I have been working on this project – in the standard
onsite-offshore model. Like in most such cases, the person I’m working with
onsite is not known to me – haven’t met him, even virtually, before this
project. The only thing I know is his name and now his voice – thanks to the
weekly calls we have.
I have baggage from all my past experiences with the
onsite-offshore model; the chief one being that onsite and offshore can’t be
friends and are usually working at cross-purposes. Though, we’re meant to be
working towards the common goal of delivering a great product to the client and
making them happy. So, as I started this project, I have no animosity towards
this onsite person but I’m constantly on my guard; I’m polite but not
necessarily warm; I’m as transparent as I need to be but not more and I’m
forever judging – on every call and every mail. Maybe he’s doing the same.
Today, the weekly call was going to be tough – this was my
first thought as I woke up. I had project concerns that I was sure onsite would
not appreciate and they’d be ready to push me into a corner and I did not want
to be pushed. And, then I "thought” – why have I decided that onsite will not
appreciate my concerns, why have I decided that this is us vs. them, why? The
answer was - nothing I have seen on this project – all this was purely baggage
and conditioning. So, I “decided” I’m going into this call as a team – not as
us vs. them. It suddenly brought a smile to my voice as I said “Good evening,
how are you?” And, I heard the smile reciprocated in his response – maybe it
had always been there but I hadn't realized. The tension melted and as I raised
the concerns, I actually heard the understanding and possible solutions coming
from the other end. It caused me to be more open than I have ever been and that
felt good.
Bottom line – resolutions seem to be in sight. That is the power of thought…