Clearly...We Need Vision!

In yesterday's blog I addressed some best practices of project management, specifically the fact that schedule should not be the sole focus in a project.  Too many organizations are putting their emphasis on the schedule as the primary driver with much lesser regard to other essential elements.  A successful project requires equal attention to scope/specifications, cost, quality, risk, and schedule (known as project constraints).  And taking time to PLAN and build a high performing team is essential for project success.  These things do take time to be done correctly but ultimately will pay off and be key to meeting the deadlines.  Lack of planning and team building can result in delays, poor quality, poor communication, and conflict to name a few of the negative consequences.

In addition to the above, reaching a successful project conclusion also requires having a clear vision of what success looks like.  A project is like a journey, there is a beginning and an end with a final destination (or goal) in mind.  It is hard to reach our destination successfully without direction.  In the words of Stephen Covey, we want to "begin with the end in mind." (Habit #2 - Seven Habits of Highly Successful People). 

Again, often project teams rush to get started with their focus and emphasis on meeting the schedule which may or may not be realistic.  They rush to start implementing (something) and moving forward without a clear understanding of the vision and without outlining in detail (known as planning) the goals and objectives and step-by-step activities (WBS/work breakdown structure) to achieve the objectives.  Without a clearly defined vision, and directions (roadmap) of how to achieve the vision, it is highly likely that the team will get lost along the way.  Without adequate planning the team will encounter numerous roadblocks, detours, potholes, and other obstacles causing delay and potential failure.

One of the exercises I recommend to project managers when their team seems stuck in the "storming stage," as witnessed by excessive conflict and lack of progress, is that they do a "vision check."  Call their team together, give them post-it notes (or use technology for virtual teams), and ask everyone on the team to write down the vision of the project.  Simple exercise but the results can be quite enlightening and predictable.  A very good reason that many teams get stuck is that they indeed do not have a common vision much less a shared vision.  If we head out in separate vehicles, without a map, with uncertain directions, we will almost certainly end up all over the map and fail to arrive at our destination on time. 

In my next blog I will get into more detail about creating a shared vision.  A vision should be compelling, clear, concise, and consistent.  A vision helps us to C where we are going and how to get there.