We Dont Need Another Hero - with Dave Borzillo

In this episode, Dave Borzillo shares insights from his book 'Sanity at Scale' on how engineering leaders can shift from heroics to systemic excellence, emphasizing removing waste, visualizing work, and fostering team collaboration. Key Topics - Challenges in system thinking and organizational agility - The importance of visualizing work and using impact maps - Strategies for removing waste and reducing cognitive overload - The role of leadership in fostering a culture of continuous improvement - Techniques for effective prioritization and backlog management Chapters 00:00 Introduction to 'Sanity at Scale' and Guest Background 04:21 The Power of Removing Waste and Deleting Unnecessary Items 08:52 The Limitations of Math in Estimation and Prioritization 13:01 Fostering Team Estimation and Shared Understanding 15:45 The Importance of Triangulating Data and Multiple Measures 17:41 Building Cross-Functional Teams and Knowledge Sharing 19:58 Visualizing Work with Whiteboards and Digital Tools 22:30 Engaging Senses and Human Connection in Daily Standups 24:57 Mapping Value Streams and Identifying System Bottlenecks 27:56 Dealing with Systemic Resistance and Cultural Change 29:36 Challenging Processes and Experimenting Safely 32:14 Leadership as a Servant and the Boundary Layer Role 35:00 Reward Systems and Incentivizing Collaboration 37:16 Changing the Mindset: From Hero to System Thinker 39:18 Transitioning from Firefighter to Strategic Pilot 41:36 Aligning Work with Organizational Outcomes 43:33 The Power of Purpose and Clear Vision 45:20 Addressing Cultural and Leadership Barriers 48:12 Encouraging Deletion and Simplification in Work Processes 49:10 Upcoming Event and Book Giveaway Links from the Podcast Dave’s Book Sanity at Scale - https://tinyurl.com/2txmmhft Better Ways of Working: https://betterwaysofworking.com/ Better Ways of Working Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4nabc9sr 2026 PMI WDC Conference: https://www.pmiwdc.org/conference-2026-pmi-wdc PMI SWVA 2026 Fall Symposium: https://pmi-swva.org/2026-symposium Digital PM Summit: https://thebureau.community/2026-digital-pm-summit Connect with Dave Borzillo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveborzillo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@betterwaysofworking Better Ways fo Working: https://betterwaysofworking.com/ Connect with Dave Prior drunkenPM Radio: https://soundcloud.com/drunkenpmradio LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/