So I was looking for some more topics to touch on in the blog. After some thought I decided to go with dealing with change.
Not too long ago I attended a PMI Component Conference with Bob Young one of the founders of Red Hat Linux, acting as the final keynote speaker. The topic of his keynote speech was "How the Internet will kill us all" which would have been more aptly named "Lean In or Get Out".
So what does that have to do with Project Management?... Tons.
Project Management from my perspective is all about expectation management and expectations often change, embracing this change or "Leaning In" to the changes as opposed to fighting them goes a long way to ensuring responsive and effective operation.
Often we spend a lot of energy trying to fight change as opposed to seeing it as an opportunity to improve or gain a better understanding of situations for gains in the long run. It is part of the human condition to view everything with a personal filter on the situation, it’s a developed skill to be able to separate one from that filter and look at things rationally.
Change is to business as breathing is to life one cannot exist without the other. Markets evolve, needs change, expectations are met or adjusted all a reality of doing business. The question we face is are we going to take this reality in and look for opportunities to move forward and realize gains or do we close ourselves off and pray that the change passes by and stagnate.
I opt for the embrace. I am a trained project manager, I am familiar with many styles and tools to effect my trade but I never allow myself the false luxury that my experience gives me a "fool proof" solution. Granted I have more than a few principles I try to follow but when the tires hit the pavement I am always looking for where the road is going and how my tires will grip the road, always discerning whether or not I have to take a pit stop and adjust the tread I have on for the road ahead.
I "Lean In". Not only am I a trained project manager but I am a trained fighter and "Lean In" has another meaning . In a fight everything is constant change. Combatant shift and feint changing the scope of the fight in hopes of putting their opponent off balance. "Lean In" is something that a judicious fighter employs when he accepts some of the "change ups" an opponent and turns it to his advantage, typically by leaning in to an oncoming strike robbing it some of its power or effect to deliver a telling counter strike or to begin a series of offensive strikes in hopes of defeating the offending party.
The alternative? Staying still? That gets you knocked out.
-Optimal Optimus
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