Zacharias Beckman’s Post

If you're not listening to what’s working and what’s not, then you might as well be trying to fix a leaky faucet with duct tape! Let’s dive into how harnessing feedback can turn your organization into a powerhouse of progress. Feedback loops are like the secret sauce of continuous improvement—without them, your team might just be spinning its wheels (and nobody wants to be that hamster on a wheel). In simple terms, feedback loops are processes where the output of a system is circled back and used as input. Think of it as a never-ending cycle of learning and improvement. It’s like getting a report card after each project; not just to see how you did, but to figure out how to ace the next one. Before diving into feedback, make sure everyone knows what’s expected. This means defining goals, roles, and what success looks like. I once assumed everyone was on the same page about project goals, only to find out later that half the team thought we were aiming for different targets. Spoiler alert: chaos ensued! Clear expectations set the stage for constructive feedback. Schedule consistent check-ins to discuss progress and gather feedback. This could be weekly team meetings or monthly reviews, whatever fits your team’s rhythm. I’ve found that regular reviews help catch issues before they snowball into major problems. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to share their thoughts and feel involved in the process. Everyone loves a little spotlight. After gathering feedback, it’s crucial to take action based on what you’ve learned. This shows your team that their input matters and encourages them to keep sharing. I still remember how once my team reacted due to inaction on their feedback. Don't want to elaborate, but let's just say it was loud. Make sure to close the loop by implementing changes and communicating back to the team about what was done. Now it’s your turn! How do you currently implement feedback loops in your work processes? #BusinessTransformation #Strategy #ProductMarketing

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤! In my experience working with diverse teams, I’ve learned a few key lessons that have helped us navigate challenges and grow together. Here’s what I’ve found works best when it comes to building trust and collaboration: 🔹 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐬: The best teams are those that welcome questions and feedback. When processes are questioned, it’s not about ego—it’s about improving for the benefit of everyone. Growth happens when we leave space for curiosity and conversation. 🔹 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: It’s easy to follow processes when they suit us, but the real value of any framework, especially in agile environments, comes when we uphold them even during challenges. Consistency builds reliability and trust within the team. 🔹 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: Teams thrive when every individual is encouraged to continuously learn and improve. Rather than shying away from tough questions, lean into them as opportunities for development. In my own career and business, I’ve seen how this approach can unlock potential and foster innovation. 🔹 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲: Feedback is only constructive when delivered with empathy. It’s not about proving someone wrong but helping everyone get it right. When leaders create safe spaces for open dialogue, teams grow stronger, together. I’ll be exploring more about how agile principles can help professionals in my upcoming book, and how we can apply these concepts in day-to-day life, beyond just the office. What strategies have you used to ensure feedback is embraced positively within your teams? #TeamBuilding #AgileLeadership #GrowthMindset #ContinuousLearning #Leadership

Without support, neither you nor your team can ever reach the success they were meant to reach. 🛑 No matter your role, industry, workplace, etc., without the right support, it is impossible for someone, or even a team, to achieve what they truly could have accomplished. This lesson is especially true for roles like product managers, who frequently find themselves in situations where they play a pivotal role in the success of one or more products without necessarily being “the boss.” 💡 So, what do we do to ensure that the right support is available at the right time? We empower ourselves and others to be and get that support! There are so many things that we do not have control over in our lives and careers, but also just as many things that we DO have control over. ✊ Here are 3 ways I’ve seen the concept of empowerment work and succeed for teams across dozens of industries and teams: (1) Promote cross-functional collaboration 🤝 – 84% of product managers attribute collaboration to be key to their product’s success. We achieve this by encouraging open communication and regular meetings (with an agenda, of course) with key stakeholders across all involved with your initiative. Methodologies like Agile or Scrum are great formats to start with and adjust based on your teams’ feedback and need. (2) Foster a culture of continuous learning 📚 – A well-informed team is a powerful team. Provide every opportunity for people to learn, especially for topics they are personally interested in. Invest into training programs, workshops, resources, etc. Encourage your teams to share their knowledge and learn from each other. (3) Delegate with trust and support 🤲 – This will be the hardest for some. It’s important to be able to equip people with what they need, and then to let go, success in hand or not. When team members feel trusted, they are more motivated and generally perform better. Let people make mistakes so long as they learn from them. Empowerment is not just about leading, it’s about building and maintaining an environment where everyone can thrive. If you have any tips from experience on empowering you and / or your teams, please share it below or DM ✉ me your story! You never know who your stories and lessons might help. #productmanagement #productmanagers #overwhelm #burnout #stress #careeradvice #careergrowth #careercoaching #mentorship #leadership #selfimprovement #selfdevelopment #empowerment #bettertogether #teamwork

🔄 Feedback can be a game-changer when it’s done right, but too often it can feel more like criticism, which only creates defensiveness and tension. As a big part of Positive Agility, feedback should support, not blame. When we approach feedback with growth in mind, it helps build trust, encourages improvement, and keeps teams motivated to reach higher. In this post, I share about transforming criticism into constructive feedback, practical ways to keep feedback supportive, and examples to make your words impactful 📚 ✨ Try this: Next time you give feedback, ask yourself, “How can I support them?” instead of just focusing on what went wrong. #FeedbackCulture #ConstructiveFeedback #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipSkills #TeamBuilding #EffectiveCommunication #GrowthMindset #WorkplaceWisdom #EmpoweringTeams #ContinuousImprovement #PositiveAgility #Agile #AgileCoach How do you approach feedback? Share your thoughts below 👇

7 Steps to Build High Performing Team Creating a high performing team is like cultivating a thriving garden. Just as flowers need the right conditions to bloom, teams need an environment where they can grow, collaborate, and reach their full potential. As an agile coach, I’ve seen many teams transform by following key practices that foster their growth. Here are seven steps to help you guide your team toward success: 1. Define Team Purpose: Establish a clear purpose that aligns with both business and customer needs. This serves as the guiding star for your team's efforts. 2. Set Team Goals: Set achievable short-term goals, typically 1-3 months, to keep your team focused and aligned with their purpose. 3. Right Mix of Capabilities: Build a cross-functional team with diverse skills to minimize dependencies and maintain momentum. 4. Establish Ways of Working: Agree on work patterns that ensure efficiency, predictability, and high-quality output. 5. Clarify Roles & Decision Making: Define roles and responsibilities to avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth collaboration. 6. Form a Working Agreement: Collaboratively create a working agreement that outlines expected behaviors and practices to foster team cohesion. 7. Promote Learning & Coaching: Continuously provide opportunities for growth, whether through technical training or leadership development, to ensure the team evolves with changing demands. Building a high performing team requires continuous learning, adaptation, and collective effort to stay competitive in a fast-paced environment. #TeamBuilding #Leadership #AgileTransformation #ContinuousImprovement #HighPerformance

Continuing from my previous posts on effective communication, I would like to highlight the importance of Open Feedback Loops. In fast-paced projects, the ability to gather and act on feedback quickly can be the difference between stagnation and continuous improvement. Here’s how fostering open feedback can transform your team’s performance: 🛡️ Create a Safe Space for Feedback: Encourage team members to share their thoughts openly, without fear of judgment. This builds trust and ensures that both positive and constructive feedback are exchanged. 📅 Make Feedback Regular: Don’t wait for the end of a project to gather feedback. I recommend integrating it into your process regularly—through retrospectives, 1:1s, or even informal check-ins. ⚡ Act on Feedback Promptly: Feedback is only valuable if it leads to action. Ensure that issues raised are addressed quickly and visibly, so the team knows their input is valued and makes a difference. 🤝 Foster Peer-to-Peer Feedback: Sometimes the best insights come from teammates. Encourage open discussions among peers to help resolve challenges and improve collaboration. When feedback flows freely, teams can pivot, improve, and adapt more effectively. How do you integrate feedback into your projects? . . . . . #ProjectManagement #TeamCollaboration #EffectiveCommunication #FeedbackLoop #ContinuousImprovement #LeadershipTips #Agile

7 lessons I've learned over the past few years on how to build high-performance teams: 1. Set clear goals and expectations to ensure the team stays focused and motivated. Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities, and how their work contributes to the team's overall success. 2. Build a team culture that encourages communication and collaboration among team members, so everyone on the team feels comfortable sharing their ideas, feedback, and concerns. This builds trust and enhances teamwork. 3. Provide the team with all the resources they need to effectively do their job. Your team is more likely to deliver high-quality work when they have the necessary resources. 4. Recognize and reward team performance. This boosts the team's morale, increases their motivation, and creates a positive work environment. 5. Empower the team by giving them the autonomy and flexibility they need to do their job effectively. This builds team confidence and encourages innovation, which leads to better results. Think of the Scrum framework here. 6. Lead by example by demonstrating the behavior and work ethic you expect from your team. This has various benefits, such as building respect and credibility. It's a great way to create a positive role model for the team to follow. 7. Encourage the team to continuously improve and learn from their experiences. Provide funding and time during work hours for your team to attend onsite/offsite training and professional development. Provide feedback to the team so they have a clear direction. ♻️ Please re-post to share with your community. ♻️ If you like my content, follow me to get the latest posts. #productivity #motivation #leadership

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable" by Patrick M. Lencioni. 2002   1️⃣Absence of Trust 🤒Symptom: Team members hide mistakes and watch their backs 💉Antidote: Demolish Absence of Trust. Encourage transparency and open feedback.   2️⃣Fear of Conflict  🤒Symptom: Surface-level harmony prevents real debate and issue resolution 💉Antidote: Crush Fear of Conflict. Promote healthy debate and open discussion.   3️⃣Lack of Commitment 🤒Symptom: going through the motions, ambiguity reigns, no ownership, no buy in. 💉Antidote: Shatter a Lack of Commitment. Share out decision making, be on the same page and in it together.   4️⃣Avoidance of Team Accountability 🤒Symptom: poor performance, no feedback, low energy, no passion. 💉Antidote: Smash Avoidance of Team Accountability: clear roles and responsibilities, adopt SMART goals with smart rewards   5️⃣Inattention to Team Objectives 🤒Symptom:  Individual’s goals overshadow team objectives. 💉Antidote: Blast Inattention to Team Objectives: focus on delivering together, being stronger together and celebrating collective achievements together   👆Tip: Conduct a health check using Lencioni’s 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and create a team culture of trust, accountability, and high performance.   Extract from the Visual Agile Coach Playbook 📕 Visual by Olina Glindevi ✏️ I literally had to beg for zombies! This is one of my favourite visuals in the book.   And before anyone asks why a Pyramid? The 5 Dysfunctions - like many models - is often drawn as a pyramid. But in our case it was just the best shape for the team to climb and the zombies to slide down, we had some pretty intellectual discussions about this model for sure … 🧟♀️🧟♂️ #VisualAgileCoaching #DiscoverDevelopDo #Teamwork #Coaching

I’ve nurtured dozens of High Performing Teams. The secret? I don’t - Allow bad people to remain on the team - Let the loudest voice on the team speak/decide for everyone - Enable low psychological safety - Recognize individuals - Reward Individuals Instead, what I strive for, is to: - Incentivize the team - everyone, the same - Recognize everyone on the team, by name - Include everyone on the team with decision making - Recognize the team’s small wins every day - Ensure every team member’s voice is heard Aligning teamwork with incentives is how you build high performing teams. Think team. Not individual. Teams win and learn together. How are you nurturing your team? Lemmeknowbelow 👇 ----- I'm Mike Lyons and I would love to hear from you - DM me anytime. Click my name + follow. Don't hit the 🔔 as that will notify you when I post - a distraction. I tell it like it is on topics like #agile, #projectmanagement, #product, #flow and #delivery