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A Zen Master’s quote got me thinking about Project Management.

In the past, I have been criticized for any number of project management misdeeds.  I’m told that I have a tendency to shoot from the hip, modify on the fly, and to Not Work the Plan.

I confess, it is true.  I have a distinct lack of consistency project to project.  I like to consider the unique challenges of each project, and I don’t feel constrained by the last week’s Work Breakdown Structure when thinking about next week.

A quote from a jar of hair gel brought me up short yesterday.  It is this: “Ultimately, forget technique.  The further you progress, the fewer teachings there are.  The true path is really no path.” - Bumblenanda

Does this apply in other disciplines?  Does the doctor seeing his 10,000th patient apply the same examination and diagnostic processes that he did on his 10th patient?  I suspect that he does not.  Clearly artists develop their technique over time, but you would not say that a mature artist has no technique.

What is the role of technique for the mature Project Manager?  My enduring metaphor has been the Toolbox.  In this model, you dig into the tool box to get the appropriate tool.  Technique comes with each tool,  and changes.  How you apply the tool changes as well from setting to setting.  What is to be avoided is the “Hammer looking for nails” approach, where a tool is applied to every situation, regardless.  But there is plenty of room for flexibility, and reacting to the situation.

What about this Zen take on project management? – “If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to anything.” – Shunryu Suzuki

Maybe our minds are too full of project plans to recognize what is happening in the project.