An Artist Falling in Love with Their Art

I am watching a painter. Every time he touches the canvas with his brush, he amazes me with his skillful wrist movements. Art truly feels like a gift from another world, a blessing. It’s impossible not to be captivated and carried away by it. Sometimes, he pauses and squints his eyes, measuring and evaluating. He creates a world out of nothing on the canvas. When he finishes, he sets the canvas aside to dry. The artist admires his work, loves it, becomes attached to it, and sees it as a part of his soul. This is where our story begins.

Just like an artist forms a strong bond with his work, we too can become attached to our tasks in daily life. One common example I see, especially in the IT sector, is the attachment a developer has to the code they write. Throughout my time working with different groups in various places, I have encountered countless examples of this.

When a problem arises, tasks are assigned as usual. Each person takes their task and starts working on it at their desk and computer. As results begin to appear and the time comes to make the best decision, I often try to gather everyone’s opinions. One of the most notable behaviors I’ve observed during this process is the strong attachment that developers or designers have to their work and solutions.

I believe this behavior significantly affects the decision-making process. After hours of discussions and meetings, the final decision often results in the individual’s bond with their work becoming even stronger. It’s hard to clearly understand whether the team is more attached to the product they created or the time they spent on it.

At this point, the best approach for a manager might be to respect these bonds and handle them delicately without causing harm. However, this approach will not always lead to success. Taking a different stance could decrease the team’s enthusiasm and motivation for the next task. Therefore, it’s important to be careful.

In summary, I don’t think there is one right way to act. It’s enough for the manager to be aware of this situation and to act with the understanding that they are dealing with a team member who is attached to the solution they have created.