“Well Mr. Buijnsters. Again full of good intentions for the new year?” This way the dental assistant welcomes me to the bi-annual dental check. And of course we all start the New Year with good intentions and promises. And despite all the issues in the world around us, we’re really going to do things better and not repeat the same errors in 2017… isn’t that so

As a consultant or auditor in the area of project management you normally (only) get involved once problems appear. One expects a detailed analysis, naturally with resulting conclusions and recommendations. This will be extensively discussed and everyone is convinced that the remainder of the project and especially the next project can and must be managed in a better way. One talks a lot about putting those “good practices” in writing and even about applying them. In reality talking is all that is done and one quickly returns to the old way of doing things. Re-inventing the wheel is for many organizations and projects still a idely used strategy. It can easily be noted when one recognizes the 4th similar recommendation on the same issue during a project audit or assessment. One questions him or herself what has been done with the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd recommendation on the same issue. Often the reaction is “that’s easy to judge, in hindsight one knows everything”. But as consultants and auditors we meet, as most dentists, many patients and can often from our experience determine sensible predictions about what is likely to happen in the future.

My own life is too short to discover everything by myself, so my good intention for 2017 is to listen even better, specifically to the experiences of others. Perhaps things will go better, faster and with less pain. Finally my dentist is then able to tell me “That looks really nice. Finally after all these years you have been listening and brushed your teeth 3x per day.” That would have saved a lot of pain (and money). “As from now you’ll only need to do some flossing before brushing your teeth…. and have a happy New Year”