the missing link of agile: feedback

The missing link of AgileFeedback

Pawel Badenski

I could be talking about..

Brakujący element Agile, Paweł Badeński

“what you did well, and what you could do better”

technique


Feedback sandwich


Annual Performance Review


But...


Two rules of feedback

1. Feedback is always subjective.2. Emotions are important.


Threat vs reward


Let’s go deeper


Emotions and logic

LPU

EPU

Triggering the Lizard is easy


“You should be writing more tests”


“I can show you a better solution”


“You could try speaking up more

during the meetings”


“You always break the build”


What happens whenthe Spock speaks with the Lizard?


ExerciseWhat sentence when said by someone

makes you sad, angry, annoyed, or trigger other negative emotion?


LUCY

JOHN

The code that you’re committing has very long methods, and I find it difficult to understand.

Your code is difficult to understand to me and I don’t complain.

LUCY

JOHN

I use TDD and I’m sure my code is well tested, and implemented according to simple design principles.

Are you saying my code is bad, and your code is great?

LUCY

JOHN

No, I’m not saying my code is great. I’m saying I can show how I’m using TDD to make the code look better.

I’ve been a programmer for 6 years and I don’t need TDD.

Discussion (in pairs)

You learnt about:● Threat vs reward mechanism● LPU (the Spock) and EPU (the Lizard)● the Spock and the Lizard

How do these relate to your past experiences?


How to calm down the Lizard?


Calming down (made in Google)

Siberian North Railroad technique● Stop● Breath● Notice● Reflect● Respond

Exercise your “emotions muscle”

● for the least - mindfully pause● replay difficult conversations afterwards

and apply Siberian North Railroad technique● once the muscle is well exercised, this

process will happen in a matter of a second


Exercise (one more time)What sentence when said by someone

makes you sad, angry, annoyed, or trigger other negative emotion?



You learnt about:● Siberian North Railroad technique

How does this relate with your past experiences?Brakujący element Agile, Paweł Badeński

Why the Spock is not as smart

as it thinks?Roleplay


Ladder of inference


actions

beliefs

conclusions

assumptions

interpreted reality

selected reality

reality and facts


Exercise(in pairs) analyse the situation using ladder

of inference



You learnt about:● ladder of inference

How does this relate to your past experiences?Brakujący element Agile, Paweł Badeński

● Spock to Spock○ overanalyzing, focusing on every little detail,

discussing word definitions● Spock to Lizard

○ disagreement● Lizard to Lizard

○ conflict or even a fight

Communication - what doesn’t work?


How to use the Spock and the Lizard

effectively?


It’s all about

empathy


What’s violent communication


“You talk too much in the meetings”

Moralistic judgement


“He writes better tests than you do”

Comparing with others


“You should refactor this method”

Using shoulds and haves


“Design is poor, because the project manager told me

to do a quick fix”

Denial of responsibility


Nonviolent communication

Nonviolent communication

● invented by American psychologist Marshall Rosenberg

● used in business, negotiation, conflict resolution

● trainings in London: Daren De Witt, NVC Resolutions

● more information on http://cnvc.orgBrakujący element Agile, Paweł Badeński

http://cnvc.org

Observation

Feeling

Need

Request

I feel upset

When I see you committing failing test this week for the 3rd time

Because I need to know that everyone cares about the quality of the product

Would you be willing for us to discuss this?


Tips for NVC

● this process can be done from the other person’s perspective (“you look upset”, “do you need certainty”)

● the goal is to build a connection with the other person instead of trying to persuade them


Tips for NVC

● this process can be done from the other person’s perspective (“you look upset”, “do you need certainty”)

● the goal is to connect with another person instead of trying to persuade them


Exercise(in pairs) Replay the conversation between

John and Lucy using NVC


Roles

John - with the company for 7 years, defensive, doesn’t want to come across as less skilled in front of Lucy

Lucy - new programmer, 2 years of professional experience, an enthusiast of TDD and new technologies



You learnt about:● NVC (observation, feeling, need, request)

How does this relate to your past experiences?Brakujący element Agile, Paweł Badeński

Summary


7 day challenge


[email protected]


the missing link of agile: feedback

Self Improvement