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In today\u2019s \u2018solocast\u2019 of the Agile Coaches\u2019 Corner, Dan Neumann is exploring the art of metaphors. Metaphors can be a powerful tool to illustrate important ideas and concepts of agility \u2014 if used well.

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Dan shares the pros and cons of using metaphors in an agile setting, how to use them effectively whatever your role may be, and how metaphors can be a really powerful tool to add to your arsenal, regardless of what level you\u2019re at in the organization and who you\u2019re trying to communicate with.

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Key Takeaways

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a way of using a concrete image/example to help connect to an abstract thought

Taking an abstract idea like agility and then comparing it to something that is very concrete

Metaphors help us connect abstract things to familiar ideas

Examples: \u201cAll the world is a stage.\u201d \u2014 Shakespeare, \u201cLife is like a box of chocolates.\u201d \u2014 Forrest Gump

What to keep in mind when using metaphors:

Be aware that we can sometimes bring in biases and/or unintended constraints that are not helpful

Using a metaphor may impact the way a person is looking to solve a problem

The way in which a metaphor is used is going to affect the way that someone is going to think about different problems

Common (and not-so-common) agility metaphors:

An 8-hour endurance race (where the goal is to see how many miles you can go in a set amount of time) can be compared to an agile software development project

Building a car as compared to product development (the metaphor of construction helps to connect the thought of agility with regard to transportation)

Agile gardening vs. Agile farming (illustrates the contextual differences when you\u2019re doing small-scale agility [the gardening] vs. commercial, industrial-scale agility [farming])

Sailboat (a metaphor technique used in retrospectives): i.e. \u201cWhat are the fair winds that are blowing your boat across the water?\u201d and \u201cWhat are the anchors?\u201d (i.e. what is keeping your boat moving forward to its destination)

Metaphors can also be used to show where agility does not make sense (i.e. you don\u2019t exactly want a McDonald\u2019s lineworker being agile when they\u2019re making your burger; you want the same burger every time you go there)

House metaphors: \u201cIf you\u2019re building a house you have to build a solid foundation\u201d and \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t build a house one room at a time\u201d (these can be good for user stories as well as illustrating the desire for pre-planning)

Pros

Metaphors are powerful in that they cause the brain to react differently

Metaphors can help teams move away from a really concrete way of thinking about a problem to a much more abstract way, unlocking some new potential

There are lots of different ways of using metaphors to help connect people to this abstract concept of agility

Cons

An issue with metaphors is that they can sometimes be militaristic (i.e. using military metaphors, such as those seen in Team of Teams)

Some metaphors bring in gender biases (i.e. \u201cdon\u2019t get your panties in a twist\u201d) \u2014 this baggage is not appropriate and brings in stereotypes

Metaphors about games and sports (because agility isn\u2019t a win/lose scenario)

Art metaphors \u2014 not everyone will be able to relate to the message (it\u2019s important to be aware of your audience)

Imagining your team as a machine in a metaphor can bring in some constraints you don\u2019t necessarily want

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Mentioned in this Episode:

\u201cHow the brain finds meaning in metaphor,\u201d ScienceDaily

\u201cThrough Their Own Words: Towards a New Understanding of Leadership Through Metaphors\u201d

\u201cWhy Metaphors Are Important: Metaphors are not just a literary technique; they are a psychological technique\u201d

\u201cThe Power of Metaphors in Communication\u201d

Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by Stanley McChrystal with Chris Fussell, Tantum Collins, and David Silverman

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