73: Freedom & Responsibility

The Project
It was a fairly tense week again, with the upgrade of our top executives’ part of the network on Thursday and Friday. Thursday went quite well but there were some problems with the new network Friday morning. It was a bit nerve-wracking but all sorted out by 2pm and by 5pm everyone seemed happy. Most of the executives were away (which is why we did it this week) but they are all back on Monday so it will be fingers crossed first thing.

The whole project team and our colleagues in desktop support worked well on this one and everyone seemed to know what they were doing. We had to make a couple of tough decisions but it worked out well in the end. So chalk up one for the good guys.

The Way
The word courage is often applied to soldiers but that is an active form of courage that tends to get people killed. The other form of courage is a passive or inner courage and that keeps people alive. Which of the two is better?

As is often the case, there is no right answer to that question. Each has its benefits and its drawbacks; neither takes precedence in the way of the project manager. The way is about how things happen, but it does not guide us on what we should do. The poor project manager, uncertain of what to do, often asks for advice. The wise project manager knows that they have freedom of choice and must also take individual responsibility. By becoming more conscious of what is happening, they can see for themselves how things happen. Then they can make their own decision about what to do.

The way teaches us that that what people do is their own responsibility, but the pattern of their behaviour still follows natural law. No one else can make decisions for you, it is up to you. I know this, for this is the way of the project manager.

The Tao
Lao Tsu tells us:

A brave and passionate man will kill or be killed.
A brave and calm man will always preserve life.
Of these two which is good and which is harmful?
Some things are not favoured by heaven. Who knows why?
Even the sage is unsure of this.

The Tao of heaven does not strive, and yet it overcomes.
It does not speak, and yet is answered.
It does not ask, yet is supplied with all its needs.
It seems at ease, and yet it follows a plan.

Heaven’s net casts wide.
Though its meshes are coarse, nothing slips through.