It’s time to stop working on un-prioritized, invisible work, no matter the theatre around it.
Homework to Start a Lean Portfolio
Leaders who want to begin using a Lean portfolio, or maybe refresh an existing portfolio, can really benefit from a strategic homework assignment. By answering a few questions outside of any training or planning can begin to grow (or refresh) the mindset needed to lead using LPM. The nature of the questions will remind your target learners that this work is different, and it is very impactful to your customers.
Of course your leaders will believe they don’t have the time or need for LPM homework. The pressures for them to deliver are very real. Maybe even to simply survive the day. Help your leaders see that LPM work will help with the delivery pressures, and eventually, with the epidemic of invisible and un-prioritized work. Rather than require, invite and encourage them that LPM is a process that needs their time and attention, likely in a way that is different from the rest of their job function.
Invisible, un-prioritized work causes exponential delays.
Lean Portfolio Management Homework
How would your customers describe your current internal process for deciding what is important?
What would happen if your team team all won the lottery and never returned to work?
How do you currently intake new value opportunities?
Bring 3–5 new requests to test. Include a list of stakeholders and their corresponding level of development.
Debrief: The group of leaders meet and exchange answers and discuss how these answers, hopefully with a facilitator. The exchange itself is valuable; the outputs from it inform next steps in your LPM development or refresh.