harrybailey - Network

I’m over on Bluesky as https://bsky.app/profile/harrybailey.com if you happen to be active there.

I’m over on Bluesky as https://bsky.app/profile/harrybailey.com if you happen to be active there.

Day 20 writing short+long form content today.Words flow more easily. My brain doesn’t hunt so long for words.The patterns appear in text...

Day 20 writing short+long form content today.

Words flow more easily. My brain doesn’t hunt so long for words.

The patterns appear in text without so much effort. Long sentences. Short sentences. Balance.

But writing more easily doesn’t mean more engagement. That’s stage 2.

If a project doesn’t have a goal, how do you know when you’re done?🕰️ ran out of hours🤔 delivered on list of opinions✨ outputs...

If a project doesn’t have a goal, how do you know when you’re done?

🕰️ ran out of hours
🤔 delivered on list of opinions
✨ outputs look shiny enough
🔁 rounds of amends all used

I can’t find great chances of project success amongst that lot. 😏

#projectManagement

#Agile frameworks don’t work well in the context of an agency that delivers client projects.Let’s acknowledge that.Then let’s talk...

#Agile frameworks don’t work well in the context of an agency that delivers client projects.

Let’s acknowledge that.

Then let’s talk about what does work.

Team ways of working are an onion.I see improvements at three levels:Individually: personal tools & techniques. Automation, flows,...

Team ways of working are an onion.

I see improvements at three levels:

Individually: personal tools & techniques. Automation, flows, comms, focus.

Shared: vague ownership. Automation, flows, docs, tools.

Strategic: large planned changes to global working

You can see all are valuable & should be encouraged!

You can use an Agile approach to delivery without any additional layers of rules. You can use Agile in any context you choose. Don't let...

You can use an Agile approach to delivery without any additional layers of rules. You can use Agile in any context you choose. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

Do you use risk registers for projects?Add an internal version or filter.Start populating it during the sales journey. Red flags and...

Do you use risk registers for projects?

Add an internal version or filter.

Start populating it during the sales journey. Red flags and potential challenges related to client & project.

Powerful for the handover to the delivery team, and they'll be incredibly grateful for it.

Agency delivery models must strike the perfect balance to succeed:🔒 Be rigid enough for a team to trust🌟 Be flexible enough for unique...

Agency delivery models must strike the perfect balance to succeed:

🔒 Be rigid enough for a team to trust
🌟 Be flexible enough for unique projects

One-size-fits-all won’t work. Multiple approaches and the tools for approach choice are required. #AgencyLife

Can novelty ever be the highest priority?Perhaps:- when it aligns with trends or seasonal events for marketing- when personality or rapport...

Can novelty ever be the highest priority?

Perhaps:
- when it aligns with trends or seasonal events for marketing
- when personality or rapport with customers is required but lacking

These both offer business value. Is it ever purely a customer value thing? What have I missed?

But who does all this help? Agencies who:- service unique clients and projects with personalised approaches - use different delivery...

But who does all this help?

Agencies who:
- service unique clients and projects with personalised approaches
- use different delivery approaches and need to choose which to use
- don’t have full confidence in their delivery approaches
- want to better educate clients on delivery approach options and benefits
- who want another perspective on their ways of working

Next up is:- find more UK agencies to run the (in person) overview workshop with - give me a shout if you can help- finish defining the...

Next up is:
- find more UK agencies to run the (in person) overview workshop with - give me a shout if you can help
- finish defining the client facing workshop components

I’ve been focusing on agency’s client journeys a while now, but here’s what I’ve achieved in the last 2 months.- project journey...

I’ve been focusing on agency’s client journeys a while now, but here’s what I’ve achieved in the last 2 months.

- project journey components list
- overview workshop for agencies (it’s free)
- delivered it four times
- deep dive into approach definition
- defined The Approach Matrix to help select the best for each project
- drafted the client welcome/project inception workshop
- drafted supporting digital resources
- wrote & published various articles on the subject of agency-client dynamics

Client: “We’re all about flexible delivery approaches”Also Client: “We’d like to track progress with this document”

Client: “We’re all about flexible delivery approaches”
Also Client: “We’d like to track progress with this document”

Aligning with client expectations is hard.Evolving beyond being seen as their supplier is often desirable, but it introduces challenges. ...

Aligning with client expectations is hard.

Evolving beyond being seen as their supplier is often desirable, but it introduces challenges. E.g. understanding what you’re working together to achieve, or culture fit.

And that’s why building long term client relationships is rocket fuel for project success. You only have to align on the project, you’re already aligned at the business level.

C: So you build everything we’re asking for, just in smaller pieces? 🍕 A: erm, not exactly. We might spend more time on something...

C: So you build everything we’re asking for, just in smaller pieces? 🍕

A: erm, not exactly. We might spend more time on something really valuable and just not build some less valuable parts 🤷

C: It’s a no then. We just want what we’ve asked you for 📋

A: We didn’t really consider what to do if you said no 🤔

C: …
A: …
Client: Bye then 👋🏻

Agency: So we’ve decided to use an iterative delivery approach for your important project 🍾 Client: What does that mean? 😐 A: It...

Agency: So we’ve decided to use an iterative delivery approach for your important project 🍾

Client: What does that mean? 😐

A: It means we’ll discover and prioritise as we go. You’ll pick what’s most important and we’ll focus on that piece next 🔁

cont…

Project delivery approach comparisons are everywhere recently. Usually pitting Agile (flexible) against Waterfall (rigid). Very few mention...

Project delivery approach comparisons are everywhere recently. Usually pitting Agile (flexible) against Waterfall (rigid).

Very few mention the elephant in the room though; 🐘 The customer / stakeholders might not agree to the approach you choose for the project.

Dealing with that situation well is key for agency project success.

The best clients buy into your people not your brand.They're buying the human interactions.Many agencies could offer your...

The best clients buy into your people not your brand.

They're buying the human interactions.
Many agencies could offer your service.

You're selling a feeling.
You're selling the relationship.

Genuine trust and authority are your biggest assets.

One challenge of the positive shift towards being seen as a partner by a client is that you need increased alignment with them.As a vendor...

One challenge of the positive shift towards being seen as a partner by a client is that you need increased alignment with them.

As a vendor you only ever need to align on a transactional level. Simple alignment with no strings and few potential misunderstandings.

Once you’re lucky enough to be seen as a partner, it becomes about considering value, vision, needs, approach, delight and more.

Somewhere there is a product manager who didn’t include any age validation rules and a young developer who assumed 100 year olds don’t...

Somewhere there is a product manager who didn’t include any age validation rules and a young developer who assumed 100 year olds don’t fly on planes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wz7pvvjypo