Excerpt
Of course, it would be more efficient if there were a concept of the big
picture early in the piece, or if the consequences of a plan were properly
considered. Nevertheless, if the project is off target it will eventually be
discovered, and the human way is simply to readjust the trajectory slightly
and hope for the best. Or, as Ken says, “People end up fixing the mess we
made, rather than taking steps to avoid making a mess in the first place.” He
finds this unbearably frustrating.
The accomplishment of things gives me a sense of absolute wonder and
joy and delight. Essentially, I was trained to think first then get on and
do it.
It is difficult for me to explain precisely what I intend to do because
much of the thinking is done deep in my head rather than in the parietal
cortex. When necessary, I can show that the plan has been soundly
thought out—but that’s when people start to complain of autocracy.
Experience has proven over and over again that he has considered all
the ‘what if’ factors by the time he arrives at a solution, so he feels it should
not be necessary to go over every step with people—especially those he
has worked with in the past. Once a decision is made, he sees nothing to
be gained by talking it to death. And meetings mired in consensus-building
drive him wild.
Detailing Plan ‘A’ and then postulating an alternative Plan ‘B’ is
pointless when nobody can read the future. But I do make the effort to
explain my reasoning as clearly as I can manage.
And then I ask for input from the gang with all the questions. The
request is usually met with a scuffle of feet, glazed eyes and head-shakes
followed by a rapid subject switch. Their apprehension is writ large
on their faces, but nobody will tell me right out that they don’t want
to go there. So, I’m left pleading with them, ‘fight with me, give me an
alternative that will work as well. Tell me what you honestly think. It’s
not personal. We can walk away and go for a beer afterwards.’
If they cannot be that forthright with me I have to wonder, do they
actually have an idea of their own? If they have nothing to propose, or
lack the necessary faith in themselves to voice objection, I must take
their silence to mean approval.
