Open-Minded Mindfullness and Zen PM

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES: 3 CRUCIAL MINDS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

2009-01-20T12:00:00.000-08:00

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES: 3 CRUCIAL MINDS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS
Yes, we need the 3/5 aspects to succeed. To blend the various minds into a unified whole seems another crucial element.
Open-minded mindfulness, an approach I have been working with as a foundation for optimal performance, enables the cultivation of the Five Minds. These, I think give rise to the champion, learning and creative mind, though the models do overlap.
Open-mindedness is the capacity to question everything and embrace diversity and uncertainty. Mindfulness is conscious awareness. Mindfulness meditation practice is a critical technique for cultivating mindfulness and mindfulness provides the capacity to respond rather than react in ways appropriate to the situation at hand. I believe that that is the core capacity for optimal performance, particularly if it is informed by compassion and the ethical mind.
My email address is george@pitagorskyconsulting.com and my Breakthrough Newsletter is available via email to info@pitagorskyconsulting.com.

Return to the Blog

2008-12-29T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Zen Approach is morphing into open-minded mindfulness: the ability to drop away conditioned responses based on unhealthy mental models. The same basic principles are to be found across all wisdom traditions. These principles transcend culturally aligned systems like Zen and Yoga. We need open minds and mindfulness because they enable skillful performance. We cultivate them using techniques that fit nicely into our normal lives, that don't take much time and that payoff in the ability to gracefully navigate and succeed in even the most challenging situations.

Post Project Reviews

2008-02-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

Just about everyone agrees that post project reviews are great. But not everyone actually does them. Of those that do, some are successful some are not.

How do we analyze our performance so that it is not threatening to the participants while it candidly addresses all issues? We can of course focus on the positive; use Appreciative Inquiry (AI). There has been lots of success using the positive approach. The AI advocates say "instead of focusing your energy on fixing the 0.0001% that's wrong, AI foicuses on how to create more of what's already working." But, what if it's the 10% that's wrong? What if what's wrong is costing the organization dearly and creating conflict? Sometimes we need to focus in on the problems and defects. Then we can drill down into these negatives and find the causes so we can root them out. AI will lead to a process that includes the analysis of problems and their causes as a part of continuous improvement.

Limited time and lots to do

2008-01-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

I have been reminded lately of my time limit. On the grand scale there is no worry about time; its just a concept. But when it comes down to us in our lives and our projects, there definitely is a limit. On a personal level, I am reminded of it as I watch my 99 year old mother-in-law age, while aches and pains and a recent wisdom tooth extraction remind me of my own aging.
Then there are project deadlines. There is so much to do, so many projects and the constancy of daily operations. Can we get it all in before the deadline? What will be postponed or put on the backburner until it becomes a fire?

kindness in project communications management

2008-01-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to find that some colleagues were resistant to the use of the term "kindness" as a value along with truthfulness, clarity, completeness and others for communication in project management. Kindness is having the intention to benefit others, to be helpful and gentle. Kindness sets the stage for trust and openness which lead to more effective communications. Think about it, isn't it easier to communicate with people who are kind?

Criticism with loving kindness

2007-12-31T10:38:00.001-08:00

Criticism may be positive (as in "That's really fine work") or negative (as in "The result falls short of expectations"). Negative criticism is particularly interesting. People often reactively resist negative criticism. This resistance gets in the way of learning and improving.

As critics, itis best to be clear, kind and constructive.

As one who is on the recieving end of negative criticism, it is best to accept what is being said as an opinion or point of view and then evaluate the criticism and the work being criticized to see what merit there is in the criticism. Even when the criticism isn't communicated in a kind and constructive way, it is still worth evaluating it objectively.

Open Minded

2007-12-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

Open minded: free of mental constraints and unfounded beliefs so that creative, responsive and proactive behavior is possible.

Can you question your most cherished beliefs? If you can't, what does that say about them and you?

Unitics over politics

2007-12-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

It is time to move from politics to unitics. Unitics seeks unity. Politics is based on conflict, it seeks win-lose solutions, or at best compromise. Politics is about conflict. Unitics is about resolution. Is unitics only for lunatics and saints? I think not. I think the time has come for us all to become unititians.

The Zen Approach - Open Minded Mindfulness

2007-12-17T09:47:00.001-08:00

The Zen approach to Project Management: Working from Your Center to Balance Expectations and Performance is the title of my recent book (available via IIL Publishing, Amazon, etc.).
I have also been presenting a webinar every month for the past year or so call the Zen of PM. It's free from IIL (www.iil.com).

The basic premis of the Zen Approach is to appply open minded mindfulness to cut through the barriers to personal self-actualization while living effectively, joyfully and compassionately managing projects.