What I planned. What happened.

One of my favourite opening graphics in my training are these ironic graphs depicting our plans versus what actually happens.

If we have done something simple, one hundred times before we may be able to predict our path. But, when we are doing something for the first time, trying new things, or, it is something bigger or more complex, the reality is our plans are simply our best guess about how something will pan out.

What happens may not play out as the perfect line or bell curve that we might forecast, or average out.

One of the four core values of agile is to ‘respond to change over following the plan’ this encourages us to review and reflect on changes and differences to our plans and predictions, and, to account for them and respond to them to either make things better or mitigate against a risk.

Thinking Point

If this image resonates with you, consider why, and where particularly this happens. A recent project, event, activity or experience.

This may be a good area for you to take an agile approach in the future, whether professional or personal.