I am in the process of running a time management course for the staff of the rugby club and it is quite like old times. Getting people to find out exactly what they do and why they do it is the first step, then they can move on to identifying the things that matter and concentrate on them. Hopefully they will stop doing the things that don't matter for that is the way.
The Way
The wise project manager understands the purpose of methodologies, tools and techniques and knows if and when to use them, but he allows them to fade into the background. He is following a process of uncluttering his mind and simplifying his work. As he relies less on knowing what he should do, his work becomes more powerful. His consciousness is far more potent than any methodology.
By giving up trying to do the right thing, the project manager and the team will become far more fruitful, for this is the way of the project manager.
The Tao
Lao Tzu tells us:
In the pursuit of learning,
Every day something is added.
In the practice of the Tao,
Every day something is dropped.
Less and less is done
Until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done,
Nothing remains undone.
True mastery is gained,
By letting things take their course,
Not by interfering.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Friday, February 23, 2018
Back Again
Well it seems like a long time since my last post but here I am back again.
The Project
As part of my succession planning, I've started working with an old friend and colleague Graham Moore on the next edition of Effective Project Management in easy steps. I did the same thing with my son David Morris on Agile Project Management and I plan to do the same on each of my books as they come up for a new edition, sharing royalties for that edition, then handing it over completely after that. Well I am 74 so it's about time I took a step back. I'll report on progress from time to time.
Walking Rugby
My other project at the moment is organising a walking rugby festival for 14 April. It's being sponsored by Devon RFU and I've got guest sides coming from Reading, Salisbury, Bristol, Gloucester and Kingswood rugby clubs. I hope to get a few from Devon to build the sport locally but I need a fair bit of help in getting it going. There are many ways of plotting or measuring how well a project is performing. My own preference is for a simple deliverable checklist (or function list) with the team member responsible for the delivery together with the planned and actual completion dates.
The Way
The wise project manager is aware of what is happening on the project in the here and now. This is much more potent than complex interpretations of work completed. Stillness, clarity and consciousness are more immediate and will give a better understanding of what is happening. By staying in the present and being aware of what is happening, the wise project manager can do less yet still achieve more.
The Tao
Lao Tzu tells us:
Without going outside,
You may understand the order of things.
Without looking through the window,
You may see the way of things.
To go far, is to know less.
Thus the sage knows without going,
Sees without looking,
Accomplishes without motive.
The wise project manager is aware of what is happening on the project in the here and now. This is much more potent than complex interpretations of work completed. Stillness, clarity and consciousness are more immediate and will give a better understanding of what is happening. By staying in the present and being aware of what is happening, the wise project manager can do less yet still achieve more.
The Tao
Lao Tzu tells us:
Without going outside,
You may understand the order of things.
Without looking through the window,
You may see the way of things.
To go far, is to know less.
Thus the sage knows without going,
Sees without looking,
Accomplishes without motive.
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