Reflection of March
The end is finally within reach as I approach the completion of my intensive month-long project. This project was prompted by an urgent request from the leadership. Due to the confidential nature of the project, I will refer to it as "X." I had envisioned numerous applications of X in the healthcare industry. At the project's onset, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work on X during my regular work hours.
Although I had previously acquired knowledge of X through reading papers and articles, I had not had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with it, which was something I had been eager to do for at least a month or two. As I reflect on my experience, I am pleased that I was able to produce satisfactory results within an incredibly tight timeline, despite encountering numerous obstacles along the way.
Most importantly, this project taught me several valuable lessons that I would like to share.
Lesson 1: Embrace Uncertainty and Stay Focused on Your Work
This project began with a high degree of uncertainty. Aside from the fact that we were working on X, nothing was clear or well-defined. We had a diverse team of experts with various roles. During our initial meeting, we discussed what we could do and what resources we had available, which was an intriguing process to witness.
It became evident that spending a lot of time on full alignment within the team was not crucial to achieving success in our situation. What mattered more was learning fast and delivering results. Since we all had a limited understanding of what was feasible and what resources were available, aligning our efforts was less important than just focusing on our individual tasks and sharing updates with the team using clear language. While it's important to help others, be cautious with your time and don't let the confusion and misunderstandings of others stress you out. Your top priority is delivering results, leading with your data points and evidence, and helping the team better understand your gains, which will inspire them to follow your lead.
Lesson 2: Communicate Respectfully with Others - Always!
Some people tend to react emotionally when they get frustrated by others. This is not a good idea and is likely to result in the loss of trust from your coworkers. Especially when working on a new and uncertain project, people may get confused, and their words may differ from their intended meaning. Try to catch what they really want and what they really meant, not just what they're saying literally. This approach can help make progress and facilitate productive discussions with others, ultimately earning their trust.
Lesson 3: Collaborate and Learn
This project taught me that collaborating with others can be a valuable learning experience. Even if they are not experts in the field, their input can still provide useful insights. It's important to focus on the positive side and learn from what they bring to the table, even if it may seem irrelevant or unhelpful at first.
Lesson 4: Time Management
It's crucial to manage your time effectively when collaborating with others. Instead of providing detailed explanations for every question or mistake, answer succinctly and move on. Choose which battles to fight and don't waste your time on unimportant issues. This is not an academic paper, but a collaborative effort to achieve a common goal.
Lesson 5: Work-Life Balance
It's important to maintain a healthy work-life balance, even during intense projects. Don't over-sacrifice your personal life or your family's well-being for work. Find how to still manage both well instead of hastily sacrificing one. The company will be fine even if the system's accuracy is relative 3% lower than the level you desire now. Use your time wisely and prioritize finding the balance between your life and work. I was happy that I made sure to have a nice brunch with my family before a long business trip of my wife. I paused my weekly writing routine during the last week before the deadline, but there will be more opportunities to write in the future. No problem!
