Can we make the lightbulb want to change? [PyCon Italia 2018]

**This version of the talk was presented at PyCon Italia 2018**

In today’s fast-paced world, change is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury. And yet, many of us, understandably, still have a love-hate relationship with change. How comfortable is your comfort zone? Should you take that step onto new, unknown territory? Once you do, can you convince others to do the same? Learning how to answer questions like these is crucial, if we want to truly innovate in our jobs, communities, and lives.

In this talk, I’d like to share some of the lessons that I learned about inducing and managing change, both in myself and in groups I’ve worked with as a documentation writer, Agile scrum master, community manager, and diversity advocate. Magic solutions are not guaranteed, healthy discussions are encouraged.

https://www.pycon.it/conference/talks/can-we-make-light-bulb-want-change

Transcript

1. CAN WE MAKE THE LIGHTBULB WANT TO CHANGE? Mikey Ariel @ThatDocsLady @WriteTheDocs @HappinessPacket PyCon Italia, April 2018
2. Before we start... This talk will run the full 45 minutes, with no on-stage questions. Personal interaction is recommended (talk to me afterwards!), or you can email, Slack, or tweet @ThatDocsLady with your questions any time. ◉ Enhance your calm ◉ Communicate with kindness ◉ Act with empathy
3. Who is That Docs Lady? @ThatDocsLady docs@docsideofthemoon.com @WriteTheDocs
4. “ Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?
5. “ Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
6. “ Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
7. “ Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? A: One, but the lightbulb has to WANT to change...
8. CHANGE /tʃeɪn(d)ʒ/ (noun) an act or process through which something becomes different. (verb) make or become different.
9. CHANGE /tʃeɪn(d)ʒ/ (noun) an act or process through which something becomes different. (verb) make or become different.
10. Better?
11. Better? Worse?
12. Better? DIFFERENT! Worse?
13. You’re not alone!
15. Winnie the Pooh
16. Tigger Eeyore
18. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
19. Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
20. Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!”
21. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive
22. Calculated Analytical Consistent Reliable “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive
23. Calculated Analytical Consistent Reliable Anxious Critical Resistant Inflexible “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive
24. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” 100% 100% Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive Calculated Analytical Consistent Reliable Anxious Critical Resistant Inflexible
25. “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” 100% 100% Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive Calculated Analytical Consistent Reliable Anxious Critical Resistant Inflexible
26. Where are you? “Bouncing is what Tiggers do best!” “It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it…” 100% 100% Adaptable Flexible Excited Intuitive Unstable Inconsistent Excitable Impulsive Calculated Analytical Consistent Reliable Anxious Critical Resistant Inflexible
27. LIFE LESSONS or: how to implement change and survive to tell the tale
28. LIFE LESSONS #1: Start with “why” Find the true motivation for the change and own it.
30. LIFE LESSONS #1: Start with “why” Find the true motivation for the change and own it.
31. LIFE LESSONS #2: Do your homework Make the “scary unknown” less scary.
33. LIFE LESSONS #2: Do your homework Make the “scary unknown” less scary.
34. LIFE LESSONS #3: Lead by example Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
36. LIFE LESSONS #3: Lead by example Be the change that you wish to see in the world.
37. LIFE LESSONS #4: Nothing is ever obvious No, really. NEVER.
39. LIFE LESSONS #4: Nothing is ever obvious No, really. NEVER.
40. LIFE LESSONS #5: It’s not (just) about you Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
42. LIFE LESSONS #5: It’s not (just) about you Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
43. LIFE LESSONS #6: Open-first wins Open early, often, and fear not the open floodgates.
44. WHAT IS AN OPEN DECISION? TRANSPARENT INCLUSIVE CUSTOMER-CENTRIC Explain who is making the decision, what problems you're trying to solve, the requirements and constraints involved, and the process you will follow. Engage others for feedback and collaborate throughout the decision-making process. Seek out diverse perspectives, including potential detractors. Think of people as customers with competing needs and priorities. When a decision will help some customers, but disappoint others, manage relationships and expectations while getting stuff done.
45. LIFE LESSONS #6: Open-first wins Open early, often, and fear not the open floodgates.
46. LIFE LESSONS #7: Feelings != Facts Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
48. LIFE LESSONS #7: Feelings != Facts Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
49. LIFE LESSONS #8: Do not feed the trolls Put that email down and take a breath.
51. LIFE LESSONS #8: Do not feed the trolls Put that email down and take a breath.
52. LIFE LESSONS #9: Your energy is finite You can’t always change everything at once.
54. LIFE LESSONS #9: Your energy is finite You can’t always change everything at once.
55. LIFE LESSONS #10: S@#% happens The road to success is always under construction.
57. LIFE LESSONS #10: S@#% happens The road to success is always under construction.
58. LIFE CHEAT SHEET ◉ Start with “why” ◉ Do your homework ◉ Lead by example ◉ Nothing is ever obvious ◉ It’s not (just) about you ◉ Open-first wins ◉ Feelings != Facts ◉ Do not feed the trolls ◉ Your energy is finite ◉ S@#% happens
59. “ “[Deity of choice], grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” - Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr
60. @ThatDocsLady docs@docsideofthemoon.com @WriteTheDocs Thanks, here’s your change!