Communication Preferences Matter When Implementing Scrum On Your Team

How many times have you “reached out” (corporate speak in some places for “communicate with”) and you did not get a response.

I work with many people all around the world. Time Zones. Cultural differences. Work preferences. And more.

Real life surrounds us.

And, as we’ve learned over the past few years (with most of us being sent into a non-in-person-face-not-to-face-mode) it’s different than the before times.

Or is it?

Here are some examples about my communication preferences:

• I prefer people I know to use text messages (or use signal) to get in touch with me for the fastest response.

• I encourage using a contact form for people who want to start a conversation with me.

• I have a profile on LinkedIn (with a “new” newsletter there about becoming more productive by doing less — subscribe to my weekly LinkedIn Newsletter (I send new editions out regularly on Thursday there) — where people can follow me and/or send me a direct message.

• I have a profile on Twitter. I follow nobody. Zero people. I have a few highly curated lists that I check in with. Anyone can send me a direct message.

• I am not on Facebook or WhatsApp.

• I am not on Instagram (I think there are a few old pics up there).

• If you call me, unless you are on my “favorites” list (like four people), my phone does not ring and you’ll get a voice mail message asking you to send me a text message; this helps us both make sure you are a human being and not a scam robocall.

• I use slack on my laptop. It’s not on my mobile device.

• I use email on my laptop. It’s not on my mobile device.

All notifications on my mobile device are off.

Yep… sounds pretty extreme, right (see hyperactivehivemind.com for more details)?

Are you a luddite Mike?

Heh… not really. You can get to me anytime and I am pretty responsive. I don’t hide.

And this is the important takeaway for you…

I bet it’s not just me.

Focus. #deliver

Communication Preferences: What Next?

Have a conversation (hmmm… see the possible quandary here?!?!) with your Scrum Team and check-in with each other about how each individual person really likes / prefers their communication styles and times with you and the team.

You’ll learn that your preferences are not their preferences.

And this is OK.

Respect.

Need some help with this?

I can help with the conversation.

Contact me or connect with me on LinkedIn to discuss this more together.

Also, check out AgileMentoring.com while you are here; it’s a great community of agile practitioners from around the world who are figuring things out together!

One final thing…

Subscribe to my weekly Saturday morning emails about Implementing Scrum in the real world. And get an “every two week” check in from me too.

What could be better?