One of the strangest lessons I’ve had with my mentor is when not to correct authority. I know its a strange way to look at it.
It is basically in the Design Implementation Phase: if the Implementor sees a Flaw in the Design – do they raise it with the PM/Project Controller or Project Owner?
This is where it gets really tricky and there is no fast and hard rule but here are the principles that arises.
- Any Design Deviations needs to be resolved by cycling back to the Design Phase. But many PM (for the group who wants the job done) 9/10 wont have the patience to go back because that entails costs. They would rather hazzard the risk.
- 9/10 there are many Discrepencies with the Design vs the Actual and if you complain about every bit of deviation you lose your credibility in the business and your business.
- When you start correcting the PM your doing the PM’s job. Thats one of the main rules I understood from him: focus on your job, don’t meddle with his job. This is where my intuition is confused. Note that I’m a GM guessing/empathy of what the other person needs is hard wired – also trying to please people.
- But this is also where I see so much abuse: “Tulongan mo naman kami” (Can you please help us) is both a request at first – but in Philippine culture where our Hospitality nature is the default and often abused – it means “we’re not helping” by doing our job. Its a backhanded request that we are not already helping by being there and raising the problem for a resolution.
- This is where it gets Murky and a Trap. You dont need to have “Faith in People” like in anyone growing up in a developing country – you protect yourself by locking your door, putting your bag where you can see it, and watching your surroundings. You can still have faith in people but still understand that many are opportunistic and seek to alleviate their suffering the easiest way possible: at the expense of another person.
- When you start correcting the PM/Authority and doing their Job, then they start sucking in their Job. You remove their ability to be held accountable for their mistakes. You delay the lessons they should learn. You still can correct them: BUT ONLY IF YOU ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
I have a lot of People burned by “Please Help us”. I got burned helping when asked and not asked. I just had the clout of being the Son of the Owner to withstand the backlash.
Its about ownership, roles, and what really happens in the real world.
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