I was going back through my email the other day, and I found a Seth Grodin post titled “Who’s Left? (click here)” I thought was interesting. The subject of the post was about the few remaining jobs posted in the classified section of the NY Times. Granted, the classifieds were once the go to place to find a job. Yet, some newspapers still feel the need to cling to the classified section in their paper. I wonder what outdated practices and customs I have kept in my life? Am I clinging to the Gantt chart because I am not comfortable with new software practices? Am I clinging to my old autocratic management style as opposed to learning concepts from the Lean and Agile camps? Am I forcing my dreams on my children or am I encouraging them as they start their own adventures?
We stick to our old ways because we “know” how those old ways impact us individually. We stick to them because we “think” they will work. Yet, many times the results are less than perfect. Yet, we often don’t evaluate whether the antiquated ways are really just antiquated. We attribute the unanticipated outcomes to anyone or anything that is not us. It’s far easier for us to place blame someplace else rather than to cope with considering the change that might be necessary. So where do we go from here? At work, we are always trying to look retrospectively at how to improve our product and our processes every chance we get. Individuals don’t have do retrospectives. Maybe we should? Maybe I should?
Thanks for coming in today.
Chris
