How to Run a Process Walkthrough

Last week, I tried something new.

I was working with a group on a logistics process, and it seemed to me that the whole discussion was too cerebral. We had a one-dimensional Visio image on a screen, but no process is one-dimensional.

Any process is 4 parts people, 2 parts machine, 1 part time, 1 part emotion, 3 parts fumbling in the dark, and 1 part flowchart..
That's on a good day.

You probably know by know that I'm a sports nut. So, I reached into my sports metaphor toolbox and suggested we do a 'no-pads' walkthrough.

Let's print out each process box on a 8x10 piece of paper, lay it out on a floor, and - like a giant chess board - literally walkthrough it and see what happens.

So, yesterday we tried it. It was amazing to see the difference. Staring at a projected screen is entirely a left-brain event. As soon as we stepped up and walked around our '3-D swimlane chart', people noticed problems. Right brains become engaged.
Imagine the power of using your whole brain at work... no, really... imagine!!
In 90 minutes, we changed about 60% of the process - simplifying and clarifying it.

I was pretty proud of myself, until Ken informed me that this is a standard event in the world of process mapping. Oh well. It was still pretty cool...

Where would a walk through help your team?

Who Are You? The Twenty Statements Test

I am... hiking at Alum Rock Park today...

The 'Twenty Statements Test' is a simple exercise for exploring one's sense of self.

Here's a pdf version of the exercise.

Take 12 minutes to list as many words as you can that complete the statement, "I am..."

The TST can be use for self-reflection, or for coaching.

Some questions you might ask, or reflect upon after completion would include:

• How many gender specific phrases did you use?
• How many external vs. internal identities did you express?
• How old or new are these self-images?
• Are there any you want to change?

Here's mine (completely without a filter). I am:

1. a musician
2. creative
3. a traveler
4. a songwriter
5. a storyteller
6. in love with my wife
7. a fan of the NY Giants and Yankees
8. more happy to be alone than people think
9. content
10. optimistic
11. an explorer
12. a thinker
13. intuitive
14. often loud
15. son of Sam (my dad's name)
16. observant
17. always moving
18. a beach bum when i can be
19. not afraid of much
20. an engineer
21. an artist
22. a teacher
23. a photographer
24. visual
25. verbal
26. global
27. a less than active family member
28. apolitical
29. agnostic
30. watchless, phoneless, and combless
31. a dog lover
32. a naturalist
33. an amateur anthropologist
34. disappointed in the state of architecture
35. an ex-expatriate
36. blessed with great friends
37. at my best in new situations
38. constantly learning
39. a smart-ass
40. grateful

These aren't too gender specific identities, and there's a pretty even balance between internal and external. Almost all of these have been true since I was young.

Try it!