How Tae Kwon Do can be applied to Project and Program Management, part 4

In parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series, I described how the Tae Kwon Do tenets of etiquette and modesty can be applied to project and program management (PPM), followed by how important perseverance is, and how to cultivate it. In this post, I'm going to cover the next tenet: self control. As usual, I'll open with a definition to give you some context:

self-control

ˌsɛlfkənˈtrəʊl/

noun

the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires, especially in difficult situations."Lucy silently struggled for self-control"

synonyms:self-discipline, self-restraint, restraint, control, self-mastery, self-possession, will power, strength of will, composure, coolness; moderation, temperateness, temperance, abstemiousness, abstention, non-indulgence; informal cool; rare countenance"he had recovered his self-control"

Let's jump straight in then. 'Ability to control oneself': yes - we can all identify with that one can't we? Situations in which we've spoken before our brain was in gear and instantly regretted it. It's the 'especially in difficult situations' which jumps out at me, because sometimes, conversely it's in easy situations where we can really let ourselves down, and this is where the TKD analogy comes in - it's really about letting one's guard down. This is something several martial artists have learned to their cost: let your guard down and if you're lucky you may end up with a bruised rib - if you're really unlucky, it's your nose that ends up changing shape! That's why, when sparring, we wear protective gear. But what protective gear do we have as PPM practitioners. Answer: experience, and lots of it. This is why throwing untried practitioners into the lions den very rarely leads to success, and yet companies continually do it. Thinking about TKD again, I can remember a competition in which a green belt was thrown in against someone who was at least a 3rd Dan. The result was a virtual bloodbath. Loose words which upset peers is one thing, but the same thing with a Customer is suicide. A trusted colleague many years ago asked me 'Where are your war wounds?', and he was absolutely on the nail. It's only with war wounds, or experience, that you gain the maturity to be able to truly control your behaviour and to show the self-restraint that makes you a model worthy of emulation. As we know, being a PPM practitioner involves a lot around progressive elaboration, and it's often tempting to try to rush on ahead, even when we don't have anything like the full picture. This is where a healthy dose of self-discipline comes in handy. Comparing this to TKD, many martial artists are often keen to gain their belts as soon as possible, but you know something: it isn't a race. You have to go through the learning experience and that old adage - 'practice is perfect' - is as true now as it's ever been. In essence, this is the art of self-mastery. Blag your way through and at some point you will get found out, whether it's a Tae Kwon Do exam, a PMP exam or a new role/assignment you're just not ready for.

So how should we play this? Well, start by reviewing your style so far, and learn to adapt. The wonderful thing about the brain is that it's plastic - that is to say, it has the ability to change and this is true into our advancing years. That has to be good news, doesn't it? You could also try applying self control when you consider either creating or amplifying a negative comment. Try turning it round and looking for the positive. The great thing about positivity is that, once you start applying it, it is quite infectious.

Remember, by adding self control to your skill set, being willing to apply it, and regularly measuring your progress, your maturity as a practitioner will be evident to all you're in contact with, and as this rubs off, you may even have the pleasure of witnessing others starting to behave in the same way. That's a nice compliment, isn't it?

I really hope you enjoyed reading this article. The more observant amongst you may have spotted that it's been almost a year since I wrote my last article [part 3]. I cannot give an accurate estimate of when I will write the final part [Indomitable Spirit]. What I can say is that I will drawing on the experiences of the last year - a year in which I have learned more than I could have imagined. Until then, be kind to your colleagues, hopefully applying the tenets I have mentioned so far, which are etiquette, modesty, perseverance and, of course, self control. Bye for now.