Get out of the weeds

Nearly every Agile Coach coaching session I do goes like this—

Bob, let me give you the context,

Then I have a clarifying question or two,

More context, then more details, context, even deeper details,

Then I have a clarifying question or two,

More context…

You get the idea. The coachee inevitably tries to give me ALL of the excruciating details. To dazzle me with the details. To go deep.

Why? I don’t know. I’m guessing some reasons might be—

• Well, they are first in the weeds,

• Second, they’re overwhelmed with situational complexity,

• Third, they want me to help and think I need every detail to do so,

• Fourth, I think it’s an easier place to be, and,

• Finally, they want me to solve their problem or challenge.

All that said, I’m pretty good at getting out of the weeds. You see, the weeds are a trap not only for me as the Agile Coach

but also for their client. The best metaphor I can come up with is the forest and trees metaphor—you can’t see the forest for the trees.

I’m always looking to guide the client to stepping back and considering—

• The context

• The system

• The situation

• The culture

• Themselves

• The big picture

• Strategy

To change both of our lenses.

That said, I don’t always ask questions. Instead, I often pull a situational story from my experiential toolbox that is similar to theirs. I share its context, what we tried, how things unfolded, and the lessons we learned.

Inevitably, the story helps the client step away from the weeds and have a broader perspective regarding their situation.

And then something magical happens. Instead of them looking to me to solve their challenge, we begin to co-create ideas and options. Inevitably, they come up with some things to try.

Some are in the weeds, and some are broader, more systemic things.

Stay agile and out of the weeds, my friends,

Bob.