In the last lesson you were asked to demonstrate your skill in PTO. Now check if you were able to PTO as instructed.
The orange you were asked to peel was:
Resolve the PTO paradox in 111 words.
The most important instruction for you to follow in this PTO was the specification of 111 words. You were not to know that, of course. In PTO one never really knows because one doesn’t get the opportunity to discuss things, as one does in normal situations.
One of the benefits of PTO, provided you have a skilled leadership team, is that anyone in the team can give anyone else in the team a PTO and it is done without question or discussion. This has advantages of speed, efficiency and effectiveness when the team is striving for a mutual objective. But it is not easy and does take PRR to produce a high level of PTO skill.
Obviously, so early in a leadership training sequence, one is not expected to get the ‘right’ answer as much as one is expected to just try and practise the skills.
DFQ #15:
What is the biggest insight about PTO that you have had so far as you’ve been doing these past few lessons?
Be prepared to take on a task unquestionably to expediate results. I also know the benefit of holding Post Implementation Reviews after a project completion to further improve outcomes. And yes, I can take a direction – I wrote my last response in 111 words 🙂
The realization of importance to follow instructions on command are sometime needed for the good of all
Specific instructions are so valuable.
Don’t think about it, don’t whinge about, “Just do it”! Do what you have been trained to do.
It is not always necessary to reinvent the wheel. Just bolt in on and drive.
to know which detail to focus upon
The biggest insight for me is that sometimes doing something on command without questioning and meeting all specifications is needed for accomplishing an assignment. I have questioned every assignment and every specification prior to this training.
Today I have received the biggest revelation. I could see that during an activity to question the paradox of peeling the orange, I was actually peeling and orange. It´s all about the details.
You need to apply your life experiences (being in the army for a while helped) – If there is a specification you should always meet it – otherwise it wouldn’t be there would it!.
The biggest insight is that PTO is that you must recognise when to use it and when not to. It is an advantageous skill for a group (with the right leadership) but also disadvantageous is the norm is never questioned. The most important aspect of PTO is balance.