Here’s To The Pros

In a meeting yesterday I twitched with the unexpressed urge to insist on things I urgently felt needed attention. Something about one of the people in that meeting gave me pause, though. There was an attention, an ease, a control they projected over our work. I kept my mouth shut and watched.

By the end of the meeting, my urgent items had been addressed, and more thoroughly and appropriately than they would have been if I had thrown them into the agenda. The person I had my eye on got to them, calmly and capably.

Relax. You work with professionals. People who aren’t in your head have their own experience of the things that trouble you, and they’re just as committed to doing good work as you are. Letting other people work on your stuff is like riding in the backseat of your own car while someone else drives–you feel powerless, even irresponsible–but how difficult is driving, anyway? This driver’s probably steered more precious cars than yours. Strap in and enjoy the ride.

You better believe there will be intersections of disagreement where your collaboration will hang on communication and negotiation. There are a lot of green lights and straight roads too, though. Enjoy those and be thankful.

Here’s to the pros.