Patience

Patience. I sometimes struggle to apply this quality to my daily activities, whether it is project management or dealing with family members. My default personality is to try and solve problems right away. However, sometimes living in discomfort without making changes may be exactly what is needed.

I have a project that is having some difficulty in the design phase. The team is building and configuring the system to match the requirements. However, the system isn’t cooperating! We’ve found an issue that has huge implications within the business. So, what do we do? My inclination is to quickly find a solution, but I know the team should properly plan and discuss the options, weighing each one. Isn’t a quick resolution also important? Taking more time has consequences; other items on the critical path will be delayed and our project will be late (or worse). But, forcing a resolution could have even bigger consequences that reach beyond the project.

Patience is a quality found in great leaders. Managing and leading teams requires a healthy dose of patience and having the experience to know when to apply it. Project teams are complex. They contain team members with different views, communication styles, terminology, skills, and patience levels. In the context of problem resolution, it is important to find a balance between quick resolution and thoughtful deliberation. Helping the team find that balance is the role of a good leader.

In this particular scenario, giving the team the space they need to discuss and resolve the issue is the right thing to do. After some negotiations and redesign, they actually may come up with a resolution that serves the business more effectively. Even if that means that the current project is cancelled. In this particular case, the quality of the resolution is more important than the project timeline.

Am I the only one who struggles with applying patience to high stress situations? No. Are my techniques or scenarios unique? Probably not. This was a clear teaching moment for me and I wanted to share in case it can help you with your daily work.