Making dysfunction function.
People can be irrational, distracted, emotional and judgmental.
Yes, I know. Such a negative vibe. So, why bring it up? Well, spending time on being frustrated could be re-purposed if we re-framed how we think about it.
Why is this important? As Enterprise Architects, we need to get REALLY savvy at all of the skillsets that help us to inform change. Most EAs may consider a mastery of frameworks, analytical methods or mental models, but we cannot ignore the soft skills.
So, what is the perspective being offered? Humans can always be frustrating. This is the norm, so get used to it. These qualities operate on a spectrum from mild frustration to extreme frustration. Instead of battling these qualities, we need to accept them (doesn’t mean agree) and find ways to work through them.
The benefit is that with the time you save from dwelling on frustrations, you could re-purpose that energy to find ways to connect with people’s viewpoints, and finding ways to reach a common understanding.
Remember, architecture is something we create and share to express very complex dimensions, components and relationships across the enterprise, as simplified catalogs, models, standards and principles to inform change, guide choices and relieve decision fatigue.
We are not here to pander to the latest “techno fad” or “cool tool”, we are here to bring unbiased attention, exquisite methods for defining and understanding complexity and a sherpa-like guidance that builds trust in the relationships and actions that are affected by our influence.
Sometimes, it takes a few tries or different approaches, so try not to give up (and get fed up) too quickly.
When you’re an Enterprise Architect in the middle of scurrying around in the rough, there is always the opportunity for persistence to finally reveal that diamond.