Today one of my team members comes to me and tell me that the report we are sending by email to our users starting from this month is not stable. The figures are bullshit and users complained about it. In deed I checked myself this morning (actually a user contacted me to tell me that) and I could see a gap of 10% between the figures in the report and the figures in our Point Of Sales system. The figures in the POS systems are the right one.
It took me 2 hours to convince him that he was completely wrong, but I did it. Maybe I’m the one who’s wrong, but he didn’t convinced me of the contrary. Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is that, here in Japan or at least in my organization, in front of any bug or defect, the usual reaction is to stop the operations or projects, until… until forever.
That is the main change I need to do. And for that a clear Professional change is necessary. I would say, the first step is to cut the tumor that has been killing me for too long now (That’s a metaphor! Don’t freak out…). Then, along with the progress of that surgery (that’s a metaphor too…) I’ll restart all the personal projects that stopped around June 2009. Marriage, new house, Guitar, video, geek stuff…
The main change during 2009 in my professional situation has been the decrease of motivation. More that a decrease, it was a collapse. Of course I have been given objectives, but for the first time, I was not motivated to exceed them. Last year at the same period, I would describe myself as workaholic. I loved that so much! Too much! I spent twice as much time as now working and was doing three time as much beside, for myself. Not only I was super-active at work but also outside. Going to ski several time a year, hiking, traveling…
Today, I almost don’t do anything beside work. I almost stopped cooking even if I love this, I don’t practice a bit for my guitar lessons, I don’t go out, watch movies, invite friends at home, go on holiday (except a trip to Cambodia organized by 2 friends. I just joined) and I postponed my proposal to Asako (better late than never).
The previous entry was posted on September 27th but actually that was only because I was too busy (I don’t remember with what…) to post it on the blog earlier. I must have written it, 2 or 3 months earlier. What happened ? I’m wondering myself…
Sorry, the video is in French, but the following text describes almost the same thing. Besides, I’m not really satisfied with the current special effects. It just doesn’t… fit… The part with the blablabla is not as dynamic as I imagined, I’ll redo it when I have time…
During the last big project I was leading, finished few weeks ago, this question has been haunting me for about one year. I had to change systematically the planning’s and the action plan’s document formats to keep people using those.
Even though all the actions were done, not always on track, not always the way wanted, they were all done. The reason for changing the document’s format was to usually attract some members’ attention on a specific deadline or task. Every time I was just thinking “Hey, I’m just changing the format of the same old document, with same content ! How come this guys doesn’t like this one? Last time it was the other guy who made me change the document before he accepts to read it!”
For the last 3 years, I’ve been doing project management. Many projects, many people. Some have been very difficult some so smooth you feel disappointed the project is over.
I’ve just finished the biggest project I’ve been working on for the last 13 months and I started to list down all the mistakes I’ve done as a project manager. Although the project is a success and the objectives were achieved and exceeded, mistakes have been done. By me, I mean! I won’t get into the detail. I just feel like I have to right down the biggest one to make sure I won’t ever do it again !
I’ve been upset, showed it, and blamed people several times.
I usually get inspiration for what I write here reading other blogs (isn’t what I just said obvious and stupid…). Let’s try this “getting perspective questions” of Glen Allsopp, guest-posted on Zenhabits
If someone had a video tape of your typical day, what would they see?
Based on your current actions and behaviors, where would you expect to be in five years?
