It sounds like you are one step ahead of Google: http://www.fastcompany.com/1761778/training-secrets-from-inside-the-googleplex
An agile development process I worked with a while back had a similar "show and tell" concept for the development team. I found it to be very worthwhile, as we had design decisions explained to the whole team - and discussed, so we had both learning and improvement. You have described the benefits very well. Sadly the concept fell out of favor and was axed. As a team lead I would have been eviscerated had I tried to introduce a 20% concept. It was hard enough getting management buy in for retros :-( Those pesky time-sheets, again. Martin On 23 June 2011 10:16, Jonathon Blackford <jonathonblackf...@gmail.com> wrote: > Love the coaches idea too. > I setup a weekly "show and tell" with one of my development teams a little > while ago. The idea came out of a joke, but it ended up being incredibly fun > and valuable. We basically spent Friday afternoons sharing cool patterns, > frameworks, and potential project related ideas. Lots was learning for some > people, lots of productivity holes filled, and lots of bonding. > Many project managers and team leads could probably introduce 20% > time/coaches/show and tell without getting any super high level buy-in, as > long as their team's continue to deliver. Most just don't think about it or > are afraid of taking on the risk. > > On Wed, Jun 22, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Martin Paulo <martin.pa...@gmail.com> > wrote: >> >> If we are going to use Barcelona as an analogy then are we saying that >> companies should have coaches whose sole role is to improve the staff? >> And that the staff should have regular time to practice and develop >> their skills? Because I'll buy into that idea - and would love to work >> at that company. >> >> Sadly, in my entire career not one company I have worked for has had a >> formal program for developing their IT staff: and when I have >> discussed doing something as simple as Google's or Atlassian's 20% >> time I have been met with howls of derision - and comments such as >> "we're not funding that - gosh imagine telling customers that they are >> paying for our staff to sit around doing nothing". >> >> IMHO that 20% time is a necessary investment in keeping your staff >> ahead in the *knowledge* economy - and entirely consistent with the >> agile development methodology. Having a coach to manage the whole >> process sounds like a fantastic idea! >> >> Also, I have worked with some real super star developers: and some >> have been so obnoxious that serial resignations of lesser mortals >> followed them from project to project. The loss of knowledge and time >> due to the "lesser" people leaving far outweighed any gain from having >> those super star developers on board. So if your super star can't work >> with a team he really isn't a super star... >> >> Martin >> >> On 22 June 2011 23:07, Mick Liubinskas (Pollenizer) <bigm...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> > Yep, that's a good point. I've often found that senior/star in one >> > company, doing one thing, at one time does not mean senior/star every >> > where/time. Senior people often have to unlearn before they can work >> > in a new system, where as younger people are a bit more raw. >> > >> > Star players or star team, key is also to have a coach that can bring >> > out the best in them. It is rare that the star in a business is also >> > the coach. >> > >> > Mick "Messi" Liubinskas >> > >> > On Jun 22, 10:13 pm, Justin Tauber <anotherjus...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> "Good established companies can grow awesome people as well as just >> >> hire them" >> >> >> >> Nice. >> >> >> >> Justin Tauber >> >> 0422 376 922 >> >> >> >> On 22/06/2011, at 5:43 PM, Matt Moore <innotect...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Good established companies can grow awesome people as well as just >> >> > hire them >> > >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon >> > Beach Australia mailing list. >> > >> > Guidelines on discussion: >> > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den >> > >> > No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. >> > >> > To post to this group, send email to >> > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >> > For more options, visit this group at >> > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en >> > >> >> >> >> -- >> ================================================================== >> >> Martin Paulo, BSc. >> Software Developer >> >> Tel : +61-3-9434 2508 (Home) >> Tel : 04 205 20339 (Mobile) >> Site: http://www.thepaulofamily.net >> >> "Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded" - Yogi Berra. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach >> Australia mailing list. >> >> Guidelines on discussion: >> http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den >> >> No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. >> >> To post to this group, send email to >> silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > Australia mailing list. > > Guidelines on discussion: > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den > > No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. > > To post to this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > -- ================================================================== Martin Paulo, BSc. Software Developer Tel : +61-3-9434 2508 (Home) Tel : 04 205 20339 (Mobile) Site: http://www.thepaulofamily.net "Nobody goes there any more. It's too crowded" - Yogi Berra. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
