#101: Fostering Sustainable Change with Leor Herzfeld

#101: Fostering Sustainable Change with Leor Herzfeld

Author: Mountain Goat Software June 5, 2024 Duration: 31:06
Join Brian as he discusses the crucial elements of sustainable agility with Leor Herzfeld, Agile Coach and CEO of Integral Agile. Dive into the human side of sustainability and discover the 14 dimensions essential for creating a culture that truly engages. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner sits down with Leor Herzfeld to unpack the concept of sustainable agility from a deeply human perspective. They explore why external changes often fail and how a focus on individual health—encompassing safety, autonomy, mastery, purpose, and accountability—can lead to genuine, lasting transformation within organizations. Leor shares practical tools for leaders looking to foster an environment that supports continuous agile practices and nurtures employee engagement. Listen in as they discuss how to achieve a resilient and thriving workplace. Listen Now to Discover: [1:01] - Join Brian as he explores the vital role of sustainability in Agile methodologies with expert guest, CEO of Integral Agile and author of the upcoming book Reimagine Transformation, Leor Herzfeld. [2:09] - Leor delves into the meaning of human sustainability, explaining its significance and impact. [4:33] - Brian discusses the inherent resistance to change, noting that even positive transformations require adjustments. [5:22] - Leor poses the shift from thinking about only the holistic, healthy Agile culture and team to focusing on a healthy individual. [7:14] - Brian and Leor explore what sustainability and sustainable pace practices entail in real-world scenarios. [10:03] - Leor examines the reasons behind employees' lack of engagement in their organizations and work environments. [11:49] - Leor discusses 14 key aspects of individual health that are essential for creating a sustainable and healthy environment at both individual and organizational levels. [14:03] - Leor shares a tool to assess the Agile health of your team or organization. [14:53] - Enhance your team's performance with Mountain Goat Software’s specialized private training, including exclusive classes for leaders that accommodate their busy schedules. Dive into training that promises to elevate your team and organizational health, ensuring success across the board. You can email the Mountain Goat Software team for detailed information. [16:43] - Leor shares how he measures the sustainability and health of the teams and organizations he works with. [18:46] - Brian highlights a frequent issue encountered in classes: Agile teams feeling unsupported by their organization's culture. [22:27] - Leor delves into the evolving landscape of the Agile world, exploring how shifts can foster greater organizational support and, thereby, sustainable environments. [28:58] - Brian shares a big thank you to Leor for joining him on the show. [29:52] - If you’d like to continue this discussion, join the Agile Mentors Community. You get a year of free membership into that site by taking any class with Mountain Goat Software, where we get right into the good stuff and have some deep discussions. We'd love to see you in one of Mountain Goat Software's classes. You can find the schedule here. [30:17] - We invite you to subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast. If you have feedback or a great idea for an episode of the show, send us an email. We can’t wait to hear! References and resources mentioned in the show: Leor Herzfeld Integral Agile Integral Agile Health and Happiness Assessment Reimagine Transformation by Leor Herzfeld, David Hersey, Ben Williams, and Julio Pizarro Organizational Transformation: A Case Study For Creating A Cross-Functional Team Of Teams (Art) Aligned To A Value Stream Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink Agile For Leaders Mountain Goat Software’s Private Training Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Join the Agile Mentors Community Want to get involved?

Hosted by Mountain Goat Software, the Agile Mentors Podcast is a conversation for anyone involved in or curious about agile practices. It’s a space where the philosophy meets the practical, moving beyond theory to tackle the real-world challenges teams face every day. You’ll hear discussions that dig into the nuances of Scrum, Kanban, and other frameworks, exploring how they adapt to different environments and scale. The dialogue often focuses on the human side of change-how to foster better collaboration, navigate organizational hurdles, and cultivate a genuinely agile mindset rather than just going through the motions. This podcast serves as a resource for continuous learning, whether you're troubleshooting a specific sprint issue or looking for fresh perspectives to reinvigorate your approach. Each episode aims to provide actionable insights and thoughtful reflection, making the complex landscape of modern software development feel more accessible and manageable. Tune in for honest talk from experienced practitioners who understand that agility is a journey, not a destination.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Agile Mentors Podcast from Mountain Goat Software
Podcast Episodes
#159:  Is Scrum Really Too Many Meetings? with Lance Dacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:09
“Too many meetings” is one of the most common complaints in Scrum teams, but is it really the meetings, or what’s (not) happening in them? In this episode, Brian and Lance Dacy dig into the events of Scrum to uncover wha…
#158: Should You Skip the Sprint Retrospective? with Mike Cohn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:18
Is your team dreading retrospectives, or skipping them altogether? Mike Cohn joins Brian Milner to unpack what’s really going wrong (and how to fix it) so retros don’t just take up time… they actually make your team bett…
#157: What Teams Are Struggling With Right Now with Cort Sharp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:27
Scrum isn’t new, but the questions teams are asking about it are evolving. In this episode, Brian and Cort Sharp compare notes on what they're hearing in class, in the community, and behind the scenes. Overview In this e…
#155: Preparing for Interviews the Agile Way with Tali Shlafer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:32
Even the most capable professionals can struggle in interviews. In this episode, Brian and job interview coach Tali Shlafer break down why, and what to do instead. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, B…
#154: The Underpowered PO with Barnaby Golden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:26
Join Brian and Barnaby Golden as they dig into a surprisingly common roadblock in Agile teams, the underpowered product owner, and how it quietly derails decision-making, flow, and team momentum. Overview In this episode…
#153: Getting Real Buy-In for Agile Transformation with Scott Dunn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
Join Brian and Scott Dunn as they unpack what “buy-in” actually means and what it takes to move from surface-level support to genuine commitment in this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast. Overview In this episode of t…
#152: The Five Pillars of Real Agile Improvement with Mike Cohn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:31
Join Brian and Mike Cohn as they unpack the five essential pillars that take Agile from “just the motions” to meaningful, measurable impact. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at their revamped course built for real team…
Pressing Pause: A Summer Break and What’s Coming Next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09
We’re taking our own advice and hitting pause to recharge this July. While we’re off the mic, revisit past episodes packed with timeless insights and conversations you may have missed. Overview This week, we're pressing…