Our Agile Tales

Mun-Wai Chung & JF Unson
  • 5.0 (2)
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Our Agile Tales

Once upon a time, in an agile land, we navigate corporate levels and political waters to transform the business to be adaptable to this forever changing world. We are excited to share with you our agile journey. Enjoy our tales as we weave our stories together, sometimes with others, on our podcasts.

  1. 14H AGO

    Demystifying Company Culture and Getting Real About Better Workplaces Episode #1

    In this new series of episodes on Our Agile Tales, we’re getting radically honest about company culture with Lizzie Benton—culture coach, founder of Liberty Mind, and one of the most refreshingly candid voices in the world of modern work. Let’s face it: “culture” has become a buzzword. It’s often pitched as a magic bullet for success, but most organizations still struggle to define it—let alone get it right. In this series, Lizzie helps us move beyond the platitudes. She unpacks what culture actually is, why so many transformations fall flat, and what it really takes to build a workplace where both people and business can thrive. We’ll explore the tools and mindsets that matter, and dig into the uncomfortable truths that often get overlooked. In this episode: Lizzie Benton explains her journey into culture coaching, defines company culture, and addresses misconceptions about it. She critiques the impacts of Silicon Valley's corporate culture and explains the phenomenon of 'culture washing.' The discussion extends to alternative management structures, highlighting companies like Burtzorg and ABN AMRO that have successfully adopted self-managing teams. Join us as we delve deep into creating purpose-driven, adaptable work environments. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales Season 10 00:28 Meet Lizzie Benton: Culture Coach Extraordinaire 01:44 Defining Culture: Beyond the Buzzwords 03:12 Lizzie's Journey into Culture Coaching 04:35 Understanding Company Culture 08:39 Silicon Valley's Influence on Corporate Culture 13:30 The Problem with Traditional Hierarchies 17:03 Embracing New Ways of Working 19:32 Case Studies: Progressive Companies 29:01 Conclusion About Lizzie Benton: Lizzie is a culture coach and the founder of Liberty Mind. She helps companies evolve beyond bureaucratic structures toward more human-centered, purpose-driven workplaces. She’s worked across industries—from tech to charities to construction—always with a focus on unlocking human potential and helping teams co-create meaningful change. Her approach blends depth and practicality, rooted in progressive practices like self-management, Liberating Structures, and Teal principles. Lizzie is a certified Holacracy Practitioner, Semco Style Expert, and TuffLeadership coach. She’s been named one of the top 30 millennials changing the world of work and has been featured in Forbes, The Metro, and The Financial Times. You can learn more about Lizzie—and listen to her own podcast, Make It Thrive: The Company Culture Podcast—at libertymind.co.uk. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    30 min

  2. MAY 6

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #13

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this final episode of Agile Tales with Michael Hamman, we discuss the concept of Inner Agility as a pivotal element for achieving business agility. Michael shares his personal experiences, both disappointing and rewarding, in helping leadership teams develop their inner capacity for agility. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the courage to face discomfort for personal and organizational growth. We also touch on his book, 'Evolve Agility,' which serves as a guide for fostering an agile leadership culture from within. The episode concludes with a teaser for our upcoming season 10 of Our Agile Tales. 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Disappointing Experiences in Leadership 04:38 Challenging Yet Rewarding Experiences 08:43 Starting the Inner Agility Journey 12:44 Michael Hamman's Book: Evolve Agility 14:45 Conclusion and Season 10 Teaser Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    15 min

  3. APR 22

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #12

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of 'Our Agile Tales,'  Michael Hamman talks about the significance of inner agility as a key to business agility. Michael talks about the transformative journey he advocates through his work with organizations and his book, 'Evolve Agility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out.' The episode delves into the practice of 'deliberate sensemaking,' and how it contributes to a more adaptive and authentic workplace culture. Michael emphasizes the importance of leadership and systemic changes starting from the top-level executives, advocating for a culture where awareness and complexity in meaning-making lead to more effective actions in the face of uncertainty. Books and resources for further reading on transformative leadership are also discussed. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:13 Understanding Inner Agility 02:10 The Role of Coaches and Guides 06:06 Leadership and Organizational Transformation 11:02 The Nonlinear Nature of Change 23:50 Books and Resources for listeners 24:58 Conclusion Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    25 min

  4. APR 8

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #11

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of Agile Tales, our discussion with Michael delves into the concepts of inner agility and its pivotal role in achieving business agility, highlighting Chris Argyris’ theories on espoused theory versus theory in use. Michael provides insights on the challenges of honest communication within organizations and the psychological strategies people employ to avoid discomfort. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the limitations that our inner operating systems impose on our sensemaking and interactions. Michael also touches on the IDG's inner development goals and the need for methods that enhance our capacity for complex sense-making. The episode underlines that true organizational transformation stems from a deeper personal transformation and increased awareness of our underlying beliefs and assumptions. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:13 Espoused Theory vs. Theory in Use 05:29 The Cost of Avoiding the Truth 06:53 Organizational Transformation and Human Change 11:10 Experience Wheel and Inner Agility 16:59 Understanding Our Inner Operating System 19:30 Developing Inner Capacity for Sustainable Goals 24:56 Enhancing Team Collaboration and Sensemaking 29:35 Conclusion Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    30 min

  5. MAR 25

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #10

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of Agile Tales, Michael Hamman emphasizes the importance of leadership agility in navigating the complexities of the 21st-century workplace. He addresses the impact of organizational politics, the need for a culture of transparency, authenticity, and integrity, and the benefits of collective intelligence in fostering innovation and effective action. He also shares anecdotes and insights on how leaders can create environments that promote psychological safety and challenge employees to achieve greater levels of performance and development. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:24 The Hidden Layers in Organizations 02:44 The Importance of Authenticity 04:45 Challenges in Organizational Transparency 07:54 Disorienting Vocabularies 10:30 Developing People for Organizational Success 14:17 Leadership and Vulnerability 21:39 Handling Layoffs with Integrity 25:16 Collective Intelligence in Crisis 29:23 Conclusion Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    30 min

  6. MAR 11

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #9

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of Our Agile Tales, our discussion centers around business transformation through the lens of inner agility. The conversation delves into how informal agreements within teams can evolve into organizational culture and the importance of balancing cultural mandates with flexibility. Michael shares stories illustrating the significance of observing and responding to natural patterns in organizational behavior. The dialogue also explores the delicate balance between stability and evolution in human systems, the role of resistance in fostering growth, and the risks involved in authentic communication within organizations. The discussion concludes with insights into the negative impacts of organizational cover-ups on culture and employee behavior. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:27 Cultural References and Informal Agreements 06:35 The Role of Resistance in Organizational Culture 12:19 Practical Examples of Organizational Resistance 17:55 Cover-Ups and Organizational Dysfunction 27:47 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    28 min

  7. FEB 25

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #8

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of Our Agile Tales, we discuss the importance of deliberate sense-making and its impact on team dynamics and leadership. Michael shares practices and examples of both conversational and relational practices to overcome challenges. We also explore effective methods for giving feedback and the significance of acknowledgment and appreciation in fostering a positive and productive team environment. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:25 A Story of Self-Awareness in the Workplace 07:13 The Power of Self-Management and Self-Awareness 12:43 Cultural Sensitivity and Team Dynamics 19:42 The Importance of Relationship Building 27:52 Conclusion Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    28 min

  8. FEB 11

    Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility, Episode #7

    We are embarking on a transformative journey with Michael Hamman on Inner Agility: The Key to Business Agility on Our Agile Tales. Michael believes in the potential of the workplace as a catalyst for personal, professional, and social transformation. His work with many organizations, teams, and leaders has enabled them to embrace a greater holistic team and enterprise-level agility by nurturing their inner capacity for leadership agility in the face of the complexity, volatility, and uncertainty of the 21st-century world. In this episode of Our Agile Tales, we discuss the importance of deliberate sense-making and its impact on team dynamics and leadership. Michael shares practices and examples of both conversational and relational practices to overcome challenges. We also explore effective methods for giving feedback and the significance of acknowledgment and appreciation in fostering a positive and productive team environment. 00:00 Introduction to Agile Tales 01:29 Conversational Patterns for Inner Agility 05:22 Advocacy and Inquiry in Conversations 12:40 Impact Feedback and Nonviolent Communication 22:25 Self-Awareness in Organizations 29:22 Conclusion Michael Hamman is the author of Evolvagility: Growing an Agile Leadership Culture from the Inside Out. The book provides a blueprint for what it means to be an agile leader in today's complex world and offers a practical roadmap for getting there. He is the head of development at Transformation Designs and is a Co-creator at the Centre for Inner Agility. Visit us at https://www.ouragiletales.com/about

    30 min
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About

Once upon a time, in an agile land, we navigate corporate levels and political waters to transform the business to be adaptable to this forever changing world. We are excited to share with you our agile journey. Enjoy our tales as we weave our stories together, sometimes with others, on our podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Mun-Wai Chung & JF Unson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Our Agile Tales
  • Show Website
    Our Agile Tales

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