Christine P. Dela Rosa Atlassian Team

That's nice packaging for the idea of ruthless prioritization. A positive spin on something that's had negative stigma, but truly, is something we could all use!

While I'm not sure it's all on the team to make sure folks are okay, I do think it's on teams to check-in with each other. Yes, from a human perspective it's the right thing to do, but also, from a collaboration perspective, it's important to have context on how each other's doing. That understanding will only help…

I hadn't seen that before @Kelly Pallanti. Thanks for the hot tip. I'm gonna take a read! 

In "Creativity Inc," the book about Pixar, they talk about "protecting the new." And how our default is to continue to keep doing what you've done before. That without trying, inertia will keep the old practices going. However, if you want to adopt something new, or at least give it a try, it takes extra effort to get that…

Very interesting discussion topic! Many companies spend time outfitting physical spaces, considering policies for what's safe and not safe, etc in the name of reducing hazards and improving physical wellness. Those same companies also outsource mental health to things like meditation apps or service providers. But there's…

This tip is a very specific practice, but the one layer above that is really about growth for individuals AND engagement across a team to make sure the whole team is committed. I like that it puts into practice what isn't easy to foster in a time where teams have had a harder team getting teammates to feel invested!

As humans, I think we try to fill in the gaps subconsciously. But those ad libs aren't fact and we can't conflate our guesses for what's going on with teammates. A great reminder during times where I feel like anything can be happening in anyone's life.

I like it. Solid end takeaway.

Big fan of this suggestion, @Samie Delebo - Your Gal at Gliffy. I like the reminder that questioning the status quo can/should be done in a team setting so that evolving ways of working among teams are developed by teams. Such a simple idea and I often don't think about it because sometimes my first reaction is that no one…

What I like about this message is that it validates all of our feelings (which I think so many today could be reminded), but doesn't accept that we need to just feel the feelings. By asking questions about feelings, we can take more control of what happens next. Yeah!

So interesting! I'm not sure I've ever worked on a truly agile team before so I'm not accustomed what that's like. At least not when there is real conflict and working agreements have not covered that situation). I'm learning a lot right now @Anita Kalmane Thank you for sharing! 

Yes! For those who have not accepted at least some element of remote work (if that makes sense for their company), they won't be adjusting their practices (and to your point, @Anita Kalmane, even things like physical environments). And not adjusting practices, even if only for a finite period of time, is going to slow…

The ability to delegate is one of the best indicators of an autonomous team and independent workers. So when you're able to delegate, I think that means there's a high level of trust between teammates. A great way to bring trust to life!

OK I'll bite. 1) What is a virtual escape room? And 2) at what stage do you bring your team to one?

Query for you @Marshall Walker Lee - do you think change can only happen when embraced? Or is there a way to bring about change without even trying to bring about change? PS - I agree with you. Just trying to see if this^ sparks more thought.

I totally agree. Sometimes, the new teammates surprise me in the way they see a process or spar on a concept. I forget what it's like to not have the same perspective over time and getting an outside force to shake things up is so welcome!

There are many cultures that say they embrace failure, but it's more often talking the talk than walking the walk. So I really like the idea of positively reinforcing failtures. One thing I've heard works well as an exercise, is going around and sharing one thing each teammate failed in the past X weeks. Where, perhaps if…

Creating boundaries when responding to requests is like creating boundaries for priorities in the day/week, in role definition, or in project scope. When we create boundaries, we can more efficiently address what we signed up to do, which frees us up to tackle something else down the road. If today we're burned out from…

I agree. In a landscape where so many people are switching companies or taking on new roles within their companies, it would be a shame for institutional knowledge to be lost with each move. And to answer your question, I think that sharing AND documenting knowledge helps strengthen our team. It helps improve trust through…

Interesting question, @Pramodh M. I've participated in internal hackathons to innovate new product. I wonder if there's a way to celebrate new approaches to innovation, versus the innovation itself. That's one way to celebrate different ways of doing things, and by celebrating different ways of working, perhaps culture…

The last couple of years has brought more disconnection than normal. It makes me want to engage with teammates more, but it's not easy when interactions are so transactional. So to be more present and have patience, to your point, @Josh Costella, opens us up to hear what we may not have heard when we're rushing to…

A culture of radical candor where a "no" is prioritizing a "yes" for other things. Mmhmm.

Great point! Autonomous teams should be able to self-organize and change as different blockers arise or as landscape changes, etc. However, when it comes to decision-making, what happens when there is not consensus? If you use a DACI, RACI, or other decision-making framework, there's always a "driver" or "responsible…

I agree. And it's the "fear" that makes it hard, and it's the "hard" that makes change great. 

For sure, change takes tiiiiiiiime, @Anita Kalmane. So it should probably be said that welcoming change won't necessarily translate into immediate adoption.

Anything to bring a group closer together, especially now, has got to help improve team health. And to your point, @Suvradip Paul, I agree that having the right mindset is key to making that happen. Stating "values" and reinforcing the idea of one team are certainly ways to reinforce that mindset.

Here's an example to start y'all off - https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Teamwork-Lab-discussions/Tips-amp-Lessons-for-2022-resist-the-comfort-of-familiarity/td-p/1905551

Things seemingly made for children can have such adult backstories. (See also Alice in Wonderland, the London Bridge is Falling Down nursey rhyme, etc). Great inclusion, @Daniel Ebers! Papa Smurf truly is the central decision-maker in the community. The name "Papa" makes me wonder how this parallels with parents in…

I think this applies to work, relationships with other people, and even ourselves. How we respond in times where we have to make tough decisions or when we are faced with something hard says a lot about culture or who people really are. As for your prompt, I often see planned activities take a backseat when a higher…

It's interesting. As someone who listens to many folks explain their teamwork issues, so often it comes down to relationships and respect. So when I see a leader trust their teams because of individual expertise, I remember that leader because of how rare that quality sometimes shows up. PS - I haven't jumped on The…