I used to let it frustrate me and then I came to accept it. Now, I am becoming increasingly intolerant of it – the attitude that it is up to someone else to make something happen. In our business we see it from all angles. There are the testers that want to use BDD, but “aren’t allowed”, developers that want to pair up but “don’t have the time”, Project Managers that want to visualise the process, but “can’t put things up on the wall” and Product Owners who’d “love to make decisions, but have to go to too many meetings”.
It is said that “bad things happen when good people do nothing”. In a work environment, I feel it’s more appropriate to say that “nothing happens if people who have ideas take no action”. Challenging the status quo, believing that there is another way and having the courage to try new things is the only way to make a difference. Waiting for change is a long, frustrating and unsatisfying game to play. At least if you are willing to have an opinion and lead change you have an interesting time – if not always a successful one.
One of the functions we perform at Agility in Mind is giving people the confidence to grow – making it safe for people to speak up, try new things – and sometimes fail – as well as be original. We encourage it. We see the results, we know it’s worth it.
Every idea is an opportunity – and pursuing those opportunities is the only way to learn and grow, evolve and make things better.
― Winston Churchill
