My talk at Agile Transformation Minds Meetup #2, BLR, on 5-Aug-2017

1. Achieving personal agility
By Krishnakumar Chinnappachari, Principal Agile Coach, Consultant, Trainer, Agile Program Manager
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2. Agenda
• Disclaimer
• Dictionary meaning of agility
• Agility in our lives
• Why is it so important?
• How do we embrace it?
• Some practical ways that you can try out
• What does this picture tell you?
• Lean preparation for a trip, a fun video
• Some of my favourite agility examples/celebrities
• Final Thoughts
• Q&A
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3. DISCLAIMER !
Most of these are common sense to all of us
or
based on my experiences/events/readings in my life
And
these are NOT THE ONLY ways towards agility
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4. Dictionary meaning of agility
“ability to move quickly and easily”
or
“ability to think and understand quickly”
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5. Agility in our lives
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What does agility requires?
OR
When do we say we are agile?
OR
What is the pre-requisite for agility?

6. Why is it so important?
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7. How do we embrace it?
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It’s story time !

8. Some practical ways that you can try out
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1. Experiment a little in your daily life
• Change your daily walking/jogging route. Try it in opposite
direction
• Try reading out a positive quote or inspirational message every
morning before touching the newspaper for the current affairs.
Your mind slowly starts adapting to different conditions at
the personal level. Then, when you step in to office, your
mind should (ideally) be more receptive (and conditioned)
to all the changes or dynamics in the teams/organization
that are taking place.

9. Some practical ways that you can try out
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2. Develop a new skill or habit
• Studies indicate that after practicing or learning a new skill for a
minimum of about 21 days or so, it becomes a habit.
(http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-
brain/form-a-habit1.htm)
• Slowly we start operating in “auto pilot” mode. Perseverance is the
key thing here.
Isn’t this true, when we started learning cycling, swimming
or driving a car in 21 days or so?

10. Some practical ways that you can try out
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3. Practice “mindfulness”
• Psychological process of bringing one's attention to the internal
and external experiences occurring in the present moment
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness)
• Enroll for Yoga or Meditation classes
Reduces Stress, anxiety levels and increases concentration
Can you recall a relevant Scrum Value  ?

11. Some practical ways that you can try out
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4. Participate in an “Outdoor team” game
• Involve in football, basketball, volley ball, kabaddi or cricket etc.
• Helps us develop our coordination, speed, endurance, balance,
focus towards the team goal.
Overall agility at the personal level increases, if you are
actively committed

12. Some practical ways that you can try out
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5. Try exploring “Personal Kanban”
• Gives clarity in our work & our lives by visualizing those tasks,
expectations, and commitments we have & helping us prioritize &
complete
• Scalable – it can work with just you, or with your family, or even
with work groups..
• More: http://www.personalkanban.com/pk/personal-kanban-101/
Adaptable to all ages and situations, and accessible to all
learning styles

13. Some practical ways that you can try out
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6. Carry over the lessons learnt/tastes of success at personal
level into your professional life or other dimensions of your life
• Improved focus, commitment, attitude, collaboration or kindness
that you have been practicing/mastering at the personal level.
• Don’t mix up personal/professional lives i.e., Not all personal
habits or behaviors should be displayed in work environment
Use your judgement and based on the context, apply them

14. What does this picture tell you
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You decide how you want to go towards your agility journey

15. Enjoy this video
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Lean Preparation for this Gentleman’s holiday
Can you identify this British actor or his famous character name,
before I play this video?

16. Some of my favourite agility examples
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Final thoughts
To be on track on your personal agility development path,
you need to have
• Attitude
• Patience
• Passion
• Self motivation
• Consistency
• Will power
• And most importantly

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Final thoughts
• Personal agility is imperative whether you are an individual
contributor, lead, manager, director or an executive leader.

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Final thoughts
Where do you want to go from here?
The choice is yours!

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Read my blog, like and/or comment
https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishnakumar-chinnappachari-aa62141/
Reach out to me at krish.kumarc@gmail.com

21. Q & A
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