Daniel's Blog
Roses, Thorns and Buds
3 min read | Last Updated: January 09, 2021
This is a 🌱 seedling post.
I listen to a comedy D&D podcast (NADDPOD!) and in the after-show, they do roses and thorns - things that happened during the episode that went great and things they are disappointed. Recently, they mentioned some people do roses, thorns and buds and then I had a eureka moment. I must use this at work!
The method
Roses
A positive, a highlight, something that made you happy, proud or excited.
Examples: We shipped something, I had a great session, Someone joined the team.
Similar to the What Went Well.
Thorns
A challenge, something that didn’t go great. Excellent opportunity to raise blockers, concerns or issues. Something else to note here is that thorns can also become potential buds - We have some concerns about knowledge sharing (thorn), so let’s run some knowledge sharing sessions (bud).
What could be improved, but with a more negative connotation?
Buds
Something you are looking forward to, an opportunity for growth, learning, or investment. My favourite!
Examples: I think we have the potential to clean up some tech debt; what we are wrapping up now can open up some exciting projects.
About scrum retros
It’s essential to give the teams a safe space to bring up negative stuff. I’m unconvinced that a traditional retro is such a place; because the focus is on patterns and processes, there is no space to share other kinds of positive and constructive feedback. Yes, retros are not therapy sessions, but some emotion in them is not wrong either. Again, safe space!
Why I think this is awesome
First, it’s evocative. Storytelling, metaphors and analogies are great ways of inspiring people and conveying important messages. The pattern matching of a small prick on your finger because you spent two days blocked on a code review; the idea of shipping your big feature like a rose flourishing.
The most important reason is the introduction of buds. I love the idea of thinking about what the future might bring and being excited about it. Plus, the great thought of a bud transforming into something awesome stimulates a growth mindset. One thing to note is while all buds may become roses, not all of them will. Those ideas, feelings, potentials must be nurtured and cultivated so they can grow into that beautiful rose. This goes back into creating a culture of safety, a culture of growth. Amazing!
Just writing this down made me realise how much it links into growing, thinking about the future, cultivating, nurturing, and so much more. Even if consciously can be a little cheesy or strange, a part of us will always process these messages and bring it back to the most crucial point - growth.
What now?
I told some people at work that I’d like to try this. They are open to it, yay! Curiosity and embracing new ideas!
Slightly tangential, I’m working on an analogy that compares teams of people with little gardens, so roses, thorns and buds work out on that sweet planty theme. Storytelling is amazing!
Written by Daniel Lopez Rovira who likes talking about engineering stuff.