I am sure you have had one of those moments in your life where you questioned if you were doing the right thing? Afraid of the potential consequences for making a wrong choice, you decide to take a few extra precautions...just in case. This happened to me today.
From the time I turned on my computer at work, I had been writing the IT portion of the continuation application for the grant that funds my position. Since this document needed input from other IT staff members, I placed it on our department's newly implemented SharePoint site. As you can imagine, the opportunity to collaborate through a Web 2.0 technology excited me. Finally, I was able to use a tool that I had been taking advantage of on the national level for over three years.
When the end of the day arrived, I saved the document and checked it back in. Just as I was about to close out the site, I got that nagging feeling. Should I trust that this site is going to be backed up? I have put a lot of effort into this document, am I sure that it will be available when I access SharePoint in the morning? Finally succumbing to my doubt, I pulled out my secure thumb drive and saved a back up copy.
A colleague who saw me backing up the document asked me why I had done this. Pulling from my past, I told him that ever since my early employment as a fast food worker, I had been leery of eating out. As I said, once you have worked behind the counter that hamburger just doesn't look appetizing. I guess, I explained further, that it was the same with Information Technology. Once you have worked in IT and saw what goes on behind the interface, you no longer view technology with the same sense of awe and trust.
My reaction was nothing new. Doubt and lack of trust are natural human reactions. It is the same reaction that some individuals experience when they are presented with their first opportunity to lead. Having observed other leaders and seen "what goes on behind the counter" they quickly turn away. It doesn't matter if this reaction was brought on by fear, a dislike for office politics, or plain old apathy the result is they never realize their full potential. In the end, not only do they lose...but so does society.
It has been several years since I last worked as a fry cook. While it was difficult, I eventually learned to eat hamburgers again. I am happy that I did, because I would have missed one of life's little pleasures.
In a similar fashion, when an opportunity presents itself for you to step up and lead, I urge you to seize it. You may feel a lot of apprehension when you finally say yes. Don't worry, I felt the same emotions when I made the conscious decision to eat hamburgers again. While I can't promise you that all of your fear and doubt will go away, as seen by my reaction with SharePoint, I can tell you that it will get easier. So don't hold back. Embrace the opportunity and challege. This is the first step in becoming a true Quasi Project Manager.
From the time I turned on my computer at work, I had been writing the IT portion of the continuation application for the grant that funds my position. Since this document needed input from other IT staff members, I placed it on our department's newly implemented SharePoint site. As you can imagine, the opportunity to collaborate through a Web 2.0 technology excited me. Finally, I was able to use a tool that I had been taking advantage of on the national level for over three years.
When the end of the day arrived, I saved the document and checked it back in. Just as I was about to close out the site, I got that nagging feeling. Should I trust that this site is going to be backed up? I have put a lot of effort into this document, am I sure that it will be available when I access SharePoint in the morning? Finally succumbing to my doubt, I pulled out my secure thumb drive and saved a back up copy.
A colleague who saw me backing up the document asked me why I had done this. Pulling from my past, I told him that ever since my early employment as a fast food worker, I had been leery of eating out. As I said, once you have worked behind the counter that hamburger just doesn't look appetizing. I guess, I explained further, that it was the same with Information Technology. Once you have worked in IT and saw what goes on behind the interface, you no longer view technology with the same sense of awe and trust.
My reaction was nothing new. Doubt and lack of trust are natural human reactions. It is the same reaction that some individuals experience when they are presented with their first opportunity to lead. Having observed other leaders and seen "what goes on behind the counter" they quickly turn away. It doesn't matter if this reaction was brought on by fear, a dislike for office politics, or plain old apathy the result is they never realize their full potential. In the end, not only do they lose...but so does society.
It has been several years since I last worked as a fry cook. While it was difficult, I eventually learned to eat hamburgers again. I am happy that I did, because I would have missed one of life's little pleasures.
In a similar fashion, when an opportunity presents itself for you to step up and lead, I urge you to seize it. You may feel a lot of apprehension when you finally say yes. Don't worry, I felt the same emotions when I made the conscious decision to eat hamburgers again. While I can't promise you that all of your fear and doubt will go away, as seen by my reaction with SharePoint, I can tell you that it will get easier. So don't hold back. Embrace the opportunity and challege. This is the first step in becoming a true Quasi Project Manager.
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