The Way

So to get back to the Way, let's look at how this all fits with the Tao:

Establish the Current Status
We need to become silent and listen with our inner selves. The wise project manager stays in the present. The past is over and done with, there's no point in thinking about what might have been.Likewise there's no point in trying to second guess the future, it will be what it will be.

Grasp the strangeness which is Tao.  
Mindful of what exists now.  
Knowing the ancient beginning,  
Is the essence of wisdom.  

Establish the Objectives
All projects begin with a basic idea about something that could be changed or done differently. But at that time very little is known about the project, it is just the beginning. From this beginning many things will unfold and happen, these things will make up the project. At the beginning there will be darkness but, hopefully, out of that darkness we will begin to know how things happen for this is the way of the project manager. 

The Way that can be told is not the eternal Way.  
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.  
The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth.  
With a name the mother of the ten thousand things.  

Develop the Plan 
As a project manager I always tried to keep things simple.  Yes I had a detailed project schedule for myself but I create a simplified high-level version for the project stakeholders.  Keeping things simple means they are easy to follow. The good project manager stays with the single principle and understands the team process.  He keeps away from chaos and conflicts.  

Hold the great image,  
All under heaven will come.  
They come without harm,  
In happiness and peace.  

Carry It Out
The wise project manager concentrates on making sure the project team have what they need to create the project deliverables and protects them from external interference.  The wise project manager is concerned that the team functions well and that what they do is effective.  This is simple wisdom, for this is the way of the project manager.  

The sage would lead by:
Emptying people’s minds,
And filling their stomachs.

So once again, good luck and enjoy the journey,
John (a.k.a. P M Blogger)