The poor project manager knows that he needs members of the team to carry out the work on the project but he fails to recognize that he also need to serve these people. If there is no mutual need and mutual respect he is missing the whole point and will not see how things happen on the project.
The Way
The wise project manager has an awareness of everything that needs taking care of; he misses nothing. In return the members of the project team need the project manager to steer them in the right direction and facilitate their work.
A good walker leaves no footprints.
Good speech is free of flaw and fault.
Good calculation needs no tally or writing.
A good door needs no lock,
Yet it cannot be opened.
Good binding requires no knots,
Yet cannot be untied.
Therefore the sage takes care of others,
And does not abandon them.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
26: Centered & Grounded
Being centered and grounded allows the project manager to work with erratic people and deal with critical situations without harm or fear. The poor project manager is not stable and can easily be carried away by the intensity of leadership. He can easily be distracted by what is happening around him. He will make mistakes of judgment and loose his way.
The Way
The wise project manager is not subject to passing whims or sudden excitement. He knows where he stands and what he stands for. He is stable, has a sense of self and will not be knocked off balance.
Heavy is the root of the light,
Still is the master of the agitated.
Therefore the sage, travelling all day,
Remains centered.
Though there are beautiful things to be seen,
He remains unattached and calm.
Why should the master of ten thousand chariots,
Act like a fool in public?
Lightness is the way to lose one’s root.
Impetuousness is to lose touch with who you are.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
The Way
The wise project manager is not subject to passing whims or sudden excitement. He knows where he stands and what he stands for. He is stable, has a sense of self and will not be knocked off balance.
Heavy is the root of the light,
Still is the master of the agitated.
Therefore the sage, travelling all day,
Remains centered.
Though there are beautiful things to be seen,
He remains unattached and calm.
Why should the master of ten thousand chariots,
Act like a fool in public?
Lightness is the way to lose one’s root.
Impetuousness is to lose touch with who you are.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, July 12, 2013
25: What is the Way?
Things have gone a bit quiet at the publishers. I sent them back the marked up proofs and they uploaded the revised book over a week ago and so far I've heard nothing. I assume from past experience that this is good news and I'll suddenly get my sample copies in the post, on the other hand who knows. Oh well it's all part of the way.
The Way
Describing the way is not easy as it sounds. The way is not a thing and it has no form or qualities. The way is simply the principle of how everything works. It is unity, it is universal and it determines everything.
The poor project manager has no knowledge of the way. The wise project manager knows that he is dependent on the earth. The earth in turn is dependent on the universe. And finally the universe is dependent on the way. These are the four great powers of the universe.
Something mysteriously formed.
Born before heaven and earth.
Standing solitary, alone and single.
Constant and unchanging,
Ever present and in motion,
But it cannot be compromised.
Perhaps it is the mother of the ten thousand things.
I do not know its name,
So I shall call it Tao.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
The Way
Describing the way is not easy as it sounds. The way is not a thing and it has no form or qualities. The way is simply the principle of how everything works. It is unity, it is universal and it determines everything.
The poor project manager has no knowledge of the way. The wise project manager knows that he is dependent on the earth. The earth in turn is dependent on the universe. And finally the universe is dependent on the way. These are the four great powers of the universe.
Something mysteriously formed.
Born before heaven and earth.
Standing solitary, alone and single.
Constant and unchanging,
Ever present and in motion,
But it cannot be compromised.
Perhaps it is the mother of the ten thousand things.
I do not know its name,
So I shall call it Tao.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, July 05, 2013
24: Trying Softer
It is amazing how a couple of days of sunshine can cheer everyone up. Being that this is England it probably won't last but let's make the most of it while it does and take it easy.
A project manager trying too hard is a sure sign of insecurity and incompetence. When we are in control and know what we are doing we are relaxed and at peace with ourselves and our project.
The Way
The wise project manager knows that trying harder gets you nowhere. He knows that selfishness obscures his deeper self and blinds him to how things happen. Therefore he avoids all these things. He does his work and lets it go.
Standing on tiptoe is not steady.
To straddle is not to go forward.
Being self-centred is not enlightened.
Boasting is not being grown-up.
The followers of the Tao avoid them.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
A project manager trying too hard is a sure sign of insecurity and incompetence. When we are in control and know what we are doing we are relaxed and at peace with ourselves and our project.
The Way
The wise project manager knows that trying harder gets you nowhere. He knows that selfishness obscures his deeper self and blinds him to how things happen. Therefore he avoids all these things. He does his work and lets it go.
Standing on tiptoe is not steady.
To straddle is not to go forward.
Being self-centred is not enlightened.
Boasting is not being grown-up.
The followers of the Tao avoid them.
“The Way of the Project Manager” by John Carroll (ISBN 978-1481076111), is published by CreateSpace and available from Amazon in hard copy and on Amazon Kindle.
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