I flung my door open only just catching it before it
slammed into the wall and left a hole I wouldn't want to explain later.
Resisting the urge to throw my notebook across the room I stomped towards my
desk, registering the presence of Hogarth decimating my newest fichus tree.
For once I was almost happy to see Hogarth. Almost
happy. At least I had someone I could complain to. "We are so
doomed," I said as I tossed myself into my chair. It gave a whimpered
protest, at the abuse, though held
together in the end.
Hogarth raised one eyebrow, which for a being with a
monobrow that was no small achievement. "The Mayan's were right?"
I leaned back in my chair, throwing an arm over my
eyes to blot out the light. "We should be so lucky. At least if the world
ended I wouldn't have to watch our profits tank faster than skydiver who forgot
his parachute." The deafening silence that greeted my answer eventually caused me to peak out from under
my arm and make sure Hogarth was still there. He was, just staring at me with
those impassive brown eyes.
Sigh, here we go again. "The president just
decided we should do a radical pivot of our business model. It's absolutely
insane and it's going to kill our business. All you have to do is look at the
recent customer feedback to know it was a bad idea."
Hogarth carefully set the denuded fichus branch down
before speaking. "Well did he?"
"Did he what?"
"Did he look at the customer feedback?"
Hogarth asked.
I tossed my hands up in the air, "I don't know.
I didn't ask."
Hogarth cocked his head to the side, "Why not?
Wasn't this a strategic brainstorming meeting? You all meet to throw out ideas
and see what sticks."
I shook my head, "Hogarth, Hogarth, you don't
understand. The president asked 'What about doing X?' No one is going to argue
with his idea, he's the president." Pointing at my chest I said ,
"It's not my job to rock the boat ."
"Isn't it?"
"Stop playing twenty questions with me!" I
snapped. "He's the boss, we do what he says. He knows what he's
doing."
"That doesn't mean he thinks it’s a good idea.
He's the president, he has to look like he knows what he's doing."
I glared at Hogarth, "What's the
difference?"
Hogarth looked at me. "Ever been to
Abilene?"
"What?"
DON'T ROCK THE BOAT
"The Abilene paradox is a paradox
in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is
counter to the preferences of any of the individuals in the group. It involves
a common breakdown of group communication in which each member mistakenly
believes that their own preferences are counter to the group's and, therefore,
does not raise objections. A common phrase relating to the Abilene paradox is a
desire to not "rock the boat"." - Wikipedia
The paradox reminds
me of the lemming poster I used in "All
the other Gorillas are Doing it" blog. The Abilene paradox is a solid
reminder that no matter where the idea comes from, as a people or project
manager, we can't blindly assume that it is a "good" idea. If you
have concerns it is your duty and responsibility to raise those concerns. You can't assume
someone else will. Even in the most CEO dominated companies (can you say
Apple?) it takes a team to design and build an idea.
But the nail that sticks out gets hammered down
Ah yes, the old
Japanese proverb that espouses conformity and not making waves. Sure, no one
wants to be the little kid who yells out that the Emperor has no clothes. Only
ask yourself this, do you really want to be the Emperor's servant when he finds
out he's been parading around in public without any clothes on? The problem
with this approach, is what if there really is a squeaky wheel? If everyone
chooses to ignore the squeak it doesn't go away. Eventually the wheel seizes up
and flies off. Then where are you?
Let's instead look
at another Japanese proverb, this one from Toyota.
"Stop production so that production never has to
stop." or, as the Toyota Production System sums is
up,
Jidoka
This is what
empowers every worker on a Toyota production line to be able to stop production
if they see a problem. Not only do they have the ability, they are empowered
and encouraged to use that ability. Every step of the way, assumptions are
challenged and reality is tested. While Toyota has had some recent setbacks in
quality, no one can deny their decades of stellar quality nor is their little
doubt they will be returning to those quality roots. It is what has made them
the brand and success they are and Jidoka is
no small part of that.
So the next time
something seems so obvious that everyone knows it, open your mouth and make
sure everyone does know. Don't end up going to Abilene when the restaurant down
the street is what everyone really wanted.
Joel
Bancroft-Connors
The Gorilla Talker
Want me to talk to
your gorilla? Send me an email,
jbancroftconnors@gmail.com
You can follow me on
twitter, @JBC_PMP
Who is Hogarth? Read
Blog 001 to find out all about my personal gorilla.
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