ONEPATH NOV 2011 6 FINAL RESCUE

Project Rescue Diane Dromgold RNC Global Projects 17 th November 2011

Every project starts with an end in mind

Albert Einstein
“ Insanity is
continuing to do the same thing and
expecting a different outcome”.

But we get going
Business cases
Plans
Budgets
Schedules
Contracts
Resource requests
Reports
Everyone’s a hero!
It will be different this time!

At some point people think there might be a problem

Ignore it

Hope magic will happen

Agree to say nothing

Someone does speak out Not very effectively

Give me details!!

Only one question
Is everyone
working on the same project?

Take a breath and step back
Then watch, listen and observe.
You’ll see and hear all you need.
Conversations and behaviours – not reports

When the PM says
They don’t get it
Everything is on schedule but no one is happy
They won’t let me
They won’t listen
There aren’t enough resources
The timeline is too short
The sponsor isn’t paying attention
I’m frustrated and feeling helpless
I’m not getting on with the sponsor – or the sponsor isn’t getting on with me.
The paperwork means I can’t get the job done
We’re behind but we’ll catch up

When the sponsor says
They don’t get it?
I’m not sure we’re doing well
I don’t have time to concentrate on it right now
Don’t worry, I’ll deal with the Steering Committee
There’s no need for you (PM) to come to the Steering Committee this time
Don’t put that in your report

When others say
They don’t get it
We’re on the wrong track
There’s not enough time
No one is listening
It’s a mess and I don’t know why other people aren’t seeing it

THEY DON’T GET IT

Almost certainly there is a disconnect between
the project the sponsor wants;
the project the stakeholders are seeing;
the project the people are talking about; and
the project the team is doing.

Not everyone sees the same thing

And this is where it gets tricky
When each stakeholder imagines the outcome – the words they use can be the same – bright, shiny, agreed time, even agreed budget. But they may not be seeing and thinking the same as each other.

Start here and ask
Who gets to say the project is successful?
What will they be seeing?
What will they be saying?
Who do they listen to?
What will have happened?
Who is the real sponsor?

The PM Challenge
Guide, manage, clarify, each and every stakeholder so they are seeing the same thing; hearing the same thing; saying the same thing; and expecting the same thing.
(They may not like it but without it the project will need rescuing – or fail – it’s the single most important thing a PM can do)

“ Seek first to understand; then to be understood”
St Francis of Assisi
Stephen Covey

How do you do that? You and the sponsor agree on the outcome

Then go and stand in the spotlight

Bring the people to the goal
Stand at the end of the project; look to where everyone is now and bring them to the goal.

Healthy Project Life
Keep everyone working on the same project
Keep everyone focussed on the same spotlight.
All questions and decisions and reports must be made in context of the agreed projected outcome.
Keep the focus clear – and if changes need to be made make sure everyone’s view changes too.

Albert Einstein
“ I want to know God's thoughts
- the rest are mere details” .

ONEPATH NOV 2011 6 FINAL RESCUE

by RNC on Nov 17, 2011

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ONEPATH NOV 2011 6 FINAL RESCUE — Presentation Transcript