“Alone we can do so little together we can do so much.”
~ Helen Keller
How can you understand and solve a fuzzy problem?
There is a classic parable about blind men who have never encountered an elephant before and try to guess what it is.
One man touches the elephant and says, 'I think it is a wall; maybe it's a house!'
Another man says, 'Impossible! It's sturdy and spiky here; I guess it's more like a weapon. Probably a spear?'
And the clueless guesses continue, each tinged with a hint of ego. Each man wants to guess it right through their efforts.
It’s challenging because they only want to believe what they can touch right in front of them.
The four blind men represents a cross-functional team, each trapped in a bubble, seeing only what's in front. It's a clear path to disaster.
Solving problems isn’t easy. It’s complex. You just can’t do it alone.
Understanding the other side of the story is crucial, even if it’s the ugly truth.
Sometimes you must learn from others’ perspectives. Understand why developers oppose your beautiful idea. Ask your PM about the roadmap and what comes next. Find out how the new feature aligns with quarterly goals.
Absorb all that’s beyond your bubble.
And occasionally, you have to get your hands dirty to help your teammates.
Here are the mindsets to adopt:
Just get out of your bubble.
Learn from others.
Help others.