It's A Bit Like a Review

One of the most valuable parts of any Project is the Review process.

As an interim process, it is the chance to stop, think and take stock. This action is what people refer to as ‘coming up for air’ or ‘walking up the hillside’ or the ‘helicopter view’. It doesn’t take long to ask questions like, “are we doing the right things?”, “are we making the expected progress?”, “are we in the right state or place to meet new opportunities?” or “are the stakeholders on board?”.

As a final process, it is the chance to look back and view everything in perspective. “What were the successes? What have we learned? What would we change next time?”

It’s A Bit Like Looking Through the Rear Window.

You will recall, as a child, looking through the rear window on a long car journey. You see things differently to the driver.

It’s usually clearer (no flies and bugs)and you can trace the tracks you’ve taken, What’s more you have lots of time to see the detail – things aren’t flying past at 60 mph and you don’t see others advice and warning signs which might derail you. When you’re looking forward, your eyes and ears are drawn to what’s happening next.

Looking back does not appear to be getting you anywhere; which is probably why only 20% of Project Managers do it…

BitILike

“Hindsight, usually looked down upon, is probably as valuable as foresight, since it does include a few facts.” Grace Paley

It’s A Bit Like Learning Something New

When learning something new, we can be either totally absorbed, absorbing and love everything about a new subject or we can be un-convinced. If we are the latter, it’s easier to find excuses why this new thing is not for you.

For example, I’m reviewing a book for a magazine at the moment and I don’t fully agree with the author’s view on the subject. Hence I’m finding it hard to stay objective and to look at his point of view. Equally, if you are sceptical of a new idea you can start looking for things that are not to your liking – once you start to look for those things, you know you will find them. Hey presto, you can give up on learning – so don’t do it!

It’s A Bit Like A Buffet. (My thanks to my friend Keith for this one)

You’ll remember your last buffet spread - whether it was at a business function or at a wedding. You stand there with your china/paper plate and spork and start to gaze at the wondrous things that have been offered to you; some familiar favourites, some new. Then your eyes alight on the one thing you cannot bear – olives!

I’ve never known anyone walk away from the buffet table shouting that “All this food is awful!” just because of some small part that they don’t like. You ignore the olives and simply enjoy whatever else is there.

BitILike

“Our doubts are traitors. And make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” William Shakespeare

It's A Bit Like Goals

The main point of having a goal is that we can score, and the main point of keeping score is so that we can measure our performance against another team or ourselves. Most people know the benefit of having goals but some don’t know how they break down.

High-level goals should describe what you want to do at strategic level e.g. to get from A to B; if you’re part of an Organisation or Team it must be in line with its goal too.

How you will achieve those goals is more localised but is usually expressed in milestones and hence progress is trackable and mistakes and errors can be quickly corrected along the way.

The detailed plan of what you will do in reaching the milestones is down to you, as is the input of personal drive and the overcoming of setbacks.

It’s A Bit Like Reading A Map. On a map you can see where you are and where you want to go. It can also provide different routes and checkpoints for you to monitor progress. But the devil is in the detail; ground level progress is never quite as easy as just reading the map. There can be blind alleys, cows, barbed wire, changes in terrain, even issues brought about by seasonal change or holding the map upside-down!

Finally, always make sure the map given to you is true; it may be somebody else’s view of how things are. Try walking round your city using a Tube Map showing underground railtracks.

BitILike

“A goal is not the same as a desire, and this is an important distinction to make. You can have a desire you don't intend to act on. But you can't have a goal you don't intend to act on.” Tom Morris

It's A Bit Like Saying I Love You

Love is never having to say ‘I love you’. Growing up in an environment where ILY was not a regular comment, I guess I attach different significance to the phrase than some today. Kissing was something that elderly Aunts did to you at Christmas (oh, the smell of advocaat and Lily of the Valley) and Love was something that you saved up ages for in order to lavish on one girl. Or boy…whatever

It’s A Bit Like Tennis – hearing Love all the time and not being part of the game.

Today it’s gone the way of the Zimbabwe Dollar; thrown around with gay abandon, offered to anyone who happens to be listening. People on Facebook and Bebo tell each other that they love them, people sign leaving cards with ‘lots of love’ when they hardly know the other person. We’re in a post-East-Enders time warp where everybody calls anybody ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’.

It’s a great thing that we all have our own currency and we know what it buys.

BitILike

“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart.” Anon

It’s A Bit Like Red Onion

I know a number of people who have a rule about not eating certain foods, especially at lunchtime. The foods are in this category not because they’re disliked but because they cause slight indigestion; they repeat.

I know someone who will not touch cucumber at lunchtime for this reason. For others it is peppers (capsicum), curry, or cheese and onion crisps (chips). My own bête-noire is Red Onion. I am reminded all afternoon about the taste of it and I’m sure others around me are too!

It’s A Bit Like Feedback. Sometimes you invite it, sometimes it is offered. Some people can take a little, others can manage a lot. Either way, it can stay with you for a long time.

The rules of giving feedback are legion; check that it’s timely, positive, action oriented, specific – the list goes on. I have only one rule that all givers need to make; check your intent. If your intent is good then the feedback is probably good. Once it’s on offer, the decision is with the receiver how they would like to digest it.

BitILike

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh