No Nonsense Leadership

In this episode, we talk to Rich Mironov about increasing your influence with executives. We discuss organisational politics and explain how power, stories and alliances are crucial in shaping company dynamics. Rich describes the disconnect between business and technical teams and the importance of expressing arguments in the language of money. He also provides strategies for product leaders to succeed, stressing the need for demonstrating and selling achievements. Join us to learn how to navigate corporate politics and enhance your influence within executive circles.

In this episode, John Cutler talks about surviving the current tech environment. We discuss how layoffs and blame destroy trust, create fear and conflict and stop people from providing the feedback that leaders need to make good decisions. We discuss whether our workplaces are a meritocracy or highly charged political environments. And we explore survival strategies such as going with the flow, picking your battles, building alliances and creating narratives. Join us to learn how to navigate corporate politics more effectively. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Contact Murray on LinkedIn or via email

In this episode, we announce the departure of the most awesome of awesomeness co-host, Shane Gibson, and introduce Donna Spencer as the new chief joke cracking co-host. Donna describes her experience as a product designer and user experience researcher. Shane reflects on what he's learned about agile, product development and leadership from over a hundred interviews with international experts. Murray's discusses his ongoing commitment to delivering deep, pragmatic, and valuable insights on agile product development and leadership while avoiding the shallow, rambling and self promotional content you often get at conferences and other podcasts. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Send cards, flowers or money to Shane on LinkedIn shagility or Murray via email The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Joanna Rothman about agile project management. We critique fake corporate agile and discuss the drawbacks of offshoring your development work. We talk about the importance of continuous feedback, continuous delivery and cross-functional teams and we discuss project charters, budgets, scaling, and the need to focus on outcomes rather than deliverables. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Johanna via LinkedIn or over at https://www.jrothman.com Contact Shane on LinkedIn shagility or Murray via email You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/agile-project-management-with-johanna-rothman/ The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Jurgen Appelo about the crisis in the agile community. We explore how the agile job market has changed with diminishing roles for agile coaches and scrum masters. And we discuss what people can do now that the agile consulting and training gold rush is over. We talk about the poor quality of agile practices in organizations claiming to have done agile. And the need to improve further, to get the benefits available. And we talk about the evolution and rebranding of agile practices and the impact of AI on the industry. Gain valuable insights into the future of agile, the importance of adapting to change and strategies for sustaining relevance in a shifting market. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Jurgen via LinkedIn or over at https://unfix.work/ Contact Shane on LinkedIn shagility or Murray via email You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/the-crisis-in-agile-with-jurgen-appelo/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with William Malek about the Haier operating model. Haier, a Chinese appliance giant, transitioned from a failing state-owned enterprise to a highly profitable publicly owned organisation with over 5,700 micro enterprises and $50 billion in revenue. We explain how Haier uses an internal marketplace to allow microenterprises to trade goods and services with each other, based on a value added mechanism and smart contracts. An approach based on the philosophy of RenDanHeYi, where managers release control and support teams to achieve their potential to create valuable solutions within an open environment. William makes a compelling case for the benefits of a decentralized agile organizational model in driving high innovation and performance. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with William via LinkedIn or over at http://microteams.net/ or at https://www.desirablefutures.group/ Contact Shane on LinkedIn shagility or Murray via email You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/the-haier-model-with-william-malek/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Steve Spear, author of a High Velocity Edge, Wiring the Winning Organization and Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System. We discuss how good leaders create a system that makes it easy for people to do quality work when and where it's needed by continually asking, what's the problem and how can I help? Steve explains how to use a developmental leadership approach with collaborative problem solving, workflow visualization and iterative improvement to become a high performing organization with an unbeatable competitive edge. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Steve via LinkedIn or over at https://seetosolve.com/ or at https://mitsloan.mit.edu/faculty/academic-groups/system-dynamics/about-us Contact Shane on LinkedIn shagility or Murray via email You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/high-performance-organisations-with-steve-spear/ The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Gene Kim, leader of the Enterprise Technology Leadership Conference and author of the Phoenix and Unicorn Projects. Gene describes how DevOps research shows that excellent socio-technical leadership is critical to team success and failure. He explains how technical leaders can dramatically increase team effectiveness by improving the organisational architecture and wiring to support independence of action, rapid feedback and simplification while maintaining stability and security. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with gene via LinkedIn or over at https://itrevolution.com/product/enterprise-technology-leadership-summit-las-vegas-2024/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/wiring-the-winning-organisation-with-gene-kim/ The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Arnold Stroobach about the Buurtzorg organization, which decentralized its management and administration to small cross-functional self-managed teams that deliver in-home medical care. Buurtzorg is the Netherlands largest provider of home care with 16,000 clinical staff in more than 1500 local self-managing teams supported by only 50 admin people and 45 coaches at the company's headquarters. Buurtzorg's model allows the organization to deliver health care at 40% less than traditional service providers with much better health outcomes and client satisfaction. Arnold explains Buurtzorg's origins methods, and success. Their team structure, responsibilities and roles. And the potential for other organizations to decentralize management to deliver services much more efficiently and effectively at scale. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Chris via LinkedIn or over at https://www.svpg.com Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/the-buurtzorg-model-with-arnold-stroobach/ The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Chris Jones from the Silicon Valley Product Group about the product operating model, emphasising the importance of cross-functional agile product teams. He shares insights on transitioning to a product model. The value of rapid experimentation, product leadership and common pitfalls. And he discusses successful examples of product transformations at Adobe Cloud and Train Line in Europe. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Chris via LinkedIn or over at https://www.svpg.com Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/transforming-to-the-product-model-with-chris-jones/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Woody Zuill about mob programming. Woody explains the concept of mob programming where a cross-functional software development team focuses on completing one feature at a time. Woody describes how mobbing has increased the effectiveness of development teams he's worked with by 10 times while rapidly increasing team learning, capability and skills. Tune in to learn about the practical implementation of mobbing techniques to improve your product development. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Woody via LinkedIn or over at https://woodyzuill.com/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/mob-programming-and-software-teaming-with-woody-zuill/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Joel Tosi and Dion Stewart about Dojo's. Dojo's are a six week immersive learning experience where teams learn and practice new ways of working on real work with skilled coaches. We discuss the structure and implementation of Dojos, chartering, coaching dynamics, and frequent feedback loops. We emphasize the challenges and anti-patterns that can emerge, such as treating Dojos as bootcamps or lacking stakeholder support. Finally, Joel and Dion offer insights into the future of Dojos and their potential for building capability and driving organization change. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Joel via LinkedIn or Dion via LinkedIn over at https://www.dojoandco.com/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/the-dojo-with-joel-tosi-and-dion-stewart/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they discuss product management with John Cutler, famous for his newsletter The Beautiful Mess. We dive into the purpose of product management as a driver of profitable growth. And we discuss how to use the north star framework to align your organisation around common goals. We examine how to use product roadmaps to communicate and prioritize plans and discuss how critical it is to be an open, honest, and effective leader. And finally we look at whether agile is critical or useless in product management. Join us as we uncover the insights and best practices product managers need to be more effective. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with John via LinkedIn or over at https://cutlefish.substack.com/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/product-management-with-john-cutler/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they discuss UX research with Dr. Nick Fine. Nick explains what to expect from a UX researcher, how to do user research well, and the challenges that researchers have to overcome to obtain valid results. Whether you're a product manager, designer, or developer this episode is packed with actionable insights, real world examples and expert tips to enhance your understanding of UX research and its role in creating high value, digital products and services. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Nick via LinkedIn or over at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-wBqOhrpbk Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/ux-research-with-nick-fine/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they discuss the Vanguard method with Ibbi Hussain, one of the founding architects of this revolutionary approach to organisation change. Ibi describes how the Vanguard method uses systems thinking, service design, and occupational psychology to make profound improvements to call center performance. Join us as we navigate through the philosophy of change, the importance of leadership. And practical insights into implementing sustainable improvement within organisations. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Ibbi via LinkedIn or over at https://beyondcommandandcontrol.com/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/the-vanguard-method-with-ibrar-hussain/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Welcome to our 100th episode. In this episode, we talk about what we've learnt from our guests about agile, product development and leadership. We discuss what the podcast is about and why we started it. We unpack our critical take on fake agile and discuss agile leadership and product development. Join us as we take a deep dive into the insights, experiences and conversations that have shaped our podcast ovr the last 99 episodes. And here's to another hundred episodes of cutting through the nonsense and bringing you the advice you need to succeed. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/episode-100-a-retrospective/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Evan Leybourn from the Business Agility Institute about business agility. We discuss how to define and measure business agility, examples of agile organisations, and the struggle with traditional bureaucratic models. We delve into the different types of leadership, the nature of internal cultural and political changes, and the challenges faced by organisations in adopting and implementing agility. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Evan via LinkedIn or over at https://businessagility.institute/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/business-agility-with-evan-leybourn/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Ron Westrum about how organisational culture drives innovation and disaster. We discuss generative, bureaucratic and pathological cultures, using real-world examples from NASA, Boeing and others. This episode highlights the importance of leadership integrity, openness, honesty, the free flow of information, and a mission-focused approach to achieving organisational goals. Listen for insights on identifying and promoting a generative culture, dealing with bad news, the role of technical maestros, and much more. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Ron via LinkedIn or over at https://itrevolution.com/articles/westrums-organizational-model-in-tech-orgs/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/0098-innovation-and-disaster-with-ron-westrum/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they chat with Jack Skeels about agile for digital and marketing agencies. Jack advocates for reducing the managerial overhead in organisations to promote productivity and improve communication. We discuss common hurdles in agile implementations. The value of a manager as a sports coach. The importance of scoping the work. Over managing and how real change must start from the top. This episode is full of practical advice and critical insights into organisation dynamics. This conversation is especially useful for those seeking to implement agile in a more holistic, efficient, and outcome oriented way in a service provider. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Jack via LinkedIn or over at https://agencyagile.com/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/unmanaged-with-jack-skeels/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data

Join Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson as they discuss objectives and key results with Adrian Howard. Adrian explains how OKR's can be used as a strategic instrument for aligning goals within your organisation. We walk through common pitfalls and misconceptions emphasizing the importance of using OKR's focused on outcomes rather than outputs. We discuss the potential for using OKR's with vendors. The idea of paired metrics. And how OKR's can serve as indicators of underlying problems within your organisations culture and structure. Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast app: | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | PlayerFM | Amazon Music | Listen Notes | TuneIn | Audible | Podchaser | Deezer | Podcast Addict | Connect with Adrian via LinkedIn or over at https://quietstars.com/lax2020/ Contact Murray via email or Shane on LinkedIn shagility. You can read the podcast transcript at: https://agiledata.io/podcast/no-nonsense-agile-podcast/okrs-with-adrian-howard/#read The No Nonsense Agile Podcast is sponsored by: Simply Magical Data