Shifting Weight, Maintaining Balance

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Development workers inevitably have to shift either the focus of their work, their approach, or their level of activities.  This could be brought about by closure of projects, opening of new ones, changes in funding level, emerging circumstances, personal preferences or some other factor.  Whatever the reason, change comes.

When this happens, it is important to shift "weight" from current work to new focus area in the same way that my Tai Chi idol moves from one position to another: slowly and firmly, decreasing weight from 70% to 30% on one foot while increasing weight on the other foot, all the time maintaining balance and poise.

In practical terms, this includes:

  • Keeping friends - just because we may no longer frequently with some partners does not mean we should lose touch with them. The world is round, and we'll probably work with them again in the future.
  • Closure with honour - keep commitments made at the start of the engagement, acknowledge areas where it has not been possible to do so.
  • Celebrating the successes of the current or past project.  And gleaning the most important lessons learned from that project.
  • Finding ways to scale or sustain reforms introduced in the project.
  • Making best use of remaining funds.
  • Making new friends.
  • Clarifying new visions, directions, and approaches.
  • Beginning anew with the end in mind.

Project termination does not mean the end of reform.  It only means somebody is no longer able or willing to spend their money on a particular reform or approach.  With the right strategies and much passion, the reformer can find ways to continue pushing for reform.


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