This document discusses the philosophy, forces, and dynamics that influence the adoption of lean processes. It provides guidance for lean influencers in three key areas: 1. The philosophy of lean emphasizes respect for humanity, processes, and team dynamics. Successful adoption requires a commitment to continuous improvement. 2. External forces like an organization's context, uniqueness, contradictions, and natural equilibrium must be respected. Finding leverage within these forces is key. 3. Internal team dynamics like flexibility, visibility, trust, and recognizing anomalies can enable success if the influencer maintains a beginner's mindset, courage, and a commitment to learning.

1. the lean influencer’s mantra
influencing the understanding of lean adopters’ philosophy, forces & dynamics
(c) INFLUENCE Contact: Siraj@influencecorp.com (202-415-2138)

2. today
✤ today’s goal = influence the
team’s appreciation of the
philosophy, forces and
dynamics of lean adoption
✤ philosophy of lean process
improvement.
✤ forces influencing lean process
improvement.
✤ dynamics influencing the
success of the initiative.

3. mantra
✤ what is the “mantra” for the
Lean Influencing team?
✤ mantra = man + tra = “mind” +
“liberation“ and “this moment
here and now”.
✤ the Lean Influencing team
wants to be there a moment
before the entire organization.
✤ in fact, every moment is an
opportunity to succeed or fail

4. introduction
SIRAJ - process improvement influencer, observer and student

5. Intro to Siraj
✤ 19 years experience with
process improvement
consulting and coaching.
✤ excellent track record of
coaching leaders and teams on
process improvement (Kanban,
Agile, Scrum, CMMI, SOX)
✤ broad and deep (varied
domain / functional)
experience.

6. elemica
lean coach - product development

7. shoretel
lean agile coach - business and technology initiatives

8. winn dixie
process coach for business and technology initiatives

9. winn dixie
agile coach for pmo - business and technology initiatives

10. Hakuna Matata
Process and Team Coach

11. philosophy
the philosophy of agile adoption

12. respect
✤ all process improvement styles
and techniques are about
respect for humanity.
✤ and
✤ respect for the forces.
✤ and
✤ respect for team dynamics.

13. dynamics
team dynamics that enable success of the process improvement initiative

14. continuous
✤ nature’s own continuous
improvement is our guide.
✤ it is almost as if continuously
improving processes is the only
aim of process improvement.
✤ every day is a new day for
process improvement.
✤ it is the journey and the
destination.

15. clean slate
✤ the no-baggage policy of the
agile influencer
✤ clean slate adds to the
commitment to each team
member and creates the
emotional heartbeat of the
team.

16. flexibility
✤ rigidity is the enemy!!
✤ create a team that can have
learning conversations, share
differences, withstand stress
✤ and yet unite and move
forward
✤ authentically!!

17. visibility
✤ the processes that become
visible provide best candidates
for process improvement.
✤ agile influencers strive to
provide visibility of their own
processes to set the tone for
visibility for the organization.

18. trust ...but
verify
✤ In GOD we trust, every one
else bring data!

19. craftsmanship

20. courage
✤ courage (plus grace)
✤ allows the influencers to face
facts, realize concerns, develop
solutions.
✤ influencers need courage in
their heart, mind and soul
✤ to be courageous and yet
caring.

21. grace

22. emphasis

23. swarming

24. celebrate

25. answers
✤ always lie with the team.
✤ when in doubt “ask the team”.

26. recognition

27. reality

28. anomalies
✤ anomalies test the boundaries
of comfort for the organization.
✤ they stretch the organization’s
limits for process improvement
one day, one team, one
individual at a time.
✤ they are also pioneers
✤ and
✤ nomads!

29. nomads

30. pioneers

31. supplication
✤ the agile influencer reaches out
to a greater source of energy
✤ plugs in to the larger self
✤ offers supplication

32. atrophy

33. forces
forces to respect before, during and after the process improvement initiative

34. context
✤ knowing the context helps
✤ economy, industry,
competitors, divisions,
finances, strategy, influence
✤ culture is context.
✤ the team is a subset of the
context.
✤ context, context, context.

35. uniqueness
✤ every leader and team and
their process improvement
opportunity is unique.
✤ the challenge is to recognize
this uniqueness
✤ enjoy the moment before
starting process improvement
✤ you will never be the same
again

36. contradictions
✤ process improvement
initiatives explore the
contradictions that make the
organization a living organism.
✤ contradictions are neither good
nor bad.
✤ they are just present.
✤ contradictions provide
“leverage” for process
improvement initiatives.

37. leverage
✤ The leverage exists within this
uniqueness.
✤ finding this leverage is the
challenge.
✤ the agile influencer’s mantra
provides deep insight.
✤ but you still have to find it in
your unique context.

38. mystery

39. delay
✤ delay exists naturally in every
context.
✤ actions / events of today have
long term consequences.
✤ sustainability requires attention
to delay.

40. feedback

41. balance
✤ the context seeks natural
balance and a shared vision.
✤ always!
✤ equilibrium triumphs over all
change initiatives.
✤ “agile” is a disruption of this
natural equilibrium unless
agile also seeks true balance.

42. heartbeat
✤ the living organism that is your
organization, has a natural
heartbeat and a natural pulse.
✤ recognizing this cadence is
essential for the agile
influencer.

43. consequences

44. learning

45. safety
✤ safety provides the net for
leaders, followers and teams to
explore process improvement.
✤ the level of safety in an
organization is the ceiling level
of process improvement.
✤ especially for the agile
influencer

46. the influencer’s mantra
applying the lean influencer’s mantra

47. Gratitude
Thank You and Best of Luck
Siraj@sirajuddin.com / 202-415-2138