In the world of digital transformation, where buzzwords often fly faster than solutions, there's always a moment—a turning point—where everything just clicks. This is a story about one such moment at a client site, where the introduction of EventStorming became the catalyst for a profound shift in how the team approached their work. It’s also a lesson in leadership, first followers, and how a seemingly small act of courage can spark a movement.
The team was first introduced to EventStorming by their enterprise architect—let's call him the 'game changer.' This person embodies the energy of someone who lives for transforming the future. He thinks at a mile a minute, with ideas that flash like lightning. But there's a catch—his rapid thinking often outpaces his ability to articulate his vision, leading to inevitable frustration when others can't immediately grasp the brilliance he sees.
As you might imagine, the team was less than thrilled with this new technique. They were seasoned professionals, comfortable in their expertise, and the idea of applying a beginner’s mind—essentially, admitting that they might not have all the answers—wasn't exactly appealing. It’s tough to feel like a novice again, especially when you’ve built a reputation for having your stuff together (or at least appearing to).
Leadership, recognizing the value in this approach, invested in training and coaching. But progress was slow. The team was climbing an uphill battle, and EventStorming was the summit that seemed just out of reach.
Enter the first follower: a Scrum Master with a unique blend of enthusiasm and polish. With her natural 'polisher' energy—the kind that sees potential in every rough draft—she decided to take the leap. She experimented with EventStorming, tweaking and refining until the technique started to resonate with the team. Each session she facilitated was better than the last, and slowly but surely, the team began to see the potential.
Then came the second follower: another Scrum Master, this one with a no-nonsense, 'implementer' energy. Initially skeptical, she wasn’t convinced that EventStorming was the right fit for their organization. But she watched, she learned, and she decided to give it a go—on her terms. She took the insights from the first follower, adapted them to fit her facilitation style, and focused on maximizing the participants' time. And just like that, the tide began to turn.
This second follower was the tipping point. When she brought her own flair to EventStorming, even the hardest skeptics started to come around. Managers who had been resistant began to incorporate the technique into their own meetings. The original game changer, once seen as a lone nut (to borrow a phrase from the famous leadership lesson video), was no longer alone. He now had two dynamic followers who complemented each other and amplified the impact of his initial vision.
Yesterday, during a catalyst meeting, the three of them—the game changer, the polisher, and the implementer—stood together, a testament to how movements begin. What started as one person’s vision had evolved into a team-wide adoption, fueled by the courage of the first and second followers who dared to try something new.
This experience serves as a powerful reminder of how leadership isn’t just about having the best ideas. It’s about having the courage to follow, to experiment, and to build on each other's successes. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to step up and say, "Let's give this a shot," and suddenly, that lone nut isn't so alone anymore.
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