Lansing Codes Meetup

Frogger at Work: Facilitating Freedom, Framing Feedback, and Finessing Feelings

Working with humans can feel like a never-ending game of Frogger—dodging conflicting priorities, well-meaning feedback, and the occasional emotional semi-truck. In this talk, we’ll hop through the art of balancing freedom and structure, explore how fast feedback can clear a path (or cause a pileup), and unpack why intent and impact don’t always line up. And just when you think you’ve made it across... surprise! Here come the feelings. Join us for a lively (and maybe slightly mind-melty) dive into human dynamics in the workplace. And come away with some practical tips for keeping yourself and your team from getting flattened by the chaos.

Bio
Kristen Belcher is a Senior Organizational Change Consultant and the Chief Technology Officer at AgileXtended, where she leads a team dedicated to untangling the “messy middle” of evolving organizations. With experience spanning enterprise applications large and small, she’s ScrumMastered multiple teams, rolled out SAFe, and even survived an Agile PMO—just a few of her delightfully harrowing career adventures.

Kristen has a soft spot for stickies and Sharpies, a deep love for liberating structures, and a habit of learning out loud, especially in her role as a tech leader. When she’s not saving the world (one retrospective at a time!), you’ll find her reading, writing, or planning her next big adventure. Avid sand volleyball player, mom of four, and lifelong Michigander, she manages to stay busy in all four seasons, thanks to (or in spite of?) our wide variety of weather patterns.