posted 6th August 2024
Intro
We are going through a transformation as we need to change our culture!
I am pretty sure a lot of us have either heard or shared this message in the past. Fast forward a year or two and nothing has changed apart from maybe a new technology or two in place and the re-badging of a few events and practices. Peel back the layers and it's practically the same. Or possibly worse!
With true leadership our values are clear. As leaders, these values are clear from our actions and act as an easy decision filter for our followers to leverage and start to change their practices and processes.
How we act and what we do brings our values to life. These actions help catalyse the desired changes from our teams. For these values to become the easy decision filters for our people to use, we need to lead with these values on display. These are clear signals we can demonstrate that can massively affect and evolve our culture.
Dance Fever
Video provided by the great folk at Dancing Fever
From the boardroom to the dancefloor
So bring this to life for me Matt.
We can see this demonstrated when we look at a beautiful flowing dance being executed on a dance floor. There are two folks in a collaborative partnership. However, one is a leader and one a follower. So how does the follower know which moves to execute? Quite simply, the lead gives signals. None of these are verbal, as there would not be the time to relay the messages this way. Obviously, the environment has a part to play, the music provides the pace and rhythm but which movement to execute comes from the lead. So how does the lead give clear intent? They give direction through signals with their frame and their hand movements. They invite the movement but don't force it. They invite the follower to execute a move. If they are too forceful the dance looks awkward. If the follower does not pick up the signal, they adjust but keep the flow.
Yeah but that is just dancing Matt. How does this translate to leadership in my organisation? Let's look at it:
- The environment (the music) is easily translated as your working environment. The cultural feeling, the pace of the work, how people feel and act.
- The signals are your actions and how your values influence your actions. How you act directly impacts how your followers act. If you say one thing but do another, your signals are mixed.
- If there is no clear vision then your teams will be all over the place not moving in harmony. Teams working in harmony with shared and clear intent provides the organisation with flow.
If we want different Outcomes we need to change the Practices. To change these Practices, we need to change the Culture. And to change the Culture we need to lead with our Values. So as a leader, we need to lead with values!
Isn't this just the world according to Matt?
In discussing with Alex Hales-Davies Co-Owner and Director of Dancing Fever, Alex mentions "When accepting an invitation to dance with someone you are both accepting the fact that you both have to be in the present moment.
You have to fully accept and trust your own abilities to be able to give your best to your partner and have trust in them to do their best with their capability in the moment.
As a leader on the dancefloor, you are responsible for clearly indicating and inviting what the structure of the movements/patterns are and then accepting that it is up to the follower to execute without any force, allowing them to be able to follow through creating synchronicity and connection on the dance floor.
There are no bosses and minions... There is no battle of wills on the dancefloor! It's full of open communication and glorious possibilities with a magical flow of energy when it is done effectively"
Chris Thomas, an experienced Agile Coach and Salsa Dance Instructor added, "When leading on a dancefloor, I will invite my partner into a movement. This invitation needs to be clear, confident, and will have a goal in mind: whether that be a single move or included as part of a sequence.
The important part is that this is only an invitation, not a force or command. I don't know where my dance partner is, or everything about their situation. They may have a shoulder injury for instance, so that very basic turn (from my view) may cause them a lot of pain. They may not know a particular style of salsa and, therefore, have no idea what the lead means. It is then my role as a lead to take my partner's interpretation and roll with it so the dance can keep flowing. It is often in these different interpretations of my invitation that the best dance moves emerge!
This is how I coach Agile with individuals and teams. I give a clear indication of a potential action, confident that it will help through evidence and experience. It is then up to them to decide if this is the right next step for them. I have the advantage in a work setting to be able to take the time to understand the context of the people I am helping, but I can never get the full picture. This is why if my suggestion does not land with them, we can work together to create an alternative that does work: no forcing injured shoulders and better solutions that work for everyone."
In Summary
If we look at the picture, there are two folks. One a leader, and one follower. Both are moving in harmony with a clear intent, collaborating to create something awesome. How good would it be to have your teams working in with harmonious flow to deliver your desired outcomes?
Do you struggle with changing the culture of your department or organisation? Do you want to see flow but aren't getting the results you want? If you find yourself in this position then please get in touch. I'd love to have a chat with you about what steps you may want to consider.