When I talk with other coaches about teams, I  hear a lot about “creating safety” and “safe teams”. I don’t hear much about how to do that. While debriefing a coaching simulation the 2010 AYE Conference we listed things coaches did and models coaches might use. Someone said, “Create a safe environment”. I replied, “And how do we do that?” And out came ideas and suggestions on how to do that! I’ve been flipping through my agile books looking for discussions about teams and safety.

First, when you’re not doing email (or phone) there are more “channels” than simply “language”. Indeed, in your example you two were operating with a particularly thin communication mechanism. One of the countermeasures, I think, is having a pile of communication channels going on at once, then you can compare between.

Albert has an interesting job. He takes the manufacturing software the plant operators use, and creates simulation software to train operators. I started working with him when his company selected some new software, and he needed suggestions on how to do things like make time stop.

Maps make it easier for us to work with the real world (whatever that may be). Some detailed information gets removed, but if the structure is similar to the territory, the map is useful. The problem is deciding when and how to change maps.