18: Taking Sides

There is often a lot of pressure at key times in a project. The poor project manager gets caught up in this pressure and consequently looses sight of what is happening. The wise project manager recognises that he needs to make space and step back in order to observe what is going on.

The Way

The way represents the single principle of how everything works. When we keep it simple and follow the path there will be harmony in the team and people get on with the project. When we leave the way the team will start to argue about what they should or should not have done and what might or might not have then happened. The project team begins to lose their motivation and they start to take sides.

The wise project manager recognises what is happening and that it is the time to return to first principles. He needs to calm the team, reassure them and bring them back to the way. This is the way of the project manager.

The Tao

Lao Tsu tells us:

When the great Tao is forgotten,

Kindness and morality arise.

When wisdom and intelligence are born,

The great pretence begins.

When there is no peace within the family,

Filial piety and devotion arise.

When the country is confused and in chaos,

Loyal ministers appear.