Back in Black.

Having been on the road the last week, I had ample time to "collect" my thoughts.  I do my best thinking when I'm traveling - I think it has something to do with the fact that I am going somewhere physically so my mind feels like it can be free to go more places too. 

I was lucky to have been around some great people who inspire some good thinking as well.  I'm going to try and sum up a few interrelated thoughts.

Firstly, We talk a lot in the software world about making our customers more productive and efficient through technology.  While a technology solution can be a significant contribution to the effort in making things better, faster, stronger - it isn't the only consideration, or even the most important one.  Sometimes its the people that need to be "upgraded."  You can place technology and the latest, greatest software around someone, but if they're not going to embrace it and make a concerted effort to integrate it into their daily lives, then its a lot of wasted code.  The end-users need to buy-in and adopt the technology - this can be done by clearly demonstrating the value of what it will do, outlining concise organizational goals around the project and getting them excited about the new, shiny toys.  Sometimes you need to replace these people. 

Secondly, you must not sell this internally as the next coming of Christ.  I am never a fan of over-selling, principally because it encourages the under-deliver concept, and that's never good.  So, be careful when you think something will help. Talk about how it might not help and what the cost/benefit would be.  ROI projection should be a part of everything.  Consider your baseline data and sources, do your homework and ask incredible questions and make some firm projections so you can financially discuss the impact - that will help and ultimately what matters most.  If I can show you a 3 month pay-back or break-even... everything else is background music.

Thirdly, is the notion of the "fear of failure."  This one goes back to the first point - in which I believe you should employ people who take some risks, and also are willing to assume some ownership of their job.  Each day you should ask yourself, "...if i was the CEO, what would I do?"  This is inherently not how most people operate - we live in a world where the system enables you to hedge yourself against any potential for failure and assume no position so you can be exempt from being associated with anything ugly.  What people don't understand is that great companies let people fail, because when you let someone fail, you're also letting them win and if they win, we all win.  Most people who do a "decent" job are the former.  If you want to be great, I believe you need to risk failure. 

Dr. Joyce Brothers puts it simply:  "Accept that all of us can be hurt, that all of us can and surely will at times fail. Other vulnerabilities, like being embarrassed or risking love, can be terrifying, too. I think we should follow a simple rule: if we can take the worst, take the risk."

Cheers!