ABSTRACT
Agility and lean programs are less about the process of engineering and all about the relationships we build. Executives have long known this. The most successful executives understand they need to spend at least 70 percent of their time building strong relationships and only about 30 percent getting work done if they want to have a good and long-lasting impact on the way in which work gets done. Relationships, successful executives and sales people will tell you, are key to building strong teams and high levels of trust. The strong working relationships that are necessary to create agility and flexibility in the work team are built upon communication and trust. Building a culture where relationships between engineering teams and the business, along with a solid understanding of customer desires, creates a culture where agile and lean teams flourish. Relationships are the key to driving organizational results but to build a relationship we have to be able to connect with one another on a personal level.
