Kicking Down Doors in Project Management

 

I work on a complex project.

Lately, one of my most important roles has been to get decisions made and documented.  I've been kicking down doors ( opening them with a polite knock and charming smile), crashing meetings (asking for a walk-on agenda item from the host of a standing meeting I don't normally attend because the right people did attend), and interrogating miscellaneous stakeholders and customers ( friendly conversation expressing my empathy for their needs).

The Curse of Indecision

For one reason or another, many conversations in the life of a project stakeholder tend to end up ambiguous and without clear agreement.  People nod their heads, reserving the questions or objections they have.  Many figure this isn't the last word and they can have their say in another venue, and unfortunately they are usually right.

Get the Right People In One Conversation

In the same room, on the phone, whatever.  Provisional decisions because someone is missing are not decisions at all.  There is enough uncertainty in projects without adding a preventable source like this.  Time and time again, I will engage in conversation with someone and hear something like "so and so said we were going to do A".  Another person says "no, I heard we were going to do B."

There have been a few occasions recently where upon being involved in a conversation like this, I walked over to the person who could settle the question, or said "Hey, there is a meeting going on later today with all the right people.  Let's crash it."

When the decision is made, make it clear to everyone in the room there is no going back.  "This is what we move forward with.  If you have any concerns or comments, now is the time."

As a project manager, some of the most important things you can do for your team are to eliminate unnecessary uncertainty in their work and remove obstacles like "waiting for a decision".

Even better, you can lead by example and show your team how they can do the same for themselves.

Photo by Perfecto Insecto