Good Plans Adapt, Bad Ones Don't

In the dynamic world of today's development, rebuilding and shipping digital products, there's a crucial understanding that must be clear to teams and C-level executives: a plan is only good when it's flexible enough to change. The core of product leadership lies in recognizing when a plan is no longer feasible and having the courage to adjust it.

Imagine setting out on a journey with a meticulously crafted map. Every detail has been accounted for, every possible scenario considered—until you encounter a roadblock that wasn't on the map. The path ahead is no longer clear, and sticking rigidly to the original plan means you'll never reach your destination. In this moment, the true essence of leadership emerges: the ability to adapt, to change the course, and to recalibrate the plan based on the new reality.

A plan is not sacred. It is a tool created with the information available at a specific time, not an unchangeable decree. Reality, on the other hand, is ever-shifting, and it demands that plans evolve accordingly. Adjusting plans in real-time and being responsive to the moment is essential in both product development and life.

In highly complex environments, no one person can see the entire picture. The complexity inherent in such situations means that uncertainties are a given. If we, as individuals, teams, and organizations, cannot navigate this uncertainty, we will falter when tackling complex projects. The inability to adapt means stagnation, an inability to innovate, and a failure to effect change.

Take, for instance, the daunting task of migrating from enterprise legacy systems to more modern solutions. This is complexity in its purest form. There's a labyrinth of history, decisions made long ago, and unknown dependencies. Human users are entrenched in existing processes and workflows, making the transition even more challenging.

Navigating this requires not just a plan, but an adaptive strategy. Each step forward might reveal unforeseen challenges and dependencies. Leading such a complex project means you must be ready to pivot, to revise strategies based on new information and evolving circumstances.

A good plan is one that can change. Sticking rigidly to an outdated plan leads to failure, while adapting and evolving plans in response to the present reality is the path to success. Flexibility is not just a trait; it's a necessity. Embracing change and uncertainty allows us to tackle complex projects, drive innovation, and ultimately achieve the goal, even when the path towards it is unclear.