View from outside

How often do we consciously invite a view from the outside? Do I know what I don't know?

It was with these thoughts in mind that I had agreed to have a Project management practitioner join us. The subject was the plant where a major automation project installation and commissioning is in progress.

The day and the inputs proved far too valuable to us. Not only did his probing questions help us know what we didn't knew, it reinforced the point that every now and then one should get a view from a fresh pair of eyes. Whether it was about center-lining the machine or understanding how the vendor had managed his relationship with his sub contractors! The inputs pointed towards the axiom (translated) "it's dark beneath the candle that lights!"

However, what doesn't get captured here is that it takes courage to ask for a view from the outside. So many times, one can see organisations throwing good money after bad, just because some decision makers refuse to pause and do a stock check or receive a view from the outside with an open mind. I guess pride and self image takes control over sanity and wisdom.

At least I took another step forward!