During our shelter in place season in response to COVID, I have been taking stock of my life, my approach to work, and what I want my life to be like in the future. I have been making some changes (for the better) in order to reach some of those goals (see my post from last week on 10 Years, 10 Dreams, 1 Goal).
So one step toward those dreams is to get back into blogging — writing a bit every few days. Hopefully you, dear reader, are enjoying the fruits of that labor. But I have also gotten on a bit of a Star Trek kick.
Some Context
Now, I have been a Star Trek fan since college. I love science fiction. One year (senior year, I do believe), during finals week, I watched the entire Original Series that aired in the ’60’s and started the Star Trek saga. Surely, I did not have to study hard to pass and get my degree (and commission)! I remember watching some of the other series growing up off and on: The Next Generation, Voyager, and even Deep Space Nine. I also watched most of the feature films produced in the late ’80’s and ’90’s.
One of the films I did not get to back then is Star Trek X: Nemesis. So, of course, I sat down a few weeks ago to enjoy it. In the final scene (video), Capt. Picard is explaining the nature of the recently deceased android, Data, to a prototype, B-4. You can learn a bit more about B-4 and how he appears in the film at startrek.com.
Watch the video, above, and then read the transcript below:
Picard: I wanted you to know what kind of man he was in his quest to be more like us he helped us to see what it means to be human.
B-4: My — my brother was not human
Picard: No, he wasn’t. But his wonder, his curiosity about every facet of human nature allowed all of us to see the best parts of ourselves. He evolved. He embraced change because he always wanted to be better than he was.
B-4: I — I do not understand
Picard: Well, I hope someday you will.
Ok, so what does any of this have to do with agile?
Hold on, I’m getting there.
Picard is highlighting a few key aspects of Data’s nature that highlight how he embraces an agile mindset. First, Data was
curious by nature. He wanted to learn more about what it is to be human – the human condition. Curiosity is a hallmark of a growth mindset (research more of
Carol Dweck’s work on your own). That same curiosity, in an agile context, could apply to almost anything.
Here are just a few topics that I am curious about and explore continuously as an agile coach:
- how people relate to one another
- how work works
- how organizations are designed
- how software is built
- how value is created
- how customers use our products
What are some other areas to explore? (leave a comment below)
Secondly, Data embraced change. Picard is identifying that data was an adaptable and responsive being. The world around him, in some distant stardate–none too different from the world around you–is sometimes chaotic and often quite complex. The desire and ability to embrace change as an agile practitioner allows us to evolve as well. It helps us to accept change as it happens, adapt to our current environment, and identify the next right thing to do.
Wrapping Up
I hope this scene and the way I have explored it shed some light on the agile mindset that undergirds Data’s nature and the nature of every good agilist out there. Stay curious and embrace change in all that you do.
If any of this piques your Star Trek curiosity, I will share that CBS has been producing new Star Trek content over the last few years with
CBS All Access.Live Long and Prosper
Until the Next Iteration . . .
Jason
Related
