Each Wednesday, our Spotlight member shares a practical insight to help you navigate complexity with clarity and purpose. This week, Donna Harvin-Graham offers guidance shaped by her experience helping organizations move from where they are to where they want to be.
Tip of the Week, courtesy of Donna Harvin-Graham
1. Start from where your organization truly is.
Applying SAFe in a complex environment is a balancing act. Donna encourages practitioners to recognize the reality of their current culture and pivot from that point instead of chasing an ideal state. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Patience with organizational growing pains is essential. The journey requires consistency and the willingness to change direction when needed.
2. Focus on meaning before practice.
One of Donna’s hardest lessons came from leadership misinterpreting SAFe terms and structures. Their definitions conflicted with the framework and created confusion. Her advice is clear. Shared meaning must come before shared practice. Without a common understanding, even the strongest framework will struggle to take hold.
3. Begin each day by removing friction.
Donna’s go-to ritual is simple but powerful. She starts each morning by assessing where things truly stand, then identifies the one action that will remove the most friction for others. This approach helps her stay centered on impact and ensures she is supporting flow across the system.
