Interfering

The Project
I'm getting into the heart of the matter now for Earned Value Management in easy steps and realising that it does have some good points after all. When I had to use it (as the client insisted on it) I just thought of it as an unnecessary overhead. I've set myself a challenge to add a chapter on Agile EVM, which should be really interesting as it's almost an oxymoron!

I'm not getting to spend as much time on it as I would like at the moment as I've a lot to do on the day job. It's the end of the club's financial year and on top of everything else I need to get the gift aid claim in but it means an awful lot of typing. The good news is that a couple of new volunteers have stepped up and they are able to take on some of the stuff I've had to do up until now. As ever I need to let them get on with things but be there if they get stuck and need any help or encouragement, which brings me nicely onto today's topic.

Not Interfering
Some project managers just have to interfere in their team members’ work. It might be due to their own insecurity or a lack of trust in their team members. Maybe they are selfish, think they know best or just want to take the credit for everything. The result is that the team members will start to react against it. If the project manager then tries to use force, conflicts and arguments will follow. The project team will begin to disintegrate and the climate will become hostile.  

The Way  
The wise project manager understands the way, does not interfere and uses as little force as possible.  He guides the team without pressurising people and without fighting to have things done his way.  He has a light touch and neither defends nor attacks.  By leading selflessly and harmoniously he will grow and endure

The Tao  
Lao Tzu tells us:  

When you use the Tao to advise a ruler,  
Military force is not the right way to rule.  
This will tend to cause resistance.  
Goodness will bear fruit enough.  

Achieve results, not the victor’s laurels.  
Achieve results, but not through aggression.  
Achieve results and not arrogance.  
Achieve results, but not through acquisition.  
Achieve results, but not through violence.  

Force is followed by loss of strength.  
This is not the way of the Tao.  
That which goes against the Tao soon ends.