Content by Jim Benson
The Modus Guide to a Stress-Free Workday‘The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.’
Wed, 09/29/2021 - 12:02
Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. In fact, for short periods of time, it is actually valuable to us. The hormones our brains release during stressful moments were designed to protect us by preparing us to react…
The Exercise Every Team NeedsValue stream mapping for knowledge work, where lean and agile collide
Tue, 08/10/2021 - 12:02
Value stream mapping is a team exercise, it’s collaborative, enlightening, and the foundation for professionalism. I’m pretty well-known for saying that teams are unique and that there is no one process that satisfies every team’s needs. There is,…
The Four Stages of Systems ThinkingEverything is a system
Wed, 06/02/2021 - 12:02
No matter who you are or what you do, you create systems and live in the systems of others every day. But for some reason, we’re never actually taught lean systems thinking. We think it is natural, that we just sort of “get it.” On a personal level…
PDSA As a Lean Agile LensDon’t just set and forget KPIs or other metrics. Understand the true narrative of the work you do.
Thu, 05/06/2021 - 12:03
We want to grow as professionals. We want our products to be better, our know-how to be deeper, our impact to be known and recognized. This is impossible without continuous improvement. I have met many mediocre professionals who are mediocre only…
Flow As a Lean Agile LensThis causes us to confront the double-edged sword of what lean calls ‘standard work’
Tue, 04/27/2021 - 12:02
In lean there is mura, the waste of unevenness. It’s probably the most important, but also most overlooked, in the waste theater. For knowledge work, unevenness primarily interrupts flow. It’s when you have work that you should do easily but you…
Respect As a Lean Agile LensWe could do with a few more conversations about respect
Mon, 03/15/2021 - 13:02
Respect is an abused word. Weak minds use it as a placeholder for fear. Weak egos will demand it up front. Weak hearts will use it to attach themselves to people of bluster, wishing they could be so outspoken. We could do with a few more…
Relationships As a Lean Agile LensRelationships are the transformation of understanding into appropriate action
Mon, 03/08/2021 - 12:02
When we work together, which we all do, everything involves relationships. People request work from other people... that is a relationship. People take jobs that involve bosses and structure... those are relationships. People form teams to get…
Communications As a Lean Agile LensIndividuals work in teams to provide value
Mon, 02/01/2021 - 12:02
We focus on the work, we focus on the teams, but we rarely focus on the individuals. What does an individual professional need to be fully engaged, enthusiastic, and ready to take on new challenges? Think of five of those needs. At the core of any…
Five Lean Agile LensesToward humanistic collaborative management
Tue, 12/22/2020 - 12:03
The strength of lean thinking and an agile mindset is that, at heart, they are both about continuous improvement. People want to, need to, improve. We need to get better at what we do, see increasing impact, and know we are making a difference. If…
On Drive, Leadership, and Humane SystemsBarbecue means more than cooking on wood
Wed, 10/21/2020 - 12:02
Last night I sat down to watch something that would help me barbecue meat better: a two hour-long movie called Barbecue. Simply that, by Australians. I figured it would be about making succulent shrimp or game meats. Something... Australian. The…