In It To Win It: Running A Race and A Project Are Similar

  PM Network  

My first triathlon was a comedy of errors. From having improper equipment to getting lost on the racecourse, the event was a total disaster. Afterward, I vowed never to compete in another one.

Little did I know at the time how project management would reverse that decision. The more I adapted project management techniques, the smoother my triathlons became.

Here’s my top 10 list of helpful hints that I’ve gained through my IT project management experience:

1. Believe. One of most important ingredients to success is believing that you will succeed. Optimism alone will not carry you to the finish line. It does, however, greatly complement a solid, organized project plan.

A project manager who displays optimism will have an edge in motivating team members.

2. Research. My disastrous first triathlon was directly related to a lack of research. Lugging a bicycle that was twice the weight of most competitors’ and not reviewing the course placed me at a significant disadvantage.

Why reinvent the wheel when it comes to projects? Consulting with others who have gone through a similar initiative will ease the burden of developing the project plan. Along with talking to subject matter experts, adequate research into the equipment, tools and applications should be performed before solidifying project plans.

3. Scope. Each triathlon requires …

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