Coloring Books and Connecting the Dots

 

When my daughter was a little girl, she loved coloring books and connect-the-dots puzzles. I have to admit, I remember liking them when I was a little boy too. For the most part, if you were careful, the dots would reveal a fun picture you could color. However, getting to the end and finding that you missed a line someplace or you added a line you didn't really need would ruin the picture—you need to connect all the dots in the right order to create the proper picture.

I think it's safe to say that most of us recognize that without the project team or without the project leader, nothing gets done. However, I don't think we can ignore the other dots that need to be connected to our project management picture. In my opinion, the role of project stakeholder is also critical to project success.

There may be times when a project might not require a formal sponsor, however there are many times when they do. In fact, there are times when a project without a sponsor is doomed to fail. That being said, simply having a sponsor isn't enough. Let me share a couple of sponsor-related dots that must be connected:

1. The sponsor's role must be clearly defined: Don't assume that the project sponsor knows his or her role in the project. Most business people don't really understand project management process (they just think they do). Make sure the sponsor knows exactly what's expected of him or her. It's never a good idea to make them guess about their role. They will appreciate the explanation and you will appreciate the results.
2. Watch to make sure your sponsor doesn't fall "out of the loop": If you sponsor doesn't have the political clout within your organization to help you push issues forward, he or she won't add much value to the project. It's important to pay attention to how connected your sponsor is to the decision-makers in your organization. Remember, ineffective executives sometimes get the ax too. Don't let your project languish on the chopping block with them.

Sponsor relationships should add value to your project. If they don't, you may need to evaluate whether it's the way you interact with your sponsor, or whether you are connecting the wrong dots.

What do you do to manage sponsor relationships? Have you ever had to work with a sponsor who was "out of the loop"?

I hope you enjoy today's connect the dots.