1/25/2024 0 Comments Over optimismA team with a broadened viewpoint is less likely to fall in the trap of group think or sliding into an “us vs them” approach that tends to slow down the resolution of problems and may even grow small issues into huge challenges, while losing trust among stakeholders.Are you better than average as a driver? I know I am. But the team needs to improve both in depth and breadth. Continually build out the startup team by adding diversity of opinion, approach and backgroundsĪs a team starts maturing and moving towards detailed design and implementation, the optimistic leaders on the team continue to have a critical voice. Otherwise, independent reviews become maligned entry points to bureaucratic creep. It is also critical that these independent assessments focus on the core of the idea and not some bureaucratic aspect that is peripheral to the question whether or not a given mission is thoughtfully designed and planned. Otherwise, such independent assessments may make us feel better, but they surely do not add the desired value. However, it is critical that the input truly is - and demonstrably remains - independent throughout the process. Having the input of a team that is free to analyze and speak their opinion is a welcome addition into the discussion. Independent views are critical when we seek to achieve excellence. Deliberately create an independent and dispassionate view of the project A trusted environment does not happen automatically but requires vulnerability and humility from all sides.Ģ. As leaders, it is our responsibility to create an environment in which worries can be discussed without adverse consequences. Instead, r eward those who are comfortable identifying and discussing their worries. It is very easy to never get bad news, especially if you create an environment that publicly shame s or even attack s the first person who brings up these points. Create a trusted environment that encourages the team to voice their worries The second path is to identify and manage the impact of over-optimism using several specific tools. Without optimism, and the desire to stretch, we remain in the comfort zone and ultimately lose the very thing we are supposed to do : attempt things that have never been done before. But, it also pours the baby out with the bath water. Clearly, this solves the aforementioned challenges of the rude awakening of a project that was over promised and underfunded. The simplest but least successful way to tackle it is to take the optimists entirely out of the equation. I have seen leaders address this quandary in multiple ways. It is therefore critical to address this issue and do so in ways that make success more likely. Unmanaged excessive optimism can be harmful to the team in the long run and a reason for mistrust by the broader community. I have been in presentation s where I wish I had caught that the assessments were simply unrealistic – assessments that can haunt an otherwise amazing engineering team for decades as they can’t match the reality to the original hope. I f you look at similar initial presentations from the point of view of wisdom gained during the 5-6 years of the development of this mission, this pitch – if not challenged by facts and deep independent analysis – becomes a jump off point that leads to deep regrets and agony for years to come. If they don’t get through this buy-in phase, there is no mission! Generally, and without any bad intent, teams will tend to over-stress the benefit and under-emphasize the challenges that go into this new design. They talk about the amazing possibilities and impacts, and they talk about their elegant technical solutions. Imagine yourself in a room listening to a team that is making a presentation about a new project – a project that truly makes your heart sing. However, if someone asks me about the biggest challenge I see in developing missions to not only be technically successful, but also to be within anticipated cost and schedule, the answer may surprise many: excessive and blinding optimism. T here is no question in my mind about the crucial role that optimism plays in what we do. This is the power of optimism – bringing to life something that is much harder than it looks, and to have the resilience to continue despite the challenges.
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