Six Fundamentals for Project Success

 

As a teenager, I was a lifeguard and swimming instructor at my high school swimming pool. I spent the summer teaching two- and three-year-olds to swim. Over the three or four years I taught swimming lessons, I noticed that there were some traits that successful swimmers had in common:

1. They overcame their initial fear of the water
2. They could hold onto the side of the pool and kick
3. They weren't afraid to get their face wet and could blow bubbles under water
4. They had fun splashing and playing in shallow water

As a swimming instructor, if I could help my students foster these behaviors, it wasn't long before they were jumping off of the diving board and swimming to the wall of the pool. If I could work with them all summer long, I could help a non-swimming three-year-old progress from blowing bubbles to swimming laps.

Successfully managing projects isn't really that different. I've noticed that most successful project managers are able to:

1. Make sure the project has a strong sponsor.  Every project needs a sponsor who will evangelize the value of the initiative throughout the life of the project.
2. Make sure the project is adequately funded.  The temptation is to take whatever funding is offered, but without adequate funding—it's usually the project manager who ends up in hot water when the project fails for lack of financial resources.
3. Pick the right team.  Make sure the team includes all the skills that will be needed for success.  Just because someone is available, doesn't always mean they are the best to work on your project.
4. Plan.  Planning is more than just preparing to deliver the final product.  It should involve a continual process of evaluation and adjustment.
5. Know the end before you begin.  Make sure you know what the outcome of a successful project is before you start.  What does "done" mean?  Financial experts call this an "exit plan."
6. Prepare for change.  The very nature of projects create change.  Whether it's a new product or an improvement in process or technology.  Makes sure to prepare for the change.

Regardless of the particular work management methodology you choose, or even the project management software you use, if you are able to encourage some basic project management behaviors that have proven to produce successful projects, I can't promise that you'll be able to swim laps, but you'll likely become skilled at leading successful project teams.

Are there any other basic practices we should add to the list?