Tagged with: conversations • culture • interaction • scripted • templated
“How is your marriage?” “Well, we have 2 kids out of the 3 we planned. A mortgage at an y% rate. $x dollars in savings. And we are in our 10th year.”
It’s an answer. Hey! You could even mention a “emotional index” to indicate progress on the “mood”.
Not everybody would be happy with this answer. Pop quiz. Why? Anyone? Come one! Raise your hands!
“What do you do?” “Well, I add value to my customers so they can do the best work they ever did, even without them being good at what it is they do.”
It’s an answer. Hey! We could automate this, and let a machine put in some random keywords! Oh. And let a machine with a metal voice provide the answer. Automation! Yes!
“I-ED-VAL-U” “What? You are Ed Valley?”
Oh yeah. Me. Big fan of the 10 second elevator pitches.
“What is that organization like?” “”We are the best. We are the world. We are the children. In our last management survey, over 50% voted for these values.”
Oh really? Ah. The verbal diarrhea fest called “Name That Shared Value“. The more abstract the keywords, the bigger the distance with human beings.
I have a point. Yes. Really.
In projects we have learned that to make it all work we need to have a couple of essential conversations. With our team members, our stakeholders and ourselves. About the goals, the roles, what people have done before, the trip itself, the way interaction with the stakeholders is done, how we know how far we are. Stuff like that.
We, Project Managers, have learned ways to have or initiate these conversations. We have codified them. We have these conversations by using our tools like Gantt charts, risk logs, simulations, grids and many, many metrics.
We have created “templates” for our conversations. Need to have a talk about uncertainty? We have a grid and checklist for that! Just follow the script and the conversation is taken care off.
“Template” (or scripted) conversations are not bad.
They are helpful for when you are new, or when you are in a hurry and want to make sure you have everything.
But they also have embedded in them assumptions about the problem, the solutions and the path to take. They also have embedded cultural elements (flags!) in the language used and presentation provided. My main point with the examples at the start of the post.
You can have the same essential conversations without the template. You can facilitate the conversation among the people involved. Focus on the conversation and not so much on which template society says we must follow.
Perhaps you read “Project Management” and think “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.” Well. We can create a metaphor that is human, fun, playful and still addresses the same principles as the scripted approach.
Yes. Yes. For me this would be “The Wizard Of Oz“.
Or. Make use of Project Chakras. Or do Shrinkonian exercises.
If this is not your cup of tea and you are very comfortable with scripted versions of the conversation, that’s cool. No worries. Keep on doing what you do.
But! You’re not alone… (cue for creepy sounding background music.)
As a Project Shrink I am finding ways to deal with the diversity of human interaction. Diverse. As in. People are not all the same as you. Or me. Or Dorothy. And Toto.
There is a point to the language and illustrations used on this blog. It is the illustration of diversity in interaction.
Waaaah.
See.
Hi Bas,
You covered the topic so well and left little for me to add. All I want to say assumption template are NOT helpful. They assume assumptions are valid at all times and under different conditions. Conversations allow people to interact and question assumptions. I assume I made myself clear
Hey Ali, oh yes, you made an excellent point. But what about people new into something? It is helpful to provide them with guidelines and a script on how to do things. They should learn out of the script in the long term though. What do you think?
A great Question, Bas. I normally employ creative people. I take my time to ensure that I employ only talented people with great self-drive. These people learn quickly the basics, but they are bored to repeat doing the same thing. They come up with ideas that keeps the work appealing and engaging. People who lack the desire to do that will always be happy to keep doing the same work. They are firmly settled in their comfort zone.
Makes perfectly sense.
Verbal diarrhea? Has somebody been watching Bridget Jones’ Diary in rerun? In that same spirit, Bas, I like you very much. Just as you are. (watched that movie in Berlin 10 years ago with my sister, has sentimental value to me because it reminds me of her, so I now know every line)
Anyway…
“The more abstract the keywords, the bigger the distance with human beings.” I love this. Of course, I watch groups that communicate volumes with just a look, laugh so hard they cry when a single “inside joke” phrase is spoken, share a recipe with another group member because they know they’d like it, get another group member a day off because she hasn’t seen her traveling spouse in more than a month, and so on.
“we need to have a couple of essential conversations” doesn’t hold the same truth for me. Every conversation I’m having today is essential to my life, my happiness, and my work.
And not to harp on the subject, but I still think you do more than “deal with” the diversity of human interactions. Much, much more. Words matter. Right up until the moment they don’t.
Lori,
The Arab proverb says what means If the talk is of silver, then silence is of gold. Do you agree as you said above” I watch groups that communicate volumes with just a look”? What is your experience?
Hahaha. I had no idea that I got that expression from that movie! Yes, consider it as one of the classics. Berlin he? Have to talk about that another time.
And thank you. For the kind words.
“we need to have a couple of essential conversations” What I mean by this is that the profession of Project Management has learned me that to make projects work, some topics have to be discussed among team members, stakeholders etc. Like you have to talk about what you think “DONE” looks like. These “conversations” are essential in respect to the PM part of the work. And to people doing projects, it is important to talk about these topics. Each in their own way.
Someone suggested I can use “enjoy” instead of “deal with”. That was an awesome suggestion
Scripted conversation can be well used when starting off a discussion. However, individual skill is necessary to keep the interaction going. It seems there is a fine line between being excellent at using scripts and just being a good conversationalist.
Hey Curt, yes for starters and instruction. “It seems there is a fine line between being excellent at using scripts and just being a good conversationalist.” I wonder if one could tell the difference easily.