Danny Wareham

175

Culture & Engagement Director

Are you an "Alpha"?
How humans and primates choose their leaders is surprisingly similar.

However, whereas humans use the term "alpha" to denote assertiveness, aggression, or overly bullying behaviour, our evolutionary neighbours would not share this view.

In primates, alphas keep the peace, provide comfort and stabilise the group.

It's all about creating the environment - the culture - for the group's overall safety, security and prosperity.

Their longevity as a leader also relies on them being cooperative, empathetic and generous.

And this keeps them popular amongst the group, too.

It seems that psychological safety is not something unique to our species...



Further info:
Check out Frans de Waal's Ted Talk on "The surprising science of alpha males"

Would you feed and water a plant just once?

Looking after your plants - understanding and tending to their needs, and nurturing the right environment - helps them flourish.

It seems odd that organisations don't always take this approach with their greatest asset.

Onboard. Induct. Leave to perform.

Limited (or no) further investment, training or reviews of the environment or culture; no challenging of ineffective processes and policies.

And we're then surprised when they wilt.

Engagement and culture aren't about one-off grandiose activities, such bonuses, a new site opening or pyjama day.

It's about tending to and cultivating the environment and people.

IMO, that tending and nurturing is the core role of a leader.

Does a leader need to be a person? Or can it be the environment?

This is the underlying question in my university research - and it's an area that has a paucity of study. That means I need to collect primary data, as no existing studies or datasets are available.

To test the hypothesis, I need the views and experience of project team members of any level, who have worked with Agile (Scrum).

If you can help or know someone that can spare an hour to join one of three group discussions next Monday, please let me know using the poll mechanic in the LinkedIn post below.

Thank you!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/danny-wareham_agile-projectmanagement-leadership-activity-7061268837660274688-VlNZ/

𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃:
Do you have experience of 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞? I'd love to hear your views.

I'm currently researching a virtually unstudied area of leadership.

This university study has links into Agile project methodology and I'm looking for around 30 volunteers to take part in one of three online group discussions.

Participants can be (or have been previously) involved in project management - specifically within Agile working.

You don't need to be a Scrum Master or even fully-qualified. It's your views and experience that is interesting.

To choose a group (or volunteer another time), I've created a poll on a post in LinkedIn (link below). Please click through and choose a time to join a discussion.

If this isn't for you but you know people involved in Agile, please share the LI post with them.

Thank you, all!


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/danny-wareham_agile-projectmanagement-leadership-activity-7061268837660274688-VlNZ/

I've completed all the 49 components, met the standard and have now to book a certifier call for each of the five dimensions.

My question is, is it best practice to do one call, obtain the outcome and then book the next dimension or book each one-after-the-other to complete the certifier section?

The only concern I have is a failure to pass a call - which result in a resit (and a charge) and might derail any upcoming calls for other dimensions...

Has anyone gone through the process in this way and can share their views, please?

Hello to all.

I believe that happy bees make tasty honey.

If we have the right people, with the right tools, support, environment and leadership, performance is a side effect.

My background is in cultural change and employee engagement, and I am currently preparing a thesis on an understudied area of leadership, which I'm hoping to gain the community's views on as it develops.

Looking forward to learning from everyone here.

Danny