Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

To gain approval for an endeavor, you must “sell” it to those who decide such things. Then, as work progresses, you must continue to engage those who decide and keep the project “sold.”

I hate this topic. That is because one of my worst experiences in my career was due to my ignorance of it. I had this naive belief that once the powers that be decided to do something, that was that. Get to work and do it. Let me attempt to express this as a sort of conversation.

High Manager: We have decided to do Project X. Dwayne, you execute the project. You have the resources, get to it.

Dwayne: Yes all-knowing,  grand-exalted High Manager. I will put my head down and work, work, work.

…some time later

Low-Ranking Person: I hate Project X. I think it is stupid. I think I’ll kill it.

Dwayne: But the High Manger(s) decided to do it and allocated the resources for it. They are High Managers, you are a Low-Ranking Person, this doesn’t make sense to naive engineers like myself.

Low-Ranking Person: Some High Managers decided to do project X. Some of them have moved on to other grand, high-exalted positions. We have a few new High Managers who are my friends. I’ll visit them in the evening for some informal chats.

Dwayne: Huh?

…some time later

Low-Ranking Person: Did you know that Dwayne is running wild on Project X, and that Project X is stupid.

New High Manager: Is that so? I’ll have to keep an eye on Dwayne and that stupid Project X.

Low-Ranking Person: We should cancel Project X and do away with that dastardly Dwayne.

New High Manager: Sounds like a sensible idea.

…some time later

New High Manager: Dwayne, Project X is cancelled and you are fired.

Dwayne: Huh?

…

My failure was that I did not pay attention to the comings and goings of High Managers. I also did not continue to speak with the High Managers about the wise decision the prior High Managers made, i.e., I did not work to keep the project sold.

The Low Ranking Person worked to sell a new idea to new High Managers. I felt what they did was unethical, but then again, I was a naive, put-your-head-down-and-work engineer.