Tom PerryMay 27, 20192 minBuilding Up and Tearing DownRecently I put on a public Leading SAFe training. This wasn’t your typical training, however. In collaboration with Ron Quartel, we...
Tom PerryApr 30, 20193 minMy Personal Andon CordHave you heard of an Andon Cord? On the assembly line it’s that cord you yank on to stop the entire line when a problem is found. The...
Tom PerryApr 15, 20193 minOne Step Back, Two Steps ForwardI was confronted with a bit of a dilemma the other day. I was working out and reaching the limits of what I could lift. I could tell,...
Tom PerryMar 4, 20192 minThe Trial of EmpathyI’ve been working with some managers lately who struggle with a variety of challenges. Like many folks, when faced with a challenge they...
Tom PerryFeb 22, 20192 minPernicious EscalationI found this lovely pairing of words in Yves Morieux’s book, Six Simple Rules. He was talking about the corrosive effect that problem...
Tom PerryFeb 20, 20192 minEliminate Fear, Create SafetyOften silos within an organization are based on fear. There can be many different justifications for such fear. For example, the fear is...
Tom PerryFeb 19, 20192 minCooperation vs. CollaborationI was working for a small company that was acquired a few years ago. Soon after the acquisition was finalized, our senior VP invited his...
Tom PerryFeb 18, 20193 minTrapped in AmberHave you ever seen those blobs of amber with some hapless insect trapped inside? There it is, frozen in time, forever locked in a golden...
Tom PerryFeb 16, 20194 minPainting The SpotsIf you do a little reading about Scrum one of the first things that you learn are the 5 basic values of Scrum: Courage Focus Respect...
Tom PerryFeb 13, 20194 minMaxims and ManifestosMy Dad has always been a passionate outdoorsman. For him, when it comes to spending some quality time, nothing beats hunting and fishing....
Tom PerryFeb 10, 20192 minBuilding a Scaled Agile Framework for DummiesScaled Agile Frameworks like SAFe are all the rage these days. You can go out now and get training, certification and a shave from a bevy...
Tom PerryJan 17, 20195 minYour Framework SucksWe can learn the art of fierce compassion – redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing...
Tom PerryAug 16, 20162 minGoing Viral“An inefficient virus kills its host. A clever virus stays with it.” -James Lovelock I was talking with a friend the other day about that...
Tom PerryJan 12, 20165 minThe Agile GymnasiumI used to be a weightlifter. All through college, and for much of my adult life I have been in gyms exercising in one form or another....
Tom PerryDec 27, 20143 minRoles Considered Harmful“Man’s role is uncertain, undefined, and perhaps unnecessary.” – Margaret Mead So there I was talking to a team that was split across two...
Tom PerryOct 20, 20142 minSuperman SyndromeThere you are, in your tenth meeting of the day. You haven’t even had lunch, just one meeting after another. You’d skip the meetings, but...
Tom PerryOct 17, 20143 minKeeping It In the FamilyI was asked the other day, “Do you use Scrum at home?” It’s not the first time that I’ve been asked this question. The honest answer is:...
Tom PerryOct 16, 20142 minSatisfactionAs some of you may know, I’m building a boat in my brother’s garage. We had a big milestone the other day: we finished painting the...
Tom PerryOct 12, 20142 minBuilding Glass Houses: Creating the Transparent OrganizationVisual management occurs at many levels. There is personal transparency: the ability for people to see what you are working on within the...
Tom PerryOct 9, 20142 minA Team Named “Sue”My daddy left home when I was three And he didn’t leave much to ma and me Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze. Now, I don’t...