Episode 14: Strategizing Clean – Mike Burrows on Integrating Clean Language with Strategic Thinking

Welcome to Episode 14 of "Clean at Work," where we delve into the fusion of clean language with strategic thinking. Our esteemed guest this week is Mike Burrows, founder of AgendaShift, renowned for his innovative approach to integrating clean language into strategic conversations.

In this episode, Mike shares his insights on how clean language can revolutionize strategy-related discussions in technology organizations and beyond. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on outcomes before rushing to solutions, highlighting how this approach saves time and fosters more inclusive, effective conversations.

Mike walks us through his "ideal obstacles outcomes" principle, which aligns with systemic modelling techniques. This method encourages exploring the ideal scenario first, then addressing multiple obstacles, creating a more holistic view of the challenges and opportunities. Mike's approach underscores the value of rich, outcome-oriented conversations with diverse voices and perspectives.

The discussion also touches upon the practical application of clean language in Mike's facilitated work, including his famous "Fifteen-Minute FOTO" game. This game is a brilliant example of how clean language can be used in a structured yet flexible way to generate meaningful outcomes and strategies.

Mike's insights extend beyond mere technique, delving into the nuances of leadership, organizational discourse, and the transformational impact of clean language on workplace communication. He shares his experiences with coaching, the challenges of integrating new tools into established practices, and the importance of respecting the client's mental model.

As the conversation unfolds, Mike and our hosts explore the dynamic relationship between problems, obstacles, outcomes, and the broader context of strategic thinking. This episode offers a wealth of knowledge for anyone interested in enhancing their strategic conversations with clean language, from agile coaches to business leaders.

Join us for this enlightening discussion with Mike Burrows, where we uncover the synergies between clean language and strategic thought, providing listeners with actionable insights to implement in their workplaces.

The game discussed in the podcast can be found here: https://www.agendashift.com/resources/15-minute-foto

About the Speaker

Mike Burrows is the author of Agendashift: Outcome-oriented Change and continuous transformation (2nd edition March 2021), Right to Left: The digital leader's guide to Lean and Agile (2019, audiobook 2020), and the Lean-Agile classic Kanban from the Inside (2014). Mike is recognized for his pioneering work in Lean, Agile, and Kanban and for his advocacy for participatory and outcome-oriented approaches to change, transformation, and strategy. 

Prior to his consulting career, he was global development manager and Executive Director at a top tier investment bank, CTO for an energy risk management startup, and interim delivery manager for two of the UK government's digital 'exemplar' projects. Through Agendashift and the Agendashift Academy, his focus now is on wholehearted, deliberately adaptive organizations and the transformational leadership that enables them.

About the Hosts:

John Barratt (https://www.agileaffinity.com/) loves seeing individuals, teams, and organizations become the best they can be. He does this using a mixture of coaching approaches embedded with the agile mindset. John spends most of his time supporting organizations to descale and self-organize, relying heavily on the systemic modelling skills he learned through his ongoing training from Caitlin Walker.

Sarah Baca (http://www.nerdyknights.com/) is a coach, therapist, facilitator, and teacher who has a passion for using clean language to help others discover what makes them feel vibrantly alive. She has been working with organizations as an agile coach for over a decade, specializing in enterprise and leadership coaching.