Why is a supervillain different from any old criminal with a bad haircut and a penchant for capes? How did they get so far in their nefarious career? In this talk, we explore the supervillain toolbox and how to reuse their techniques for good. Build up the skills and confidence of the team around you! Create lasting trust with your customers! Spot acts of sabotage before the wheels fall off of your project! Twirl your handlebar mustache! Cackle maniacally as your team succeeds in pulling off the caper of the century. Or maybe just the current sprint...

Learning Objectives:

* Identify the classic signs of team sabotage and how to counteract them!

* Leverage the Con Artist's playbook for building customer confidence and lasting change

* Explain how approaching failure like a mad scientist can lead to greater success

Presentation details and speaker notes:

This presentation is designed to playfully identify some similarities between being a good agile coach / change agent and techniques that are sometimes attributed to supervillains. For instance, a con artist spends a great deal of time listening to their customer and creating an environment of trust. The big difference between them and good a consultant is that the consultant EARNS the trust and sticks around for delivery. As another example, I walk through the CIA's handbook for citizen saboteurs in WWII Europe and how those techniques correlate to some of the 'smells' that we see in businesses and organizations, today.

The target audiences are primarily leaders, consultants, and coaches

I have a background in theater and improv comedy which I leverage in this high-energy, entertaining session. I use costumes and props to solidify my points, but don't require anything other than a standard projector hookup.