why iteraters make better leaders, learners and lovers

Meryl Runion Rose, Chief Iteration Officer, SpeakStrong Please share freely with credit.

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Why Iteraters Make Better Leaders, Learners and Lovers

I came, I saw, I iteratedVersion 1: An iterative exploration

of the iterative process.

Input invited.


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Are you an iterater or planner?

Iterater sayings:• Let’s try it out• Pick a direction and go• If all else fails I might

read the instructions• We fail forward faster• If at first you don’t

succeed, try try again• I did not fail, I iterated

Planner sayings:• Let’s think it out• Pick a direction and plan• Study instructions and

implement perfectly• Failure is final• Failing to plan is planning

to fail• You succeed… or you fail


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Are you an iterater AND a planner?

“No battle plan ever outlasts first contact with the enemy”

Plan to iterate1. Know when you’ve moved from knowledge to

speculation

2. Let speculation trigger iteration

3. Let iteration trigger observation

4. Let observation provide information

5. Go back to step one(This is an Improvement Kata – a practice that develops skill.)


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Why did kindergarteners do better than business school grads? They iterated.

“Business students are trained to find the single right plan. And then they execute on it. And then what happens is, when they put the marshmallow on the top, they run out of time, and what happens? It's a crisis. Sound familiar? What kindergarteners do differently, is that they start with the marshmallow, and they build prototypes, successive prototypes, always keeping the marshmallow on top, so they have multiple times to fix ill built prototypes along the way. Designers recognize this type of collaboration as the essence of the iterative process. And with each version, kids get instant feedback about what works and what doesn't work.”

Tom Wujec


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Why do iteraters make better leaders and learners?

Iterative leaders• Provide direction without pulling

rank• Create a compelling vision to inspire

focused aspiration• Receive and adapt to feedback• Honor the discovery process• Don‘t try to force reality into

distorted expectations• Encourage people to find their own

approaches, styles and answers• Recognize brilliance and leadership

potential at every level• Make it safe to be honest

Iterative learners• Combine instruction with exploration

to develop their own understanding• Willing to try things that might not

work• Build on ideas to keep learning• Submit raw ideas and drafts for input• Test ideas early and often• Playful and creative• Learn when reality doesn’t fit their

pictures• Not trying to prove themselves, or to

project an image• Not jockeying for power• Learn from every “failure”


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Why do iteraters make better lovers?

See the previous slide

“Let’s see what happens if we…”

No expectations, lots of expectancy


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Leading, Learning and Loving are Journeys of Discovery, not Performances of Prowess

• I’d rather be iterating• Iteraters have more fun• Iteraters get more done• Making the world a safe place

to iterate in• Kata: The cure for il-iteracy• Don’t wait, iterate!• I didn’t fail, I iterated• I came, I saw, I iterated • Don't speculate, iterate!• Improvement happens one

iteration at a time• One good iteration deserves

another• Iteraters know, being a beacon

of light in the world doesn't mean being a beacon of perfection

• Planning to iterate is planning to discover, lead, learn and succeed