This week in Berlin, we faced icy temperatures. Walking my usual route along the park, I forgot that this is the most slippery, icy path. Half-way on my route, there was no turning back. One step at a time, feeling my way through the ice and where my feet felt secure.
Are you walking on ice?
- Tackling complex projects
- Missing meetings
- Failing to keep my word
Tackling complex projects:
- Who is supporting you?
- What systems and processes are in place for success?
- Who are your GoTo Experts?
- Where can you find the information you need?
- What training do you need?
As a chemist, I was given a failed online – analyser project at the refinery. Many colleagues had already attempted to get it running. I respected the complexity and resistance that came with this project. Automating a manual laboratory process was seen as a threat to existing employees. I committed to training by traveling to Holland at my own expense. This contributed to a successful implementation. Today, thankfully Design Thinking, Working Backwards processes can give life to complex projects.
Missing meetings:
- Why did I not show up?
- What is the impact on my colleagues?
- Can I trust myself with commitments?
I have been in meetings, where attendees don’t show up or at short notice cancel. I try to learn why they did not show up. The meeting is not only about me! When I accept a meeting, I acknowledge my impact on others. I am also asking myself, which meetings should I truly commit to and to which ones not?
Failing to keep my word:
- Why did I offer to help?
- Why am I not fulfilling my promise?
- What is the impact of failing to keep to my word?
When meeting new people, I often think about who I can connect them with. Sometimes, I offer to connect them to my network and try to follow-up afterwards. Are we too fast to offer help without thinking it through? What happens when I can’t keep my word? Do we have the courage to reach out and apologise?
„To err is human, to forgive is divine“, Alexander Pope
Are you walking on ice? What brought you there? Whether icy situations chose us or we brought ourselves into them, we can decide how we embrace them.
Finding My Way 
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