Active Inertia - Helix Group

In this episode, Derek and Ryan are joined by Tom from the Helix Group to discuss the concept of active inertia and its relevance to organizational change and transformation. Active inertia suggests that before diving into any change initiative, it is crucial to step back and evaluate values, relationships, and strategic frameworks. Many companies, even at the individual and managerial levels, often fall into the trap of active inertia by applying old playbooks to new challenges without assessing their effectiveness.

The conversation touches on the consultant fallacy, where interviewers often inquire about the first steps a candidate would take upon entering an organization. Tom emphasizes the need to align existing practices with the requirements of the change or transformation being pursued. Companies that rely solely on their playbook without adapting it to new contexts often find themselves digging deeper holes and struggling to achieve successful transformations.

The antidote to active inertia lies in stepping back, evaluating existing processes, experimenting with different approaches, and embracing small steps towards change. The importance of value stream mapping is highlighted, with suggestions for Scrum Masters to lead the mapping process to identify waste and impediments in the workflow. The episode concludes by emphasizing the need for leadership to familiarize themselves with active inertia, as it can open their minds to the necessary changes and inspire a shift in their approach to transformation.

The conversation underscores the importance of holistic views, collaboration, and continuous learning in navigating successful transformations. Tom also briefly introduces the Adopt program, an immersive outcome-based learning initiative offered by the Helix Group. Listeners are encouraged to explore the group's website for more information.