Static to signal

Your job isn’t what you think it is. Ringing the iron triangle of time, scope, and budget doesn’t drown out the complexity of humans working with other humans. Your real job is to create alignment with your folks at work: to bind them together so everyone is pulling in the same direction, fighting for the same things, and uniting for the same purpose. Join Rachel Gertz for a frank discussion about getting your people on the same frequency so you can focus on doing the work that matters. A talk for the Digital PM Summit 2018 in Memphis.

IN THIS SESSION YOU'LL LEARN:
• Key behaviors, responses, and environmental changes that indicate stakeholder misalignment and practical scripts and tips for how to respond
• How to create strong work allies who champion your processes and ideas
• Our evolving role as process and organizational change makers and how we become invaluable catalyzers on our teams

RESOURCES
Club of Rome study; Big Think: https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/in-1973-an-mit-computer-predicted-the-end-of-civilization-so-far-its-on-target
Iron Ring Ceremony:
Avoiding Toxic Workers; Activ Collab: https://activecollab.com/blog/growth/avoiding-toxic-workers
The business case for psychological safety; Workplace Strategies: https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/free-training-and-tools/making-the-business-case
Post meritocracy: https://postmeritocracy.org/
Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System: http://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/
Wicked questions; Coax: https://louderthanten.com/coax/wicked-questions

Other links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity
https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf
https://business.financialpost.com/technology/personal-tech/intuit-says-45-of-canadians-will-be-self-employed-by-2020-releases-new-app-to-help-with-finances
https://www.consultancy.eu/news/1569/companies-lack-leadership-capabilities-for-digital-transformation-projects

Transcript

1. SIGNAL
   to
   

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2. You are big and
   you are little.
   

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3. You are here
   in the meeting
   

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4. You are here
   

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5. Image credit: DJ Sadhu
   

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6. Today’s
   problems
   are big
   Job automation
   Unethical AI
   Mass surveillance
   Racism & all isms
   Income inequality
   Food scarcity
   Climate change
   Overpopulation
   Dictatorial rule
   Political instability
   Refugee crises
   6th Mass extinction
   Global collapse
   

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7. Club of Rome
   Limits to
   Growth study,
   1972
   https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/in-1973-an-mit-computer-
   predicted-the-end-of-civilization-so-far-its-on-target
   

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8. Stay with me
   for a sec
   

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9. Our reaction
   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
   

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10. “We're making the
    world a better
    place…”
    “…through Paxos algorithms for
    consensus protocols.”
    —Silicon Valley, HBO
    

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11. Mall kiosk facial
    recognition
    Blake Lough, Global News
    

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12. #Cryptobros
    

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13. ‘Productivity’
    software
    

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14. In 2008, it was Wall Street
    bankers. In 2017, tech workers
    are the world’s villain.
    Erin Griffith, Wired
    https://www.wired.com/story/the-other-tech-bubble/
    

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15. “Imagine the meeting…”
    Anil Dash, Technologist
    

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16. Imagine the Malltech
    meeting…
    

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17. Should we?
    

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18. We’re talking about
    POWER
    

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19. Impact is the inverse
    

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20. Weather patterns
    Corporate lifecycle
    The Fall
    Ichak Adizes
    

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21. • Can’t you just…?
    • Whatever. You can make it work.
    • We need more time. But we need you to hurry.
    • We're not paying more for this.
    • I just don't think you get it.
    • You're not listening.
    • We have to change direction.
    • [silence]
    “
    https://louderthanten.com/resources
    

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22. https://20x200.com/products/mike-monteiro-untitled-i-told-my-therapist
    I told my
    therapist
    about you.
    

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23. People are generally
    doing their best and
    working within their
    capacity
    

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24. They are not
    the enemy
    

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25. Sabotage
    Fear Avoidance Doubt
    Ignorance
    This is the enemy
    

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26. A tiny rant
    

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27. Are you ready?
    39% of companies don’t have the technical skills to complete
    their jobs.
    By 2020, 50% of our population will (have to) be freelancers.
    By 2030, 47% of current jobs will be automated (aka,
    disappear).
    By 2045 (or sooner) artificial intelligence will be
    smarter than humans.
    

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28. What is happening in this industry?
    How will it affect our company? Our team? Me?
    Who are my allies? How can I support them?
    Who are the toxic people? How can we challenge them?
    How do I make this company better?
    How can I support better products?
    

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29. Course corrections
    change the path
    Pressure Pressure Pressure
    

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30. We need a roadmap
    

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31. This is not a roadmap
    But it might help.
    

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32. ‘Fit’ is a
    dangerous
    word
    

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33. Nothing about us
    without us.
    http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Intersectionality
    

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34. Better working
    conditions
    

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35. Weed out toxicity
    “Let’s talk about the way we
    talk to each other”
    

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36. Should we?
    

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37. Punch up.
    

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38. When everyone is pulling in
    the same direction, fighting
    for the same things, uniting
    for the same purpose.
    Alignment
    

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39. Let’s talk
    about
    you for a
    minute.
    

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40. Build the right thing
    Build that thing right
    You have two jobs.
    

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41. Quiet
    POWER
    

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42. Get comfortable being
    uncomfortable.
    

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43. Do you trust yourself?
    

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44. Could you talk about
    it if you didn’t?
    

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45. Are you able to do your
    best work?
    

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46. Why are you a
    project manager?
    

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47. What is your job? Really?
    

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48. Freedom is the right to tell
    people what they do not want to
    hear.
    George Orwell
    

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49. “This is hard, but I need your help.
    In order for this direction to work,
    we have to focus on the right things.
    Can you help me by prioritizing
    what’s important to you?”
    

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50. Loveable
    hardass
    Your job is being a
    

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51. Are you an ally?
    

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52. “Your voice is important: can you
    talk about the idea you had during
    our next meeting? I’ll make sure to
    leave space for you.”
    

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53. Ask for
    help
    

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54. The big picture
    

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55. You have the
    skills
    Future
    

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56. • Complex problem solving
    • Critical thinking
    • Creativity
    • People management
    • Coordinating with others
    • Emotional intelligence
    • Judgement and decision making
    • Service orientation
    • Negotiation
    • Cognitive flexibility
    World Economic Forum
    Skills of 2020
    

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57. We’re not doing
    brain surgery.
    But we will be.
    

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58. You are setting down
    infrastructure for
    the new world
    You are leading the
    projects of
    tomorrow
    

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59. Power does not reside in the
    institutions, not even the state
    or large corporations. It is
    located in the networks that
    structure society.
    Manuel Castells, Sociologist
    

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60. You are the nucleus
    You’re the node in
    the network.
    

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61. nudge >
    

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62. You are
    inventing
    the future
    To do Doing Done
    

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63. We need you.
    Now.
    

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64. You are big and
    you are little.
    

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65. You are here
    in the meeting
    

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66. You are here
    

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67. “…There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of
    human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To
    me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with
    one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the
    only home we've ever known.”
    Carl Sagan, Astronomer
    

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68. What will
    you change?
    

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69. Pinky swear
    

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70. Come find me
    Louder Than Ten
    Rachel Gertz
    Louder Than Ten
    Linkedin
    @thestraymuse
    

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71. Resources
    Club of Rome study; Big Think
    Iron Ring Ceremony
    Avoiding Toxic Workers; Activ Collab
    The business case for psychological safety; Workplace Strategies
    Post meritocracy
    Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System
    Wicked questions; Coax
    

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