Speaking Truth to Power, Continued
Continued from:
http://www.6thsenseanalytics.com/blog/posts/702/
Principles Revisited in a Metric-Driven & Self-Directed Context:
1) Know more about the issue than anyone else in the organization
Instead the ENTIRE organization has general visibility into the issue. There should be general consensus on its existence and many should have knowledge. The key challenge usually becomes determining what to do next?
2) Grow a small number of like-minded allies
Very little need, as this should occur organically as the inquisitive nature of the team increases with the metrics visibility. Like-mindedness comes from examining, analyzing and changing based on metrics counsel.
3) Initiate a grassroots effort to begin educating a wider base of colleagues
If anything, you can initiate wider engagement by brainstorming and analysis around root causes of the issue and perhaps even looking for trends supporting change or adaptations that might work to resolve it�much more quickly and proactively than trying to make a case and garner support.
4) Practice before going on stage
Forget practice and forget the "stage." The stage is your metric-driven organization and everyone is a player in this production. Not only a player, but an engaged, proactive, inquisitive, and empowered player!
5) Make sure your goal is to help the organization rather than to attack individuals
One of the neat things about letting data and metrics drive the discussion is that it naturally becomes more of a systemic discussion than an individual one. You won't (or shouldn't) attack any individual whether it be team member (us) or stakeholder (them), both are unnecessary and inappropriate.
6) Claim your personal power
There is something wonderful about metrics data�particularly in the Metrics-Driven team. It sort of speaks for itself. Now some can chose to ignore it or not take it seriously, but the team will generally detect and adapt. Instead of personal power, it becomes team-based power.
7) Timing is critical. You need to choose an effective time to speak truth to power
Timing IS indeed critical, but not in this context. In the metrics-drive context, you want to see performance in REAL-TIME. Then make immediate, team-based, trend-based, adjustments within you efforts. Then LOOK for effects of the change and any need for adjustments.
8) Be respectful
Of course. But also be pragmatic and insightful and call it the way you see it.
9) Offer options, including the "do nothing" option
Options should be driven incrementally from the analysis and your ability to adjust and check results. This should drive some courage into the organization that circumvents the "do nothing" option. Metrics-driven organizations should never "do nothing"!
10) Be humble and egoless
Ok. Perhaps I can buy some of that. But adding to it, the team should be inquisitive, ever vigilant, data and metrics driven, incrementally forward focused, looking for insights, empowered to make changes, always checking for the results of change and adapting, and above all—courageous in making bold, metrics-driven changes.
I certainly want to give all due respect to Norm Kerth, his work and this article. Of course I'm not saying that these situations don't occur in today's technology teams. We are always dealing with POWER and there is always the potential for danger. However, instead of focusing our strategies towards that reality, I'd rather we invest in becoming much more metric-driven and team-driven in our interactions with our people, processes, and projects. I'm guessing that Norm might agree.
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