Successful Work Management: Strategic Execution and the Power Sweep

In my dad's mind there was only one football team: the Green Bay Packers, one quarterback: Bart Starr, and one coach: Vince Lombardi. 

There was nothing fancy about the way Lombardi's Packers played football.  They relied on a play called the Power Sweep to power their way to five NFL championships during the nine years Lombardi was head coach.  In the Power Sweep (which was later called the Lombardi Sweep) both guards pulled to the outside and blocked down-field while the halfback would "run to daylight"—or in other words, to wherever the opposing team wasn't.  Let's just say it wasn't glamorous, it wasn't glitzy, but it worked.  It helped the Packers dominate the NFL from 1959-1967.

Executing the play well required everyone on the field to work together for the same strategic objective.  "It's my number one play because it requires all eleven men to play as one to make it succeed," said Lombardi, "and that's what 'team' means."

Successful work management requires the same kind of teamwork and focus on strategy.  A strategic approach that not only addresses how project based work is done, but also which projects get done is the project management Power Sweep.  In other words, it's about doing the right projects, not just doing projects right.

Lombardi focused on a few very effective plays, like the Sweep, to lead his team.  Answering these four simple questions for every project—and ensuring that every member of the team, from stakeholder to individual contributor, understands how their efforts contribute to achieving strategic execution—puts you well on your way to creating your own Power Sweep:

1. What are the high-level objectives of the project?
2. What are the estimated costs—and the anticipated rewards?
3. Does it align with the mission, vision, and values of the organization?
4. What are the risks associated with pursuing the project?

The Packers were consistent winners because there was no question in anyone's mind what the objectives were.  "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," said Lombardi.  Taking a strategic approach to working on the right projects will put you in the end zone. 

Thanks for reading,

Ty Kiisel
www.attask.com