Bruce Feiler: Agile programming -- for your family

Bruce Feiler has a radical idea: To deal with the stress of modern family life, go agile. Inspired by agile software programming, Feiler introduces family practices which encourage flexibility, bottom-up idea flow, constant feedback and accountability. One surprising feature: Kids pick their own punishments.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[joannecosta]

just had first family agile meeting wasn't expecting great results but it went really well. have a whiteboard full of things to achieve this week.

[kristineschow]

We have been giving this a go in our family. The kids seem to love the control they have in the family dynamic and it has created less stress for me as a Mom. We held on to what was already working in our family and we added this great framework as well. I am learning so much more. Thank you so much for sharing!

[soycesaroman]

After 7 years... Still really useful 👌great takl!

[MelegantMe]

It's the art of persuasive essay writing. You start out with a Logos, fact based appeal (statistics on what kids want), and then to an Ethos, credibility based appeal (where he works, and his success), and finally to the emotional appeal, the Pathos. The reason for this is because the audience he is speaking to may or not take what he says to heart unless he has convinced them to open their minds. Here on the internet, we have selected this video because it already appealed to us. But not there.

[sarahshort]

The simple concept proves true.. a happy worker is a product and loyal worker.  The problem is getting management to buy into these policies that promote the flexibility to enhance worker satisfaction.

[EmperorToast]

My eyes are permanently rolled into the back of my head now. Thanks.

[kmarinas]

He was describing an experiment and case studies. He was telling us why and how agile programming helps families, not just that "it is".

[tyotypic]

Practically all corporate software development is constructed using an adaption of an Agile technique. The bit with Tolstoy was supposed to tell you about how it's possible to give your life its own meaning and happiness.

[happyhugs]

This reminds me of a Time Magazine article I read just today about the change in the way cancer research is now being conducted. It's amazing when you make these connections about the world :)

[medman]

Nice empowerment story for families. I cannot ignore the feeling that the basis of this story is recent, interesting, data results, of which we do not know what the results will be in 10-15 years. High adaptibility is the often the search in the short-term, but ultimately could not be an adequate result in the longterm.

[BretKuhns]

I believe Kanban is a a visualization method of Kaizen. A lot of agile methods have visual task boards the resemble Kanban boards. Agile techniques are typically more structured and prescribed than Kaizen, but there is definitely a relationship.

[motutak]

Awesome vid! I've been enjoying lots of TED Family podcasts. Love the idea of empowering the kids and working/talking about issues together. We've asked our kids about what consequences they would receive.. and yes, the kids usually come up with harder punishments than us parents would! lol.

[cli]

Such an inspiring talk and the suggestions are very applicable!

[RentalCars]

Thanks Bruce. I really enjoyed your talk and I'm looking forward to reading your book!

[prameshi]

Stress is Contagious. Parents should adapt to switch Roles and Emotions when they are at home with family.

[RakshasaCat]

If you don't know what 'agile development' is, perhaps you should study it? He's not giving a lecture in the details of the method, he's telling us that the technique is useful for family life.

Also, Tolstoy story was about a brother who spent his whole life trying to improve himself and his surroundings, first as a child consumed with trying to find the magic stick, then later as an adult who came to see the profound insight into happiness the childish story provided.

[nafterli]

Profound. I have taken notes for the day I have a family. Either way some of the principles are applicable in my current circumstance and business. Thank you for this once again, i'll keep trying.

[shmufle]

very good, wish my parents saw this before they raised me.

[kirank]

Great talk. Will be implementing some of this with my family.

[toobrown]

tedtalksdirector, you need to update the title and description. Agile is not a software programming language. It is a methodology - that is being applied to software development. So, in this context, it is a software development lifecycle methodology.