There seems to be a current trend where organizations that say they are doing PI planning or quarterly planning are making a decision for the teams about what must be delivered in the time box. The teams just accept the commitment because they either feel they do not have the agency to push back and say no to some of it or are too busy trying to finish up their last overcommitment to look at new work. So, they begin the new time box already behind and then assess the new work only to (shockingly) learn it is too much. Then they divide it up by the number of Sprints or weeks and that is how they plan out how to get it all done. Most of the time this results in developing a habitual practice of carrying work from one sprint to the next, continually trying to recover from the last overcommitment so they can get to work on the new overcommitment. 
 
In this episode, The Agile Bear, Nigel Baker, joins me to sort through why this is happening, the harm it causes, and ways to fix it.

Video Version
If you'd prefer to view the video version of this interview: http://tinyurl.com/2eu5yucw

Contacting Nigel
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nigelebaker

Fixing Your Quarterly Planning W Nigel Baker

Summary
In this conversation, Si Alhir and Dave discuss the Art of War, its application in transformation work, and the naturalness and unity found within its wisdom. They explore the concept of taking whole, the relationship with the environment, and the role of the Sage Commander. Si shares personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the transformative power of the Art of War. The conversation delves into the concept of enlightened leadership and the application of the principles from 'The Art of War' in organizational transformation. It explores the distinction between an enlightened ruler and a wise general, the importance of psychological safety, and the shift from a vicious ego-based reality control cycle to a virtuous eco-based reality navigation cycle. The conversation concludes with a powerful story of using the ordinary and the extraordinary to transform toxic organizational dynamics.

Takeaways
	•	The Art of War is a transformative wisdom that emphasizes naturalness and unity in its application.
	•	The concept of taking whole and the relationship with the environment are key elements of the Art of War's wisdom.
	•	The role of the Sage Commander involves patience, relaxation, and an understanding of the natural flow of time and energy.
	•	Leadership power lies in the individual's ability to navigate the world around them, working with the environment as a partner.
	•	The Art of War offers tools for practice and learning, requiring a mindful and respectful approach to its application. Enlightened leadership requires awareness and mindfulness in navigating the nature of things.
	•	Psychological safety should focus on building strong individuals to interact in an unsafe world.
	•	The application of 'The Art of War' principles can lead to successful organizational transformation.
	•	The distinction between the vicious ego-based reality control cycle and the virtuous eco-based reality navigation cycle is crucial for effective leadership.
	•	Using the ordinary and the extraordinary can transform toxic organizational dynamics.
Titles
	•	Tools for Practice and Learning in the Art of War
	•	Exploring the Transformative Wisdom of the Art of War Transforming Toxic Organizational Dynamics
	•	Navigating Psychological Safety and Reality in Leadership
Chapters

00:00 	Preroll Intro
02:33 	Introduction to the Art of War and Transformation Work
13:42	The Concept of Taking Whole and Unity
29:21 	Navigating the Environment as a Partner
33:03	Tools for Practice and Learning
34:05	Enlightened Leadership and 'The Art of War' in Organizational Transformation
36:56	Navigating Psychological Safety and Reality in Leadership
43:43	The Shift from Vicious Ego-Based Reality Control to Virtuous Eco-Based Reality Navigation
59:39	Transforming Toxic Organizational Dynamics



The Art of War in the Wild (May 2024)

Panel #1 - Brad Barton, Mark Ferraro, and Si Alhir
https://lnkd.in/emmnxQut

Panel #2 - Cynthia Chambers, Christine Ferraro, and Holly Fiorello
https://lnkd.in/eZNX6mJB

Panel #3 - Chris Herring, Cynthia Chambers, and Mudasir Ahamed
https://lnkd.in/ed3kyMUB

Panel #4 - John Cherian., Chris Herring, and Dave Prior
https://lnkd.in/eXB7Mm5x

Si's Books on Amazon
https://tinyurl.com/6rjvkucw

Contacting Si
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salhir/

Dave's Links
Dave's upcoming classes: tinyurl.com/u2vh9zh8
The Art of War for Collaboration: modusinstitute.com/course/art-of-war-collaboration
Contacting Dave: linktr.ee/mrsungo

Thr Art of War with Si Alhir

Join Dave Prior as he sits down with Ross Beurmann, author of "From Theater to Flow: Rebuilding the System Behind Agility." In this episode, they delve into the challenges of agile transformations, the concept of "Agile Theater," and the importance of focusing on the middle management to drive meaningful change. Ross shares insights from his book and discusses the need for organizations to rethink their approach to agility.

Key Topics:
The pitfalls of "Agile Theater" and how to avoid them 
The role of middle management in successful transformations 
Ross's unique approach to integrating governance and agility 
Real-world examples and lessons learned from Ross's consulting experience


Links:
Ross's Book on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/37neasdm
Ross's Website https://rossbeurmann.com
Connect with Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossbeurmann/

Links from the intro:
The Agile Network https://theagilenetwork.com/
Agile 2025 https://agilealliance.org/agile2025/
Dave and Stuarts Talk at Agile 2025: Career Power-Ups: Surviving Through Uncertainty and Change https://tinyurl.com/2s4zhzts
Dave and Stuart’s Book: “No One Is Coming to Save You” https://leanpub.com/surfthechaos

From Theater to Flow with Ross Beurmann

Dave Prior transitions control of his podcast to Alex Silva, a fellow Personal Kanban practitioner. They discuss the challenges of time management and productivity, sharing personal experiences and strategies. Dave emphasizes the importance of using personal Kanban as a tool for self-reflection and optimization, rather than just task management. He describes his "productivity recovery plan" using a notebook to maintain focus when his electronic system fails. Alex highlights the benefits of community and continuous learning, noting the impact of face-to-face interactions. Both agree on the value of daily routines, such as reading and exercise, for maintaining balance and productivity.

Contacting Alex
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soualexsilva/

To learn more about Personal Kanban
Personal Kanban: https://www.personalkanban.com/pk/blog/
Dave’s Personal Kanban Blog Posts: https://drunkenpm.blogspot.com/2014/10/summary-of-personal-kanban-posts-for.html

The Agile Network’s Discover What’s NEXT event 8/20-21
https://theagilenetwork.com/group/ddb2c98a-5768-4763-9b3d-3ae170c384e0/profile

Personal Kanban Questions with Alexandre Silva

A podcast about Agile and Project Management

New tracks tagged #The Reluctant Agilist