphasis the constant need to assess that the work we are doing is aligned with a strategic/identifed goal, so that we not only get lots done but it is all relevant to our journey towards awesomer (taken it to the next level)

Are we already doing things aligned to strategic goals? - Probably in some circumstances, but what we are really discussing is the journey from just getting lots done to focusing on getting strategic/identified goals achieved.

How do we align our doing to goals/strategy...- What goals/strategy exists? - need to know the strategy/what we want- How do we decide if something is aligned to the goals/strategy?- Do we need to align all work to an existing strategy? - Who sets the goals/strategy (team, individual)

Feel Awesomer!

The focused CI Radar will provide a feeling of awesome as skills are increased, knowledge is shared, goals and objectives both for the individual and the team are achieved.

Knowledge from acquisition to wisdomSkills from competency to proficient/expertiseDoing from just getting lots done, to achieving things aligned to more strategic goals

So we want to feel awesomer...we know what would make us feel awesomer, so whats next...- How do we make this happen?- What do we need to be able to do this? (Product CI Focused Radar)

(OLD NOTES)Feel Awesome Creation/SharingBe Awesome Feedback/Listen

Let's Get Awesomer!

Let's Get Awesomer!- The 'How' (Process) we will use to get Awesomer

'Be The Change We Want To See' (Positive Re-enforcement)- We want to feel awesomer- We have identified what will make us feel awesomer- How do we make the changes that will make it so....

Outline of section = how we will make the changes needed to become awesomer....

We will...- Obtain a better/ an iimproved focus (on what to do and when)- Ensure our goals are aligned strategically (Personal/Individual)- Improve our knowledge and skill capabilities (Enlightenment/Expertise)- Utilise visualization to assist in obtaining all three changes

Golden Circle Focus How we will use the CI Focus Radar (Process) to become awesomer. The radar provides the focus, based on strategic discussions during creation to both identify knowledge and skills and which level we require in each. Visually understanding the radar can help people new to the team understand what is expected of them identify gaps in there knowledge/skills etc.

Improved Focus

Change Agent: Improved Focus

Talked about what transitions we want to make and identified the need to work out what knowledge, skills and things to do are needed/desired.

Improved focus entails....- Identifying what is required/useful in context [Knowledge/Skills]- Ensuring work we are doing is aligned to the goals/strategy (be it individual, team, organization) [Doing]- Understanding what should we do now, what should we do next, what can we do later

How can we improve our focus...- Leverage the audience to identifying how they may improve focus understand what you want as an individual, what the team needs are, what the organization strategy is etc.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to capture and share this improved focus ( CI Focused Radar)

Enlightenment & Expertise

Change Agent: Enlightenment & Expertise

Enlightenment = Clarity of perceptionExpertise = Implementation excellence

As an individual or group the knowledge/skills become clear through the improved focus on how and what to do to achieve your goals, both personal and commercial. - Providing a clarity (Enlightenment) of what to learn and where to engage excellence (Expertise)

Clarity is provided by knowing what we need to learn and then acquiring knowledge and wisdom in focused ways.

Implementation excellence comes from the using skills and practice to become proficient and then experts in focused ways.

We want to obtain Enlightenment & Expertise in what is important to the strategic goals, the focus helps us determine what to learn and practice to obtain these higher levels of knowledge and skill

How can we obtain Enlightenment & Expertise..- Leverage the audience to identifying how they could gain enlightenment & expertise understand what you want as an individual, what the team needs are, what the organization strategy is etc.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to focus us on the Enlightenment and Expertise we want ( CI Focused Radar)

Visualization

Change Agent: Visualization

A visual representation to constantly remind us of the focus and the strategic goals is vital in helping us perform the change we want to see.

No ordinary visualization.......needs to help us....- Identify things we want to know/skills we want to learn- Be based on some strategic goals (individual, team, organization)- Identify what expertise we require now, short term and possibly in the future (help us be though leaders/innovators)

Talk to the image how it visualizes visualization methods, use of visualization to find the right visualization to use (strategy or data), what type of visualization you want (convergent or divergent) etc...

How can we visualize these..- Leverage the audience to identifying how they may visualize them (lists, documents, etc.)

Wouldn't it be great if there was a visualization that could provide us with this information in a simple to read and use format ( CI Focused Radar)

Creating Awesomer!

Creating Awesomeness 'What' (Product) that will help with making us awesomer...the CI Focus Radar

So how do we create awesomer...- Improved Focus- Enlightenment & Expertise (with a focus)- Visualisation

Introduction the CI Focused Radar (Product)

Section = About the product, by now we have engagement for awesomer (Why) and interest in the ways to become awesomer (How) now we present the CI Focused Radar (What)

Outline- See what Awesomer looks like- Outline the Radar Dynamics- Describe the Radar Components- Describe more the dynamics are applied

...time to see what Awesomer looks like....

Golden Circle Focus The 'What' will help us become awesomer, in this case the CI Focus Radar

What Awesomer Looks Like

CI Focus Radar = Our Awesomer!

Example of a CI Focus Radar review the radar (Product) and connect it to show how we were going to become awesomer (Process). [History of Radar?]

Radar = used to identify things of importance, come and go, get closer leading to more attention on them we react to them etc.

Outline how the radar will meet our needs (Motivation) by helping to meet the 'awesomer' objectives- Improve Focus- Enlightenment & Expertise- Visualization

The radar shown...- Is focused on improving the individual (me) in a strategic direction using trends and things I am excited by/want to try- Helps to focus on what to learn and how. Adopt in this radar means use in projects at work, trial is in POCs at home or hobby micro-projects- Visualization helps to make decisions (be wary of Maven builds etc....we should be looking to advise against these and transition them) etc.

Show a focus in time this was 6 months ago, this month for example I will update the radar, the focus has changed and the radar is likely to change and reflect that

Discuss Radar cadence and the way it changes and adapts to the individual, team, industry and organizational requirements

Radar Dynamics

Creating the CI Focused Radar Radar Dynamics

The process for creation of the radar (your product) is simple. It is also iterative, as referenced previously (cadence is based on choice of individual, team, organization etc.).

Outline the creation process will discuss the relevant steps in more detail soon...

Steps in the creation process:- Brainstorm (Whiteboard/Sticky notes)- Discuss (As a group/organization) individual = contemplation/may ask others [Personal Improvement discuss next with some colleagues]- Write (Libraries exist for radar creation online/printed) if possible outline some reasons and explain why some things are in and other out- Share (Post it online/On the Wall) if possible share your reasons too- Listen (Feedback users/those who shared it with)

Creation is agnostic by nature its about what works for you...- together etc, via spreadsheet, across time zones etc- do all at once or break down the stages across time- publish publically or internally...it is all really up to you how you create your awesomeness :)

Blips

Radar Components: Blip

An item on the radar is know as a Blip (Radar Terminology) shared language contributes to shared understanding when discussing the radar.

Blips represent an existing/recognised trend or an emergent trend they should NOT be someones pet skill or knowledge area and need to have a strategic relevance based on the goals of the individual, team or organization (the odd fun one may be acceptable....!)

Identify these trends will form the majority of the brainstorm during creation.

Blips as on a real radar may disappear and has more focus placed on it based on its closeness to the center of the radar. (Visual focus aid)

Blips may move between radars to highlight a shift in focus or change in strategies, or even based on changes based on use over the passing of time.

Blips that disappear from the radar may still be important although I tend to focus the radar as FIP (Focus in Progress) limiter. This is open for discussion and even ThoughtWorks are a bit unclear on this.

Quadrants

Radar Components: Quadrants

Quadrants are really no more than groupings in the radar, feel free to identify four groups that you feel your blips represent or could be categorized into once you have decided on the blips (often the blips will naturally group themselves and naming these groups becomes simple).

Quadrants info....- Sometimes Blips can be placed in more than one quadrant, make a decision based on where you feel it fits best- Do provide a visual focus once grouped easily see what focus in a group is- Advice is not to spend waste too much time on deciding on the quadrants let them emerge instead...

Rings

Radar Components: Rings

Rings in contrast to Quadrants are important to the radar

Being from NZ Rings & Awesomeness = The One Ring to Rule Them All slide is required. :)

Rings...- Show the current assessment of a blip used to provide focus and level of expertise expected for individuals, teams, organizations

Typically...[Hold/Assess/Trial/Adopt]- Hold: seriously consider why you are using this tool, it may be an existing trend such as 'UI Testing' etc but we feel better ways exist now- Assess: worth exploring, seeing how this will impact your strategy/organization. Usually do a hobby or POC project individuals who may be interested etc.- Trial: should be getting an understanding of this blip, keep an eye on its impact and understand the need to build on this capabilitiy, encourage use of in real world projects- Adopt: strongly expect people to be using these and be strong in the capabilities should be able to use in real world projects

Some innovative teams have added rings to their radar or changed the names to suit them. A team delivering innovation and training added an Educate ring inside Adopt to express that now they should be educating not others who would like to adopt. - Awesomeness in action ;)

Brainstorm

Radar Dynamics: Brainstorming

Brainstorming is your Blip creation process how you do this is agnostic and each individual, team, organization is likely to do it in different ways. Some may sticky note, some use a spreadsheet, some will whiteboard it.

However you brainstorm the result should be a number of Blips for discussion by the whole creation team in downstream creation steps.

Example of a brainstorm session is shown using sticky notes of an individual radar (mine) which took about 30 minutes

Note: Blips may be added after this step this is just a first cut at getting the ideas for inclusion into the arena.

Some things to consider during brainstorming...- What is the goal of our radar? - what is the strategy below it?- What trends am I aware of or do I see emerging at this time?- Ensure blips represent trends rather than a pet capability unless you can justify is existence in the radar

Discuss/Capture

Radar Dynamic: Discuss/Capture

During the discussion phase you sit around all jolly like this group and discuss what you think should be in your radar, again this is agnostic to if its an individual, team or organization.

As an individual I tend to sort things out and review them myself but no reason why you couldn't get friends/colleagues to help you review and discuss your Blip choices/placements.

Discussions occur around...- Which Blips we have are in or out of the radar ..and why?- Where does the Blip fit in our strategy?- Based on the strategy fit which ring does the Blip fit in?

Outcomes of the Discussion...- A set of Blips to be included in the radar- Blips assigned to the appropriate rings- Blips in groupings/quadrants (which may have emerged during the discussion phase)- Optional: Documentation outlining the discussion and decisions made that may prove useful to external parties.

Publish

Radar Dynamics: Publish

Once you have discussed and captured your Blip information the next step is to Publish your Radar.

How to publish your radar....- Tools exist to create the radar electronically using HTML/JavaScript- Fairly easy to create (with a little technical knowledge)- Could choose to draw your radar (low-tech)

This is your visualization that can be used to focus on meeting strategic goals. Getting it published is one step closer to awesomeness

Where will you publish your radar...- Depends on how you want to share it....

Electronic Easy to share with team and external partiesPrinted Limited distribution, or publication for marketing uses

Share

Radar Dynamic: Share

So you've done the brainstorming, discussed your choices and captured the results got your radar published and now you are to go out and share it with the world, other team members, new team members

Ways to share...- Online, internal/external access- Printed ...internal poster...poster for promotion at public events...publication for sharing with a wider community

Reasons to share your radar...- Onboard team members help them focus on what is important in your team, organization- Share your work with colleagues, get their feedback share ideas- Organization leverage the wider group to meet strategic needs with a focus on emergent trends, looking towards the future- Share with industry colleagues to engage as thought leaders and to let potential clients see how you view the market- Be part of the community respect in the community is often reciprocated with partnerships (less sales pitch, more camaraderie)

Awesomeness In Action

Awesomeness in Practice How to use your Radar to achieve awesomer!

This differs from individual to individual, team to team, etc...

Team/Organization/Industry dynamic:- Share the load of learning (gaining knowledge)- Share your new knowledge with the group- Practice new skills (coding dojos)- Implement the skills (project support)

Individual dynamic:- Hobby projects covering several Blips on the radar- Work with friends to share the workload (help them to help you)- Share with work colleagues look for implementation transfer etc.

Keep an eye out for existing trends you may have missed or emerging trends you think will be important in the future.

Social Awesomeness

Meeting the needs of the individual utilizing intrinsic motivation

Not talking here about social media but about the interactions around the radar Blips.

Encourage people/friends to gain/share knowledge and demonstrate skills in the Blips on the radar often the Blips are peoples interests (bit of a worry if you/they are not interested in something that is so fundamental to your day to day work/existence!)

Individuals will gravitate towards interests and lead the way, encourage them to do so, rather than dictate what areas of the emergent radar to focus on.

Obviously those closer to the center should be focused on by everyone, but maybe not everyone will specialize to the same level. The real benefit here is in the social aspect of the radar. Sharing knowledge and helping each other improve skills

In some ways this becomes a focused social think tank...

'Be Awesomer!' Every Day

Call To Action: 'Be Awesomer!' Every Day

In order to 'Be Awesomer!' (Why) we need to do these things every day, use the Radar (Product) engaging in the process (How)

So....- Create a CI Focused Radar- Use it to provide improved focus and achieve goals based on stategies you are aware of- Continuously Improve yourself, your team and organization- Tell others about your awesome CI Focused Radar (Socialize it)

Talk to the quote...Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out...the focus on strategic goals, the sharing and the help with skills, every little bit of effort every day will result in success

Robert Collier (April 19, 1885 in St. Louis, Missouri - 1950) was an American author of self-help, and New Thought metaphysical books in the 20th century- Book: Secrets of the Ages (1926)

Above all go out and be awesome.

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