Small, light plans are fun
They are quick to start, and then painless to ditch if they fail. They can be so spontaneous and exciting that you forget you’re working. The lighter you keep them, the faster they can take shape, the quicker you learn.
In certain environments they are even a little rebellious.
But even in healthy, capable teams, the lightest ideas can get weighed down fast. Here’s the classic pile-on:
| Plan proposer: | “I can put together a tiny first version so we can try this.” |
| Well-meaning Person A: | “Awesome idea, it’ll be great to see how that impacts adoption.” |
| Well-meaning Person B: | “Yes! And we should add it to the survey. Let me create a ticket.” |
RIP fast fun mode. That thing you floated has people tugging at it. What was a mini-skunkworks now needs research, coordination, a few extra decisions.
Attention is weight
Unless you’re in a heinous politically toxic environment (in which case I’m sorry), the above is not sabotage. Humans just like to put our brains together to help. Maybe we like you and want to see you succeed. Or perhaps we grab on because we are interested in the promising idea; we want to help make it real.
If contributors start weighing in, it’s typically a classic “good problem to have.” We like you and/or your idea. Each addition is a small, well-meaning gift. Our intentions are good, even if the result is inertia.
The bigger the team, the harder this gets. Everyone’s job is to contribute. In a culture where everyone wants to add value and where “collaboration” is part of the culture, holding back feels rude. Ideas become group projects before they get off the ground. So light plans just don’t.
If you’re trying to keep your plans light, a couple of things help.
-
Keep it diminutive. “So alpha, you won’t even want to use it!” as one of my old lab mates said. This sets the parameters and gives others something to honor.
-
Be politely repetitive. Thank your contributors, then bring the idea back to its small form. “Totes McGoats. Once we’re out of alpha that’s a great next step.”
That’s most of it. The rest comes down to restraint and willpower. These are fascinating topics worth exploring, but are a bit heavier than this cute little post.
(See what I did there?)
It’s not hard to spot this tendency in others. But really, it’s important to notice and catch that tug in ourselves. When we feel the urge to add the obvious next thing, consider: how could I be supportive without adding weight?
So when we see a new idea, let’s resist the urge to grab on tight. Help it float a little longer.