Clarion Coughlan, Jayne Paterson O’Connell, Justin Blass & Simon Watson
In the final two weeks before her move, Jayne has been clearing her house, selling items on Trade Me, and packing away belongings. This experience has shed light on a valuable lesson: our tendency to accumulate excessive amounts of stuff. The oversaturation of secondhand clothing and shoes on platforms like Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace has made it difficult for Jayne to sell items she can't take with her, which is troubling. Consequently, Jayne has become more conscious of the environmental impact of discarding items, fueling a commitment to embrace sustainability and intentional consumption. It has also led Jayne to consider whether there is a wider lesson here too, as recent events in the tech sector have highlighted the repercussions of unchecked hiring followed by subsequent layoffs. It feels like, whether in our homes or at our places of work, whether we're buying new clothes or hiring new people, it's crucial for all of us to reflect on how we grow sustainably.
Justin returned from a great trip to the States for a family wedding. He was encouraged by the small acts of kindness during his travels. He has been helping to define a balanced set of delivery and team metrics that focus on outcomes, guide improvements, and work smarter (not a push-harder mentality). He experimented with a "science fair" method to share the metric information, gather feedback, and create buy-in with the whole group. Justin has also been helping teams and people leads learn how to navigate those tricky interpersonal conflicts that can arise within a team. It is important to pay attention to the fundamentals; they strain, block, or can even undo your improvement work when they are missing.
Simon is exploring personal productivity systems and tools in both work and personal contexts. How can we consistently build flow and momentum into our own work? Maybe one day soon, he will achieve Inbox Zero! Zooming out a bit, Simon is also contemplating how to introduce just enough process and tooling to a project team that already has a high level of collaboration. He aims to add fuel to the fire without attempting to "fix" something that isn't broken. Additionally, he is considering how to effectively advocate for exceptional product outcomes in a client/vendor/project context.
As the quarter comes to a close, Clarion has focused on quarterly planning. Tony O'Halloran's engaging blog post, "The Rise and Rise of Quarterfall”, has been top of mind. In the world of product development, planning is essential. To achieve great things, we need a clear strategic direction. It's crucial to ensure that product goals align with the overall business strategy while remaining adaptable to meet customers' evolving needs and the ever-changing market dynamics. Finding the right balance is key, and the quarterly cadence can be a sweet spot. However, it's important not to get caught up in unnecessary details. As Tony wisely points out, success lies in "planning just enough, just in time."