Getting Booked
Today is the day that the final
proofs of HR Doctors book, entitled Dont Walk by
Something Wrong! went to the publisher. It has already
been accepted for publication and the various complex
processes have been completed. These include editorial review,
design of the front and back cover and at least three
different people proofreading it for typos and format
problems.
Despite all of that effort, the
"final authors proof" - that one more chance to review
the book before its published - resulted in finding 98
more changes. All of these changes, of course, are designed to
make the book more enjoyable for the reader. They are also
aimed at making sure the book doesnt become required reading
in an adult education class on "how to improve your spelling
in the English language." Dont Walk by Something
Wrong! should be out in February, in time for the NACo
Legislative Conference.
It
is very exciting to have worked hard on a project and to see
it approaching its final conclusion. On "final approach" to
project completion, it looks as though the end is in sight and
the work will be successfully completed. The credibility of
having achieved closure to a major project is always very
satisfying and a great relief. That is all the more true if
the work or the project may be enjoyable to others. Perhaps
the project will help people you may not even know in their
careers or in their lives. Hopefully, readers will agree that
those goals were met when they read Dont Walk by Something
Wrong!
However, everyone, book author or
not, has projects in life which involve a lot of organizing
and hard work. These project management responsibilities are
not solely within the purview of executives. Perhaps the
greatest of all project mangers may simply be moms and dads
who manage the development, growth and nurturing of the next
generation of humans. They may be underpaid (especially the
moms!) and have no vacation or sick leave benefits, but their
work is very valuable and overwhelmingly
successful.
The
more complicated a project is, the more opportunities there
are for mistakes. The HR Doctor has learned in the writing of
Dont Walk by Something Wrong!, as well as in other
work projects, including preparation of budgets, capital
improvement plans and strategic business plans, that there is
always great value in one more review. It gives one more
opportunity to focus on the work before it becomes
final.
Just as the proofreading of the
HR Doctors book by different people still didnt pick up some
errors, project managers will be well served by inviting
another set of eyes, another brain and another heart to review
the project before declaring victory. Doing this with a
diverse group of colleagues may be especially valuable. The
advantages of a wide spectrum of viewpoints and backgrounds in
project management is often an understated value of staff
diversity.
On
a recent walk with Kamala, the HR dog, we discussed this very
phenomenon of a final review. She pointed out that the best
way to do that one more review, is to do it after a period of
detachment. Get away from the project for some period of time,
albeit perhaps a brief time. Dont think about it on your
morning walk. Approach the project again after a long weekend
or a brief vacation.
Our very own "Dr.
Phil," has just published a compilation of his HR
Doctor columns: Dont Walk by Something Wrong!
Learning about Life, Business and Public
Service from the "HR Doctor"
The 391-page book is
available in paperback for $26.95 or hardback is
$36.95; there is also an Adobe e-book
version.
Dont Walk by
Something Wrong! by Phil Rosenberg may be
ordered from www.amazon.com,
or www.barnesandnoble.com,
the publisher at http://www.iuniverse.com/ or
from your favorite local
bookstore. | |
You
may find that you see the work from a different perspective or
something you should have caught earlier suddenly jumps into
your brain. The value of a detached observer can make a big
difference in the project, whether its yourself after a brief
rest or another person loaning you their skills to help with
the review.
Finally, when the project is
finished and the outcomes delivered another round of sincere
and grateful thank-yous needs to be said. Dont Walk by
Something Wrong! has a substantial acknowledgement section
recognizing people who have made a difference in the
publication of the book and all that went into it over the
years. Its never inappropriate to say thank you, and its
never enough just to say it once.
One
more note about project management and the "just one more
review" phenomenon. Dont let the value of that additional
review turn into a quicksand pit. Dont fall prey to the idea
that it is all right to put off project scheduling and the joy
of completing the project for an excessive period because the
37th person involved in project review has yet to report in.
While multiple reviews by diverse people are helpful, they
should not be allowed to create project paralysis instead of
project success. With apologies to any readers who are members
of the National Rifle Association, the phenomenon of "Ready,
Aim Aim Aim" should not wreck the projects
success.
The
HR Doctor is enjoying the experience of being "booked!" -
at least that kind of booked!
Phil Rosenberg http://www.hrdr.net/
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