I felt comfortable in the setting; I believe I could have brought up any topic of conversation without ridicule, judgment, or even being thrown out! I could have asked how to repair anything around the home or business. I could have learned from the experiences of those who have already dealt with problems or issues that I am sure to confront in my life.
Yes, sir. I think there was a lot of collective wisdom in that one spot.
So, with that in mind, I am thinking… Where can a project manager go today to find a similar environment? I mean, there’s not a garage where you can bring in your project plan and put it up on the rack to check underneath for any issues… I don’t see a project doctor advertising for well-project visits or even an emergency room where you can come get some needed stitches in your project.
Deeper reflection, however, reminds me of the other project managers with whom I have worked. I also am thinking about the many PMs that I know from my participation of my local PMI chapter dinner meetings. I am remembering the Project Management Community of Practice sessions where peers came together to discuss best practices and learn from each other. I guess there does exist collective wisdom about project management that is readily accessible to me. So, I guess that PM tool that is so very common – you know – expert judgment – doesn’t mean just my judgment, but the collective wisdom that I can tap into when needed or desired.
Not that my project is shaggy and needs a trim, but maybe I’ll find a group of PMs sitting around ready to talk about any project topic and share their lessons learned in a comfortable and accepting environment…
Hey, have a great day. And don’t hesitate to chat about project management with others today. You may actually supply the missing piece to somebody else’s puzzle…