How to move a project in the right direction.
There are two thoughts I can offer to move a stalled project. The first one is, do what you can. We often attempt to solve the big problem and give up when the first road block emerges. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the big picture, create small victories with the team and mark complete just one action item they agree on. Or, invite a stakeholder to lunch for a friendly discussion, building rapport. Do what is immediately in front of you to begin sensing camaraderie and progress.
The second thing to consider is the phrase, “Because we’ve always done it that way”. If the project is stuck, look at what the team is doing, change it just a little, and think twice about using that phrase as the main response to new ideas. At a recent leadership conference I received a button with that popular response printed on it. But, it had a red circle around it along with a line through it. Conference leadership made it clear that comfortable answers were no longer acceptable if we wanted to move forward.
The project is strong because of you. Good project managers, if committed to serving others, will have an impact. Focus on what is in front of you and be willing to entertain ideas that stretch you, the organization, and the team, even a little. Your influence will give the project and organization a better chance at that successful end result each stakeholder wants to achieve.
The second thing to consider is the phrase, “Because we’ve always done it that way”. If the project is stuck, look at what the team is doing, change it just a little, and think twice about using that phrase as the main response to new ideas. At a recent leadership conference I received a button with that popular response printed on it. But, it had a red circle around it along with a line through it. Conference leadership made it clear that comfortable answers were no longer acceptable if we wanted to move forward.
The project is strong because of you. Good project managers, if committed to serving others, will have an impact. Focus on what is in front of you and be willing to entertain ideas that stretch you, the organization, and the team, even a little. Your influence will give the project and organization a better chance at that successful end result each stakeholder wants to achieve.