I like plans. But then, most people do. They're kind of comforting.
They can improve efficiency, and give you a sense of direction and purpose. Like a guide leading you through your project, or working day.
But plans can also be dangerous.
They can constrain you, stop you being flexible and responding to developments.
I had a big event this week, talking to a group of civil servants in London about tricks for dealing with pressure.
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I'd planned the day, in my usual way. And all was going smoothly.
Until one of the group asked about ways to keep calm when you're ambushed by a stressful situation.
I suggested a few that have always worked for me - falling back on experience, maintaining your professionalism, promising yourself a treat when the day is done.
Then someone else joined in with a suggestion, then another person, and another...
And they were such good insights, all from fascinating experiences, that I started listing them on the flipchart.
I'd only planned for a few minutes on the issue. And wondered whether to curtail the discussion... but decided not to, as the whole group were so engaged with it.
It meant I had to junk a couple of other elements of my lovingly constructed course to finish on time.
And on the train home, I wondered if that was the right thing to do.
On balance, I think yes. For a couple of reasons -
Firstly, any course always works better as a dialogue. All of us discussing and exploring together, rather than just me waffling.
But secondly, and most importantly -
Whenever I run a course, I always say at the start, This is your day, not mine. Anything you want to spend more time on, if it's important to you, then we will.
It's just a version of the old saying about the customer being king. And comes down to this -
If you're in a service industry, provide the service that people want.
Even if it requires courage, and flexibility, and means junking that plan which you so carefully put together.