Can we make the lightbulb want to change? [PyCon Italia 2018]

**This version of the talk was presented at PyCon Italia 2018**

In today’s fast-paced world, change is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. And yet, many of us, understandably, still have a love-hate relationship with change. How comfortable is your comfort zone? Should you take that step onto new, unknown territory? Once you do, can you convince others to do the same? Learning how to answer questions like these is crucial, if we want to truly innovate in our jobs, communities, and lives.

In this talk, I’d like to share some of the lessons that I learned about inducing and managing change, both in myself and in groups I’ve worked with as a documentation writer, Agile scrum master, community manager, and diversity advocate. Magic solutions are not guaranteed, healthy discussions are encouraged.

https://www.pycon.it/conference/talks/can-we-make-light-bulb-want-change

Transcript

1. CAN WE MAKE THE LIGHTBULB
   WANT TO CHANGE?
   Mikey Ariel
   @ThatDocsLady @WriteTheDocs @HappinessPacket
   PyCon Italia, April 2018
   

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2. Before we start...
   This talk will run the full 45 minutes, with no on-stage questions. Personal interaction is
   recommended (talk to me afterwards!), or you can email, Slack, or tweet @ThatDocsLady with
   your questions any time.
   ◉ Enhance your calm
   ◉ Communicate with kindness
   ◉ Act with empathy
   

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3. Who is That Docs Lady?
   @ThatDocsLady docs@docsideofthemoon.com @WriteTheDocs
   

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4. “
   Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?
   

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5. “
   Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?
   A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
   

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6. “
   Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?
   A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
   

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7. “
   Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?
   A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
   

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8. CHANGE
   /tʃeɪn(d)ʒ/
   (noun) an act or process through which something becomes different.
   (verb) make or become different.
   

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9. CHANGE
   /tʃeɪn(d)ʒ/
   (noun) an act or process through which something becomes different.
   (verb) make or become different.
   

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10. Better?
    

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11. Better?
    Worse?
    

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12. Better?
    DIFFERENT!
    Worse?
    

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13. You’re not alone!
    

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15. Winnie the Pooh
    

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16. Tigger
    Eeyore
    

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18. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
    

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19. Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
    

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20. Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
    

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21. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    

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22. Calculated
    Analytical
    Consistent
    Reliable
    “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    

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23. Calculated
    Analytical
    Consistent
    Reliable
    Anxious
    Critical
    Resistant
    Inflexible
    “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    

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24. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    100% 100%
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    Calculated
    Analytical
    Consistent
    Reliable
    Anxious
    Critical
    Resistant
    Inflexible
    

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25. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    100% 100%
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    Calculated
    Analytical
    Consistent
    Reliable
    Anxious
    Critical
    Resistant
    Inflexible
    

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26. Where are you?
    “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail,
    but I’m sort of attached to it…”
    100% 100%
    Adaptable
    Flexible
    Excited
    Intuitive
    Unstable
    Inconsistent
    Excitable
    Impulsive
    Calculated
    Analytical
    Consistent
    Reliable
    Anxious
    Critical
    Resistant
    Inflexible
    

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27. LIFE LESSONS
    or: how to implement change and survive to tell the tale
    

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28. LIFE LESSONS #1:
    Start with “why”
    Find the true motivation for the change and own it.
    

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30. LIFE LESSONS #1:
    Start with “why”
    Find the true motivation for the change and own it.
    

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31. LIFE LESSONS #2:
    Do your homework
    Make the “scary unknown” less scary.
    

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33. LIFE LESSONS #2:
    Do your homework
    Make the “scary unknown” less scary.
    

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34. LIFE LESSONS #3:
    Lead by example
    Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
    

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36. LIFE LESSONS #3:
    Lead by example
    Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
    

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37. LIFE LESSONS #4:
    Nothing is ever obvious
    No, really. NEVER.
    

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39. LIFE LESSONS #4:
    Nothing is ever obvious
    No, really. NEVER.
    

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40. LIFE LESSONS #5:
    It’s not (just) about you
    Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
    

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42. LIFE LESSONS #5:
    It’s not (just) about you
    Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
    

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43. LIFE LESSONS #6:
    Open-first wins
    Open early, often, and fear not the open floodgates.
    

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44. WHAT IS AN OPEN DECISION?
    TRANSPARENT INCLUSIVE CUSTOMER-CENTRIC
    Explain who is making the
    decision, what problems
    you're trying to solve, the
    requirements and
    constraints involved, and
    the process you will follow.
    Engage others for feedback
    and collaborate throughout
    the decision-making
    process.
    Seek out diverse
    perspectives, including
    potential detractors.
    Think of people as customers
    with competing needs and
    priorities.
    When a decision will help
    some customers, but
    disappoint others, manage
    relationships and
    expectations while getting
    stuff done.
    

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45. LIFE LESSONS #6:
    Open-first wins
    Open early, often, and fear not the open floodgates.
    

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46. LIFE LESSONS #7:
    Feelings != Facts
    Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
    

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48. LIFE LESSONS #7:
    Feelings != Facts
    Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
    

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49. LIFE LESSONS #8:
    Do not feed the trolls
    Put that email down and take a breath.
    

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51. LIFE LESSONS #8:
    Do not feed the trolls
    Put that email down and take a breath.
    

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52. LIFE LESSONS #9:
    Your energy is finite
    You can’t always change everything at once.
    

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54. LIFE LESSONS #9:
    Your energy is finite
    You can’t always change everything at once.
    

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55. LIFE LESSONS #10:
    S@#% happens
    The road to success is always under construction.
    

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57. LIFE LESSONS #10:
    S@#% happens
    The road to success is always under construction.
    

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58. LIFE CHEAT SHEET
    ◉ Start with “why”
    ◉ Do your homework
    ◉ Lead by example
    ◉ Nothing is ever obvious
    ◉ It’s not (just) about you
    ◉ Open-first wins
    ◉ Feelings != Facts
    ◉ Do not feed the trolls
    ◉ Your energy is finite
    ◉ S@#% happens
    

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59. “
    “[Deity of choice],
    grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
    the courage to change the things I can,
    and the wisdom to know the difference.”
    - Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr
    

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60. @ThatDocsLady docs@docsideofthemoon.com @WriteTheDocs
    Thanks, here’s your change!
    

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