Re: Re: Do C-Level managers, and business drivers really need to know about XP?

Hi Steve,

 > > > I have always been very proud of my management style and
 > > > ability.  This particular gig has had me stumped because I
 > > > ran up against a case where my natural tendencies and
 > > > instincts weren't enough.
 > >
 > > Enough for what?
 >
 > Enough for the level of success that I had become accustomed
 > to.

Do you mean that you are accustomed to being more successful as a 
manager?  Or in other roles?

Which aspects of success are you experiencing, and which are you 
not experiencing?  Are people enjoying what they're doing?  Are 
they doing the best they can?  Are they growing?  Are the 
customers happy?

 > > What is preventing you from getting more rapid feedback?
 >
 > That's a tough question.  I have asked for feedback rather
 > continuously, and get little in the way of response.  Of course
 > that may be the feedback.....

Yes, "little response" is feedback.  Hard to interpret, though.

How are you asking for feedback?  What, specifically, are you 
saying and doing to request feedback?

A few things that often work for me.  First is something that 
Roger Harrison calls /issue diagnosis/ (The Collected Papers of 
Roger Harrison).  Ugly name, but it's a nice, structured format 
for giving and receiving feedback.  The idea is for the giver to 
focus on "what would help me to be more effective in my job," 
then say (or write) what you would like the receiver to:
     - Do more, or do better, or start doing.
     - Do less or stop doing?
     - Keep on doing?

Harrison invites people to do this in writing.  I usually do it 
verbally, but some people may be more comfortable offering 
feedback by making notes.  One strong rule:  No rebuttal allowed.

Another feedback technique I like is Temperature Reading.  This 
is more of a group thing than one-on-one.  The idea is to offer 
people an opportunity to express certain kinds of information 
that they don't often have a forum to express:
     - Appreciations:  What has someone done that I appreciate?
     - Puzzles:  What puzzles or confuses me?
     - Complaints with recommendations.
     - New information.
     - Hopes and wishes.

I have a short article about Temperature Reading on my web site: 
  http://www.dhemery.com/articles.html

My friend Jean McLendon (http://www.satirsystems.com/) adds 
another item:  Ventilations and Vexations.  She says, "Sometimes 
people just need to stamp their feet and bitch about something."

Dale

-- 
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:    http://www.dhemery.com



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