From Kent Beck in XpMailingList on working as a consultant for a company in order to help them...

I ask two questions before starting with a team:

	* 1) Is there a problem? If no, forget it.
	* 2) Do you want to change? If no, forget it.

I'm amazed how often the answer to one or the other of these questions is
"no", even in obviously screwed up situations.

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(WillingToChange is an example of an XP analogy to AlcoholicsAnonymous.  You have to admit you have a drinking problem, and be willing to try to overcome it, before the program can help you.  See also: TwelveStepProgram.)

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A possible paraphrase for that may be:

If a team do not realize there are problems and/or do not want to change then it is really hard or impossible to have them change their process.

Or: someone can not really help another one if that help was not really asked for and if the person are not willing to change.

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I couldn't agree more emphatically. On a related note, when interviewing a team candidate I always ask ''What would you do differently?'' in reference to their most recent project or the project they were most happy with. If they respond that they wouldn't do a thing differently, I end up loosing interest right there as it indicates an unwillingness to change or, just as bad, they didn't learn anything on that project. --RobertDiFalco
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I have erred in the consultant role by trying to take too direct an approach to problems when the client was unable to do likewise.  "Forget it?"  Too bad I failed to find a workable middle ground.  Others perhaps would succeed.  Conclusion: Be gentle and stick around for a while if you can afford to, even if that's a change for ''you''. --WaldenMathews

This is a mistake I have also made. Well put. -- RichardDrake
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This is a mistake I am still making, I am willing to change. --PaulCaswell

I am still trying to highlight the need for change by gently raising dissatisfaction with the current situation.  I am inspired by the declaration of independence ''(and I'm English!)'', it builds the conflict to a point where the people want to change.

How long do you stick around?

''I haven't a clue.  But I think if you say you're willing to change, that means you are willing to be patient and accepting, in which case you're not looking to set time limits.  I could be wrong.''
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See also: LearningReadiness
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CategoryChange