Solutions – Krishna C. Kalva
There are aspects of reality that we don’t have access to
I recently read an article that focused on the topic of “not knowing.” My takeaway was that the concept of not knowing arises when we understand that reality as a complete picture is unknowable. First, we understand that reality is always changing, and second, our perspective of the reality is contextually limited considering where we stand in terms of space and time.
The author of the article referred to a popular example of six blind men and an elephant, wherein each person was asked to describe an elephant. The descriptions from the men varied as they stood in their individual positions next to the elephant — beside the elephant, in the front or behind.
At the same time, the perceived visualization of the elephant constantly changed depending on their description. The key learning from the example is that nobody has a full picture that can be seen or felt all the time.
Once we recognize that we do not have a complete picture, we have an opportunity to reflect upon and embrace the given situation by remaining curious and open to learn more.
Constant Change
Putting this into perspective in our daily business lives, we often come across people and situations wherein we come together to collaborate to achieve a common goal.
Imagine yourself as a project manager working on a strategic project that consists of different stakeholders, project members, expectations and opinions. The project is critical for the overall business success of the organization. It is generally observed that the project expectations are constantly changing due to the organization’s dynamics, making it hard for the project team to have a clear picture and to visualize the desired outcome.
As a project manager, one of your primary goals is to structure the project activities like planning, communication, stakeholder management, etc., to maximize collaboration and achieve the desired result. With changing dynamics of the organization, the project scope and the team are expected to constantly adapt, making it challenging for everyone to stay engaged and to collaborate efficiently.
It is also common that the individual perception about the project and the team collaboration is constantly changing throughout. Some key drivers are the individuals’ states of mind and the relationship they keep adapting over time toward the volatile situation.
After careful assessment, the project team inevitably will need to agree to make some changes. Some of the changes would typically include transparent communication within the project team and with leadership, periodical pulse checks, review of work culture and values, feedback mechanism, etc.
The desired goals are to address the project situation, motivate and inspire the team to remain curious and to adapt while being authentic.
Embracing Ambiguity
One of the key outcomes of the exercise is to have a common understanding about the desired outcome and the relationship or attitude the team can form toward the overall journey. While everyone involved will acknowledge that the journey is complex, there is an intrinsic belief that through coaching and feedback, a general awareness can be created amongst the team to skillfully embrace ambiguity.
Success can be measured when the project team is able to navigate through moments of uncertainty without having any preconceived labels. Leadership plays a key role by offering their support and commitment, making the desired journey as well as the overall success meaningful for everyone.
Conclusion
I would like to take your attention back to the original idea — the gift of not knowing.
Sometimes people may associate the word “not knowing” as “not being in control. ”However, by acknowledging that we don’t always have or even need to have the answers in each situation, it allows us to remain vulnerable. By being vulnerable, we display courage and create an opportunity to collectively combine our thoughts and actions, and identify solutions that can drive us forward.
The goal is not to remain attached to the concept of having transparency, but rather to embrace curiosity by being able to assess the situation, choose to remain confident in your abilities and skillfully move forward.
It is through collective curiosity we understand that our reality is always changing, and our perspective of our reality is limited by where we stand in terms of space and time.
Krishna C. Kalva is learning solution manager at Siemens Healthineers. Email him at krishnachaitanya.kalva@siemens-healthineers.com.
