Projects start and should, normally also see an end. Possibly on time and on budget.
Can happen that projects derail one day at a time or they can get stuck at a certain point going nowhere. And this is where you, as a leader, can give them those ” finishing touches” and bring projects to a conclusion once the moment when there was time and margin has passed, and things need to be done and completed.
What is needed to complete the project?
To get the project across the finish line, consider:
A) The right and original scope: What does it take to bring this project to a successful conclusion? Don’t limit your observations to what your team is responsible for, but think all round
B) Resources remain a variable. What resources are needed? Is it necessary to add new ones? In this second case, think about the time needed to bring them to be effective, so as not to introduce something that is then unable to make a contribution.
C) History and experience are relevant. Are there any experiences learned from other projects that we can incorporate? How long does it take for them to be effective? Are they similar or identical? what is the cost to incorporate them?
D) Bring in the star players if you can afford them. Are there any skilled or talented people that we can bring in right now to move the project forward more quickly? Are there experts or experienced team members who can complete tasks faster than others? Do they leave empty places that are critical elsewhere?
E) Prioritise. What items can be completed consecutively? We often think of tasks as sequential (i.e. something needs to be done first), when in reality we may be able to complete some tasks in parallel.
F) When finished is really finished. What defines the complete project? Think quality and scope. Are we still within the original scope of the project, or has there been a change?
G) Focus. Don’t get distracted. What can we do to minimise distractions and focus on what’s really important?
