Having the rug pulled from under your feet!


We all can remember that classic moment from the Peanuts cartoon where Lucy sets up the ball for Charlie Brown and pulls it away at the last moment when Charlie Brown goes to kick it. 

I recently recalled this moment, when after almost completing an organization change process, the process was removed. I completely understand that there are times where due to the overall organizational needs, there is some tightening of the belts and areas of operations will get adjusted.

Change is inevitable in any organization. The question here is, if the change becomes detrimental to the organization in the long run, the short term gains may not be as beneficial as it seems.
If what you are expecting and working towards keeps getting moved, then after a while, exhaustion will set in and moving to that goal will no longer be a viable action for the person.
Not all of us will be like Charlie Brown, and keep getting Lucy to hold the ball and trying to kick it.  Eventually we will either find someone else to hold the ball or give up on kicking the ball. 
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The art of defect tracking - the perception of a good project

Image
Defects are all part of any project. How you manage them will determine how successful the project is perceived to be. You may have many defects but managed well, you can still give your customers / partners a perception that the project is going well. Why do I use the word perception ? Because inherently people's view on how things are going are based on perceptions. This may or may not be anchored on the reality of the situation. Part of the skill of a good project manager is marketing the situation at hand. With good marketing skills, a good project manager can create an illusion that the project is going well while sorting out issues in the background. More on this in later postings. Defects are essentially tasks that were not in the original project plan due to oversight or lack of planning. So instead of tasks to be done earlier in the project, these will need to be inserted into the plan later on in the project life cycle or even in post implementation phase. How ...
Read more

Human cost of overworking and toxic workplace culture

Image
Overworking and Toxic Workplace culture i is costing too many lives.  Life as it is ...  A friend of mine shared a post recently with great sadness, that highlighted the recent passing of 2 people in India, due to workplace stress and toxic workplace practices. Reading more into this topic, unfortunately I don't believe this is an issue that is isolated to India. The misalignment of corporate rhetoric and actual practices is unfortunately a reality. Leaders need to do more to promote better work practices, as well as to also set the example for aligning the expectations. Too many times the junior team members are looking at the seniors and trying to match their working styles which includes working more hours, just because they feel that that is the norm, and they will lose out if they don't do the same. Even when taking medical leave or any personal time out, practices like putting your mobile number in your out of office message, and asking people to contact you, I believe ...
Read more

Project Management Lessons from the Chinese New Year Lion Dance on Stilts

Image
Project Management Lessons from the Chinese New Year Lion Dance on Stilts As a project manager with several years of experience, I often find inspiration for leadership, teamwork, and execution in the most unexpected places. This Chinese New Year, while observing the preparation for a mesmerizing Lion Dance on stilts performance, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between this ancient art form and the essential components of project management. Watching the performers rehearse with precision, dedication, and teamwork reminded me of the critical importance of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and collaboration during a project deployment. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Preparation Is Everything: The Foundation of Success The Lion Dance on stilts is a breathtaking display of acrobatics and cultural artistry. However, what most spectators don’t see is the extensive preparation behind the scenes. Each performer practices tirelessly, ensuring every move is synchronized, every jump calculated,...
Read more