Blending Science and Art

Okay, if you've been around me at all you know that this is one of my favorite rants. The question has been, "just when will Jim get around to the science and art thing?" Well, the answer is: Today.

I'm going to recommend a tape and a book for your consideration. Go out and buy them today. Don't wait until tomorrow. You might forget.

The book is "Putting Out of Your Mind" by Dr. Bob Rotella. Rotella is a sports psychologist working at the Unversity of Virginia. He has worked with many professional athletes. He specializes in helping golfers.

The tape is "Putting Out of Your Mind" by Dr. Bob Rotella. Actually, I think that you should get the tape first. Listen to it a couple of times. It has some good ideas about management and if you golf it will likely help your putting. I know that it has given me a lot to think about in both areas. The management thing might be a bit subtle. I'll help.

Rotella explains that most touring pros want to turn the golf swing into a science They can come pretty close to succeeding on the full swing. When they hit a seven iron it is the same, swing after swing. You line the ball up the same way every time. You take the same grip. You make the same turn and you follow through in the same way. And many good golfers get the ball to carry about the same distance every time and land within a few feet of each other. It's pretty cool to watch.

Putting is different. To get the idea just think about short puts. A three foot put is not a three foot put is not a three foot put. Some are down hill, down grain. Very fast. Some are up hill and into the grain. Extremely slow. Some sit on the sidehill and break 12 or more inches. You have to give away the hole to make those.

At any rate, putting is more than pure science. There is an art. And a science. These two must be blended. Successfully done and a lot of puts drop. Too mechanical and adios amigo. Hmmmm. So how is this like management?

I work with technical people. All of them are scientists. If not by degree, at least in their hearts. They want everything to be science. They hope that working with other people will be like a math function. Input the right ideas and output the correct response. Simple? Hardly.

I think an example is in order. Let's think about E-mail. I hear much frustration regarding the sending of e-mail messages. These complaints are something like, "No one reads them." "Why didn't he know what was happening?" And "I sent him an e-mail explaining the whole thing."

You see, my scientist-minded friends want e-mail to be a function. Send a message. The recipient reads said message. The information is completely transferred. The desired actions and responses are returned. Function complete.

One member of my staff went so far as to tell me that he would always prefer to communicate by sending e-mail message. That same individual also told me that when receiving an e-mail he usually reads it with a negative, "pissed-off", attitude. What does this clown want now? (My interpretation, not his.)

I've also discovered that I'm a batch e-mailer, while many techies I know like to e-mail in real time. Not understanding the differences is problematic. Frustrations arise when different expectations exist.

So there is art and science in our interactions with each other. Occasionally we get to work feeling sick. Or our children (I have several blessed teenagers) cause us to lose sleep and worry. We are distracted. Some days are just like that for one reason or another.

It's at these times that the science is especially ineffective. There are days when you must look into my eyes to see if I'm with you. Don't even think about telling me something until you check. I've discovered the same is true for most of us.

So listen to the tape and read the book. Think about how we expect science with our co-workers, bosses, employees and friends. Often the science works. But just as often, there must be some art in how we deal with each other. Think about it and good luck.

Putting out of Your Mind

Author: Dr. Bob Rotella

Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ; (June 2001)

Hardcover ISBN: 0743212134

Adobe Reader ISBN: B00005O48Y

Audio CD ISBN: 0743507754

Audio Tape ASIN: 0671567969

That's all for now.........
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