A Chain Is Only As Strong As Its Weakest Link week 3

For years I would always say that I was good working within a system. Whether it was in school growing up or during my time int he military, I always seemed to do when when I was working within a system. But Looking back on it all, I don't think that my strengths come from just being in a system. An established system has processes for just about every aspect of the work it is built to cover. I think that it is my ability to understand process and why processes are set the way they are that give me a leg up in a system.

Give me a process or directive and it will act as both my sword and shield when it comes to executing my job. I learn it quickly and retain it for use in my day to day duties. Sometimes though process can be wielded to produce some"unintended results". I like to think of it as a "Clever use of game mechanics". I don't break the system but it can be occasionally be bent to clear a roadblock.

Now wielding process on its own requires a user to maintain ethics and tact or we might be considered a sociopath, having no feeling towards the human element of the workplace, only loyalty to the black and white of the process. This is where a variety of soft skills like small group communication, interpersonal communication, project management, and emotional intelligence comes into play. I feel that it is the soft skills that keep my ability to wield process honed.

Now the question is, sure I can move through my career and work with established process, but will I ever be able to write my own process? I have the ability to look at possible future actions when they are defined in scope, but when the filed is open and I am in a position to develop process, will I be able to? Perhaps there will always be a higher directive that can set the scope for how my processes can run. It is uncharted waters for me and it is going to be interesting down the road when I get there.