The Humanizing Work Show
A show about making work more fit for humans and all of us humans more capable of doing great work
#180 Use a Team Empowerment Map to Fix Delegation Theater
Delegation Theater: Is your team truly empowered—or just playing the part?
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, Peter and Richard introduce the Team Empowerment Map, a practical technique for clarifying decision-making across teams. Built on Jurgen Appelo’s 7 Levels of Delegation, this tool reveals where decisions are centralized, shared, or fully delegated—and how to shift toward real empowerment.
You’ll learn:
How to spot “Delegation Theater” in your organization
How to use the Empowerment Map to visualize who decides what
How one team used the tool to impr...
#179 Agile Burnout? Two Ways to Reenergize Your Team
If your team feels worn out, it's not just you—and it's not because you're doing Agile wrong.
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we describe two simple, proven techniques to help teams recover from the constant pressure to improve. From refreshing your retrospectives to scheduling strategic "cool downs," we show how small changes can make a big impact.
Ready to build a more sustainable pace for your team? Start by visiting humanizingwork.com to connect with us.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/improvement-fatigue-appreciation-retro/
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#178 Three Keys to Productive Backlog Refinement
Backlog refinement shouldn't be the most painful meeting of the week—but for many teams, it is.
Too much detail too early. Vague stories. Half the team checked out. And eventually, no one shows up at all.
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we’ll show you three practical changes that turn backlog refinement from a dreaded chore into a valuable, collaborative part of your Agile process. These tips will help you reduce churn, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and make sprint planning smoother.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why Agile feels...
#177 One Breakthrough Tip to Improve Each Scrum Meeting
One tip. One meeting. Big impact. In this rapid-fire episode, we show how a small change to each Scrum event can eliminate frustration and create flow. If your Backlog Refinement, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, or Sprint Retrospective has become stale, bureaucratic, or unproductive, we’ve got a simple tweak for each that takes under a minute to explain. Pick one meeting and improve it, or do a pass through all of them, and help your team get much more productive immediately!
Episode page:
https://www.humanizingwork.com/one-breakthrough-tip-to-improve-each-scrum-meeting/
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#176 Great Strategy in a Complex World
Most organizations invest heavily in strategy to gain alignment—only to see those plans fall apart when complexity enters the picture. In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, Peter Green and Richard Lawrence share a better way to build product strategy—one designed for complexity.
They introduce the Strategy Steps Canvas, a lightweight tool that helps teams chart an adaptive, value-driven path from current reality to a compelling vision. Along the way, you'll learn why most strategic plans fail, how to avoid wasting time on over-specified roadmaps, and what Netflix can teach us about strategic evolution.
<...#175 How to Split a User Story
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we tackle one of the most-requested topics in Agile and Scrum: how to split a user story effectively.
Drawing from our best-selling 80/20 Product Backlog Refinement course, Richard walks through the widely-used Story Splitting Flowchart, breaking down common challenges and actionable solutions.
You’ll learn:
Why “unsplittable stories” are often just non-stories How to balance the INVEST criteria when refining your backlog Which story splitting patterns are most useful (and when to use them) How smarter story slicing improves prioritization and ROIWhether you're a Product Owner...
#174 How to Make Change Management Joyful and Collaborative
Leading change doesn’t have to feel like a struggle—it can be joyful, creative, and deeply collaborative. In this episode, we explore a powerful shift in mindset that turns resistance into partnership, using Eli Goldratt’s Levels of Resistance model. Instead of fighting pushback, what if you invited skeptics to help solve the challenges?
We’ll show you how to reframe resistance as an opportunity for co-creation—where change becomes not just necessary, but exciting. If you’ve ever wanted change efforts to feel more energizing and less exhausting, this episode is for you.
Have you exp...
#173 Making a Split Product Owner Role Work
Should you split the Scrum Product Owner role? Many organizations do—but is it the right move? In this episode, we break down why companies divide the PO role (often into Product Manager, Product Owner, and/or Business Analyst), the hidden downsides that can hurt product success, and the key to making it work if you must split it.
Learn how a proven delegation model can prevent misalignment, reduce bottlenecks, and improve decision-making. Don’t let a split PO role slow your team down!
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/split-product-owner-role/
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#172 CAPED Phases 3-4: Creating Predictability While Keeping Adaptability
Many organizations struggle to balance predictability with adaptability in large initiatives. Too much planning creates rigidity, while too little leads to chaos. In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we dive into Phases 3 & 4 of CAPED—our Complexity-Aware Planning, Estimation, and Delivery approach—where we create a structured execution plan while keeping room for change.
Phase 3 (Analytical Planning) ensures that teams build a realistic, risk-aware plan by defining What we’re building, How we’ll ensure quality, and When it will be delivered.
Phase 4 (Iterative Execution) brings that plan to life with incremental delivery, adaptive prioriti...
#171 CAPED Phase 2: The Secret to Planning Complex Work
Software teams have used Agile techniques to iterate during execution for years. But what if the cost of iteration is too high to change after planning is complete?
In Phase 2 of the CAPED process—Active Planning—we resolve complexity before committing to a full-scale execution plan. In this episode, we explore how Pixar and architect Frank Gehry use iterative planning techniques to test and refine their ideas early—just like CAPED helps teams tackle uncertainty in big, complex initiatives.
Discover how Feature Mining, Iterative Probe-Sense-Respond, and Stakeholder Review form a loop that systematically turns unknowns into k...
#170 CAPED Phase 1–Complexity Aware Project Kickoffs
Traditional project kickoffs assume predictability, but large, complex projects—especially in regulated industries—don’t work that way. In this episode, we take a deep dive into Phase 1 of our CAPED approach: Strategic Planning. Learn how to align stakeholders, map complexity, and use Reference Class Forecasting instead of unreliable decomposition-based methods to improve estimates and decision-making.
Episode page: :Â https://www.humanizingwork.com/caped-phase-1-episode-complexity-aware-project-kickoffs/
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#169 CAPED: A Smarter Way to Plan Complex Work
Struggling to balance Agile’s adaptability with the predictability leaders demand? You’re not alone. Many teams try to blend Agile and Waterfall, only to end up with the worst of both—rigid upfront planning that falls apart or chaotic iteration with no clear direction.
In this episode, we introduce Active Planning, a key breakthrough in the CAPED (Complexity-Aware Planning, Estimation, and Delivery) approach. Inspired by Pixar’s storytelling process and Frank Gehry’s architectural methods, Active Planning tackles complexity head-on—bringing predictability without rigidity.
You’ll learn:
âś… Why planning fails when teams treat everything...
#168 Should You Backfill That Leadership Role—or Rethink It?
When a key leader leaves, the instinct is to backfill the role. But what if the real need has changed? In this episode, we break down how to make a smart, intentional hiring decision using three key insights:
Not Backfilling a Role Is a Strategic Choice, Not Just a Cost-Saving Move. If you don’t hire, who takes on the leadership responsibilities? Your teams? Yourself? A mix? The Three Jobs of Management Define Whether a Leadership Role Is Needed. A manager is only valuable if they create clarity, increase capability, or improve systems in a way that multiplies th...#167 "But in the Real World...": Overcoming Resistance to Change
Have you ever heard (or said), "That sounds great, but in the real world…"? This common objection can block meaningful change in teams and organizations. In this episode, we explore where this resistance comes from, how to interpret it, and—most importantly—how to work through it. Whether you're coaching a team, facing skepticism from colleagues, or even doubting change yourself, we’ll share practical ways to think about the “in the real world” objections, and how to respond with small, meaningful steps toward a better way of working.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/but-in-the-real-world/
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#166 Five Lessons to Build Stronger Trust at Work and Home
Trust is the foundation of every successful relationship, whether it’s between teammates, managers, or customers. In this episode, Peter shares key insights and actionable takeaways from Rachel Botsman’s audiobook How to Trust and Be Trusted. Discover the five big questions about trust, including how to make better decisions about who to trust, how to earn trust instead of trying to build it, and how trust drives innovation. Plus, learn practical strategies to repair trust when it’s broken and navigate the role of transparency in fostering trust.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/building-trust-with-rachel-botsman/
Shar...
#165 Three Things You Need for Empowerment
Are you tired of talking about empowerment without seeing real results? In this episode, Peter and Richard dive into the common trap of "empowerment theater"—when leaders say the right things about autonomy but fail to back them up with meaningful action.
Discover the three essential elements of productive empowerment: clarity, capability, and systems. You’ll learn practical strategies for creating the conditions where teams can make better decisions, move faster, and deliver innovative solutions to your organization’s biggest challenges.
Whether you're leading a team, managing stakeholders, or driving change in your organization, this episod...
#164 How the Progress Principle Can Help Your Goals Stick This Year
Tired of setting goals that fizzle out by February? Discover the key to sustained motivation with Teresa Amabile's groundbreaking "Progress Principle." In this episode, we share practical steps to apply this research to your personal and work goals, helping you turn ambitious resolutions into meaningful progress that lasts.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/progress-principle/
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#163 Five Ways to Get Fired Up for 2025
If you’re ready to leave 2024 behind and make the most of 2025, this episode is for you! We’ll share five powerful ways to take charge of your growth and well-being this year. From embracing new habits to thriving in complexity, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you find focus and inspiration, no matter the challenges ahead.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/five-ways-to-get-fired-up-for-2025/
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#162 Leadership Lessons from the Vineyard: A Conversation with Steven Thompson
Discover how leadership and regenerative farming intersect in this inspiring conversation with Steven Thompson of Analemma Wines. Steven shares the challenges of running a biodynamic winery, the power of shared purpose, and what it takes to build thriving ecosystems—both in the vineyard and among teams. Whether you're into wine, regenerative farming, or leadership, this episode offers fresh insights into sustainability, values-driven work, and organizational growth.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/leadership-lessons-from-the-vineyard/
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...
#161 4-Steps to Go From Resistance to Action
Feeling stuck by team resistance or organizational inertia? Learn the 4-Step Roadblock Buster, a proven process to go from “That Won’t Work Here” to “How Might We?” Peter and Richard share practical steps and real-world success stories to inspire your next breakthrough.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/resistance-to-action/
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Connect with Humanizing Work: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanizingwork
#160 Backlog Refinement: Avoiding the Detail Trap
Backlog refinement is essential for Agile teams, but it's easy to fall into the trap of overloading the backlog with too much detail—or not enough. In this episode, we tackle one of the most common and painful mistakes teams make: detailing work too early or too late. Discover how to keep refinement manageable and effective by structuring your backlog with just the right level of detail, using the PO Board model for clarity and flow. Plus, actionable tips to eliminate churn and restore calm to your backlog refinement process.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/avoiding-the-detail-trap/
...#159 How to Run an Effective Year-End Retrospective
Too many year-end retrospectives suffer from recency and peak-end biases, causing them to devolve into superficial reviews or Q4 gripe sessions. In this episode, we share a structured approach to help teams and organizations overcome those biases and conduct meaningful reflection sessions that drive real improvement.
Learn how to:
✨ Start with purpose to ground your retrospective
Use the ORID framework (Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, Decision) to guide meaningful discussion
Create timelines that capture the full year’s experience
Scale the approach for different team sizes and contexts
Whether you’re planning an indivi...
#158 How to Do Complexity Aware Annual Planning
"A beautifully detailed plan feels great—until reality intervenes." In this episode, Richard and Peter share hard-earned lessons about annual planning from their work with hundreds of organizations. They reveal why most companies should spend less time on detailed strategies and more time clarifying vision.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/annual-planning-that-works/
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Connect with Humanizing Work:Â https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanizingwork
#157 Are Product Owners & Product Managers the Same Thing?
What’s the real difference between Product Owners and Product Managers? This episode explores the evolving definitions of these roles and highlights how modern Product Management thought leadership aligns with the fundamentals of Great Product Ownership.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/are-product-owners-product-managers-the-same-thing/
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Connect with Humanizing Work:Â https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanizingwork
#156 How to Make a Team Faster (Without Burning Out)
"We've cut scope as much as we can, but the team still isn't fast enough." Sound familiar? In this episode, Richard and Peter reveal what actually makes teams faster—and it's probably not what you think. Learn the three key levers that influence team speed, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical steps you can take to sustainably increase your team's capacity. Perfect for engineering leaders, product managers, and anyone responsible for team performance.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/make-a-team-faster/
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...#155 How to Manage Deadlines in Agile
Are deadlines the enemy of Agile? Many teams think so. But while unreasonable deadlines can destroy morale and quality, legitimate business timing needs shouldn’t be ignored. In this episode, we explore how to work productively with deadlines while maintaining Agile principles:
Why the “no deadlines in Agile” mindset can be counterproductive Understanding the Iron Triangle and its relationship to quality The counterintuitive psychological effects of fixing time vs. fixing scope Practical techniques for meeting business timing needs while maintaining quality Real-world examples of successful deadline navigationWhether you’re a leader trying to make commitments to stakehol...
#154 Beyond the Spotify Model: CTO Kevin Goldsmith on Agile, Authority & Empowering Teams
How do you lead a high-performing, empowered team? Kevin Goldsmith, a former Adobe and Spotify leader, joins the Humanizing Work Show to share his journey from engineering to executive leadership. We explore his take on the Spotify Model, how he approaches mentoring new managers, and why positional authority matters more than most leaders realize. Perfect for anyone in tech, leadership, or agile, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building sustainable, people-centered organizations.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/kevin-goldsmith/
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#153 Behind the Scenes of a 50-Person Remote Retro
Get an inside look at how professional facilitators design and run high-stakes remote meetings. Follow along as we dissect a real 50-person marketing team retrospective, from initial planning through execution and lessons learned. Perfect for anyone looking to level up their meeting facilitation skills or manage large-scale remote collaboration.
Useful Links:
https://www.humanizingwork.com/fix-your-meetings-with-david/
https://www.humanizingwork.com/the-art-of-focused-conversation/
https://www.humanizingwork.com/why-scrum-works-when-it-works/
https://www.humanizingwork.com/getting-feedback-on-wip/
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/retro-behind-the-scenes/
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#152 Decision-Making in Consensus Cultures
Does it take meeting after meeting to get to a decision in your organization? Do decisions you thought were done come back to life if someone later feels like they weren’t included enough?
In this episode, Richard and Peter discuss how to identify a consensus culture and share some practical tools and advice for making faster, more effective decisions while still maintaining the values that create a consensus culture. You don’t get better decisions in a consensus culture by just becoming individualistic and authoritarian—you get better decisions with better tools and skills.
Episod...
#151 What Business Teams Can Learn From Jazz (Edited Rebroadcast)
In this edited rebroadcast from Season 2, Episode 2, we explore the surprising lessons a professional jazz quintet can teach us about business cultures and teams.
The original, unedited version with all of the music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhvOJoZmTMs
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/business-and-jazz/
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https://twitter.com/rslawrence/
https://twitter...
#150 Dealing With 'But We Must!' Management
A HW Show Classic Rebroadcast from 2022, this is one of our most viewed episodes, and we're excited to bring it to our broader audience.
Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/but-we-must-management/
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https://twitter.com/tptman/
#149 Using Focused Conversations to Access Group Wisdom
Are you tired of wasting hours in unproductive meetings? The average professional spends over 30 hours each month in meetings that go nowhere. In this episode, we introduce the Focused Conversation method from the influential book "The Art of Focused Conversation" edited by Brian Stanfield. This isn't just a tool for better meetings—it's a transformative approach to thinking, communicating, and connecting more effectively with others.
Discover how this four-step process—Observe, Reflect, Interpret, and Decide—helps you tap into collective wisdom, foster meaningful dialogue, and bridge divides in an increasingly polarized world. We'll delve into the neuroscience showin...
#148 Streamlining Cross-Team Coordination: Save Time, Catch Details That Matter
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, Peter and Richard delve into the often messy world of cross-team coordination. While collaborating within a team has its challenges, coordinating between teams can feel like navigating a maze—too much information, missed details, and meetings that waste everyone's time.
We explore why common approaches to cross-team coordination often fall short:
Unstructured Meetings: Regular cross-team meetings without a clear agenda can lead to irrelevant discussions and overlooked critical topics. Overloading with Details: Sharing full backlogs or all team details creates noise, making it hard to identify what's truly im...#147 To Plan or Not to Plan?
“We’re agile—we don’t need to plan.” “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Which is right?
In this episode, Peter and Richard explore two common mistakes around planning—either trying to plan everything or not planning at all—and why the alternative is something that looks like both planning and execution at the same time. Learn how successful organizations like Pixar use iterative planning techniques to manage complex projects, and how you can apply these principles to your work. This episode challenges common planning misconceptions and offers practical advice for leaders, product managers...
#146 When Purpose and Strategy Don't Matter
"Strategy just gets in the way of us doing our job." - Jos de Blok, CEO of Buurtzorg
In this thought-provoking episode of the Humanizing Work Show, we examine a counterintuitive approach to leadership. While creating clarity through purpose, vision, and strategy is often crucial, sometimes the best leadership move is to step back.
We explore the case of Buurtzorg, a Dutch home healthcare provider that's challenging conventional leadership wisdom:
When traditional purpose, vision, and strategy statements become unnecessary How Buurtzorg scaled to 10,000+ employees with minimal management oversight The power of intrinsic motivation in...#145 Projects Shouldn’t Start Green, They Should Earn It
Most projects start green but end up in crisis mode. Instead, make your project "Earn Green" by directly tackling risk and complexity first. We’ll share real-world examples of how sequencing work this way makes the end of the project calm and peaceful, even when you can't ship incrementally. Whether you're a project manager seeking on-time delivery or an Agile advocate looking to make a difference, this episode offers practical insights to transform your project outcomes.
Key topics:
The pitfalls of traditional green-yellow-red status reporting How to "earn green" by addressing complexity early Balancing Agile principles wi...#144 Giving Great Answers to Impromptu Questions: Richard’s Top Five Tips
In this action-packed episode of the Humanizing Work Show, hosts Peter and Richard break down the art of delivering thoughtful, articulate responses to unexpected questions. Whether you're a coach, nonprofit leader, or professional looking to enhance your communication skills, this episode offers concrete strategies you can start using today.
Learn five key techniques to master impromptu speaking:
Develop your "vocabulary" through daily writing exercises Use recording and transcription to refine your thoughts Practice in low-stakes environments to build confidence Employ mental models to quickly analyze complex situations Shift your focus from self to others by getting...#143 Daily Scrum Taking Too Long?
Is your Daily Scrum dragging on? In this episode, Peter & Richard dive into a real-world case of a 20-person Scrum team struggling with long, ineffective Daily Scrums. We explore why simply changing the format isn't always the answer and uncover deeper issues in team structure and work organization. Learn how to identify if Scrum is the right fit for your team, when to consider alternatives like Kanban, and practical steps to improve collaboration and efficiency. Whether you're an Agile coach, Scrum Master, or team member, you'll gain valuable insights on optimizing your Agile practices for better results.
...
#142 Agile's Three Tribes: People, Performance, and Process
Is there one true Agile? In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show we break down the three Agile tribes—People, Performance, and Process—and discuss why the conflict between them is surface-level and how they can be integrated for greater success.
Episode page: Â https://www.humanizingwork.com/agiles-three-tribes-people-performance-and-process/
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#141 Setting Team Goals: 5 Tips for Getting it Right
In this episode of the Humanizing Work Show, hosts Peter Green and Richard Lawrence dive into the art of setting effective team goals that drive motivation and performance. Discover the research-backed reasons why some goals inspire while others fall flat. Learn five actionable tips on how to set goals that your team will embrace, covering the Source, Size, Category, Criteria, and Persistence of the goals.
Key Points Covered:
Why setting good team goals is crucial for performance and motivation. The importance of team-set goals versus management-assigned goals. How to find the right level of granularity for...
