Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches

Episode Summary: "Co-creation As The Transformative Approach To Agile Change" featuring Aliona (Alena) Zapanovici

Release Date: November 27, 2024
Host: Vasco Duarte, Agile Coach, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Product Owner
Guest: Aliona (Alena) Zapanovici

1. Introduction

In this insightful episode, host Vasco Duarte welcomes Aliona Zapanovici to discuss the pivotal role of co-creation in driving agile change within teams. The conversation delves into real-world experiences, challenges faced during change initiatives, and effective strategies to foster collaborative environments.

2. Aliona's Perspective on Change

Aliona opens the discussion with a profound reflection on the nature of change:

"Nothing is permanent except change. To me, it's a reminder that change is a constant and without it, we can't grow or improve."
— Aliona Zapanovici [01:09]

She emphasizes that while change is essential for growth, it cannot be forced without understanding and involving the team.

3. Recognizing and Understanding Resistance

Aliona shares her experience with resistance during a process improvement initiative:

"When you try to push change, it often meets with huge resistance. And instead of making progress, people spend their energy resisting it."
— Aliona Zapanovici [01:09]

She initially perceived the pushback as a natural reaction but soon realized that enforcing change without team involvement was counterproductive.

4. Shifting to a Co-Creation Approach

The conversation transitions to the importance of involving the team in the change process. Aliona recounts how she adjusted her approach after recognizing her initial missteps:

"I started listening to them and co-creating the change, the improvements, and together designing the new processes. It became an opportunity for us to collaborate rather than something that felt forced upon them."
— Aliona Zapanovici [04:17]

This shift from a directive to a collaborative approach significantly reduced resistance and fostered a sense of ownership among team members.

5. Techniques for Successful Change

Aliona outlines several key techniques that have proven effective in her experience:

• Listen First, Act Later: Prioritize understanding the team's pain points, motivations, and concerns before proposing changes.

  "To listen first and act later before even proposing any changes."
  — Aliona Zapanovici [04:17]

• Co-Create Solutions: Involve the team in designing solutions to ensure they feel invested in the outcomes.

  "Co-creating solutions not only reduces resistance but also gives them ownership."
  — Aliona Zapanovici [04:17]

• Implement Incremental Changes: Start with small, manageable changes rather than overwhelming the team with large-scale shifts.

  "Change in small increments instead of one big change."
  — Aliona Zapanovici [04:17]

• Celebrate Wins: Recognize and celebrate the positive outcomes of changes to maintain motivation and momentum.

  "When the team sees the positive outcomes of the changes they helped create, it motivates them to continue pushing for improvement."
  — Aliona Zapanovici [04:17]

6. Building Trust for Co-Creation

A cornerstone of successful co-creation is trust. Aliona discusses strategies to build and maintain trust within teams:

"It's all about building trust. If you trust your team, if you trust that if you voice your opinion, something will actually happen. And that is transparency."
— Aliona Zapanovici [06:42]

She highlights transparency and the celebration of wins as critical factors in fostering an environment where team members feel safe to express their ideas and contribute to change initiatives.

7. Practical Applications and Examples

Vasco Duarte adds practical insights into initiating co-creation processes:

"Start with a problem that they want to solve... even though the long-term change might be something completely different."
— Vasco Duarte [09:05]

He suggests beginning with immediate, tangible problems to demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborative approaches, thereby modeling the desired behavior and encouraging team participation.

Aliona concurs, reinforcing the importance of addressing current issues collaboratively to pave the way for broader, long-term changes.

8. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a mutual appreciation for the shared insights on leading change through co-creation. Aliona and Vasco agree that empowering teams by involving them in the change process not only mitigates resistance but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and ownership.

Vasco teases the next episode, highlighting the ongoing journey of Scrum Masters in defining and achieving success through continuous learning and adaptation.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Change: Recognize that change is a constant and essential for growth.
• Avoid Forcing Change: Forcing change without team involvement leads to resistance.
• Co-Creation is Crucial: Involving the team in designing and implementing changes fosters ownership and reduces pushback.
• Build Trust: Transparency and celebrating successes build trust, enabling open communication and collaboration.
• Start Small: Implement incremental changes to demonstrate effectiveness and build momentum.
• Listen Actively: Prioritize understanding the team's needs and concerns before proposing solutions.

This episode offers valuable insights for Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches aiming to lead effective change initiatives by fostering collaborative and trusting team environments.

Stay Tuned:
Tomorrow’s episode, "Success Thursday," will explore defining success for the Scrum Master role, including tips on measuring progress and fostering continuous improvement. Don't miss it!

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