Preventing Project Failure

My first response to anything going wrong, or anybody not seeing anything my way, is anger.

I’ve come to control that impulse over time, recognize it and not let it dictate my reaction. And so many times people don’t even know.

But recently I thought to myself, how different would my work life be if I wasn’t getting bent out of shape all the time?

Sure there are lots of reasons why I get bent out of shape, and I’m aware of those too.  I know that people are pushing a button, and that probably my reaction to the person pushing the button has little to do with them, and a lot to do with some completely anachronistic fear  they’ve triggered inside of me.

But wow, I’m going to be 41 soon and I don’t want to keep being angry.

I want my first reaction to be…..peaceful.

I have a lot of co-workers reading this blog and they’re probably shaking their heads like ‘ain’t gonna happen’.  I mean really, that Michiko fire is part and parcel of my whole PM persona.  I’m the one who expects the storm, who not only talks about the elephant in the room but sits on top of it and yells ‘yee hah’.    Yeah – I’ve gotten a lot done that way.

But I’m wondering, could I have led projects to success without the stress?

So I’ve decided in this new year, that I’m going to change my immediate response.  It’s going to take some work, and practice.  I’ll sure somebody is going to piss me off and I’ll  right then and there practice the old switcheroo.  This might be the hardest thing I’ve had to do.

Problem is, I’ve gotten too used to my fire PM persona.   Reading this Colin Powell Leadership Lesson got me thinking about it.

“Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it.”

General Colin Powell

My ego is wrapped like a big red bow around being the fiery PM.

So I’m changing it up in this next decade.  And I’ll tell you, I’ve already had my first test in the form of a fairly accusatory email from a co-worker.  Yeah, I got mad, I ranted, I raved.  But then I did…nothing.  I didn’t fire back an angry rebuttal.  I didn’t think about what I’d to to said co-worker on Monday.  I just consciously decided to let it go.

So we’ll see how it goes.  I’m going to sit this one out.  It may come back to damage me, but I’m practicing a new way and I want to see what happens.

Joseph Campbell’s theories of mythology inspired George Lucas to write the Star Wars Saga.  Campbell studied myths throughout the world for commonality of theme and progression, describing the connections in his book the Hero with a Thousand Faces.

One of the key things the hero always does is experience a transformation where the old self is abandoned  for a new persona.  Campbell says this kind of re-birth throughout life is necessary to maturity and growth.

And we see it our our modern myths.  Luke stops being a doubt ridden teenager and transforms into a calm, cool and collected Jedi.  Jet Li transforms from an arrogant martial art star into a mentor for others in Fearless.  Strider in Lord of the Rings becomes King Aragon.  And it goes on.

I’m not saying I’m anybody’s hero, but I am saying that I’m seeking a calmer way.  I’m interested to see if I can still be a good PM without being a fiery PM.  Wish me luck.

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