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PDX Colleagues,
This Thursday Andrew, in partnership with the Autodesk Black Network (ABN) and Autodesk’s Diversity & Belonging team, will host a live listening session for all employees. I strongly encourage you to make time to attend and listen. We are at a critical moment for our society, a rare chance for real and positive change. I am glad to see our company looking for ways to be a positive part of that change.
The work from home directive, along with the protests downtown and across Portland, has made it clear to me just how interconnected we all are. We have relied on one another to get through the isolation from not working in the office, and I hope we can rely on each other to be supportive and understanding not just now, but always.
Through these experiences, I have become acutely aware that there is a time to listen and a time to speak up. Both are crucial in creating a diverse and inclusive community. I need to listen and witness the words of those who have different backgrounds and experiences. I need to speak up in support when they are being unfairly singled out and unfairly treated – by anyone.
I am pledging to listen more, as well as to use my voice to speak up about these important issues where I can. I want our workspace to be inclusive, respectful and supportive. Without inclusion we cannot hope to maintain diversity, and without diversity we cannot hope to remain a cutting-edge technology company.
This week also sees Multnomah County and Portland anticipating the move into Phase I of re-opening. I know a lot of you are interested in how this will affect our office re-opening. I will continue to work closely with our facilities team and the ERT, and I promise to get information to you as soon as possible.
Again, please continue to check the COVID-19 information page on Autodesk One for the most current updates. Thank you all for your patience and again, please take time to tune in to Thursday’s listening session. It is important.
Greg
(Site email, engagement, office culture)
The Woodcutters’ Paradox (Friday note)
Have you heard of the wood-cutters’ paradox? It is sometimes told as a fable about two neighbors who set out to cut wood for the winter ahead. They can hear each other working in the forest. One moves steadily, cutting down trees. But as he works, he hears the other stop at regular intervals. He thinks to himself that this is wasteful, they both need as much wood as possible before winter sets in – why would his neighbor take so many breaks?
They meet each other on the way home. The first one is exhausted, but proud of how much he has accomplished – until he sees how much his neighbor has cut. He asks, astonished – how did you do that? I heard you take multiple breaks, and I took none! The neighbor replies, “yes I stopped, but only to sharpen my blade.” It is used as an illustration of working smarter, not harder.
For what it’s worth each summer I fell a tree or two and split the wood to be burned for heat in the winter. It’s hard but satisfying work. And if done strategically, very doable; but when done with brute force, almost impossible. When the saw is dull, it can take 15 minutes to make a cut that should take 30 seconds. When splitting large rounds, if you start in the center trying to split wet wood, you will need to swing the splitting maul 30+ times, but if you segment the round strategically you can split the round on the first or second swing. Multiply that times 20 or 30 rounds and that is the difference between an afternoon of work and a week of work.
The Woodcutter’s Paradox rings true to me, but it oversimplifies what it takes for a strategic approach. Why is this tree so hard to cut? Some trees like oak and other hard woods are harder to cut. What is the best way to break off the round for the wood in front of me? It isn’t just about the right tool for the job – there are many other factors to consider as well.
This is why it’s good to step back and challenge ourselves in our work; to ask if this is the best approach, to ask others how they approach similar problems. To push beyond how it’s ‘always been done’ and consider if there is a way that will deliver better results faster and more securely.
I encourage you all to reflect on how we approach the work we do. Do we need to pause and sharpen our saw?
(Slack post, team culture, engagement)
