David Rock’s SCARF model of social threats and rewards explains well some of the reasons for which the word ‘feedback’ can send so many of us directly into a ‘fight or flight’ response to danger.

The second learning for me was that the successful adoption of Agile working methods in a traditionally structured organization needs changes not only in management practices but also in the HR systems and approaches which support them.

Seeing our own issues in the lives of others is a way of avoiding the anxiety involved in dealing with them directly. The process is known as projection in psychodynamic literature.

Reflective practitioner was a concept introduced by Schon (1983) who recognized that the ability to reflect on how work was being done was as important as doing the work itself.

Connection with others on a regular basis enables a more sophisticated part of the human brain, the social brain, to be involved in work and problem solving.