Q in Action

Don’t Let Your Project Lose Steam: Strategies to Maintain Project Momentum

Have you been part of a project that started with a bang but then the energy fizzled out? You are not alone.

 

Picture this:

Oliver, Emma, Charlotte, James, Elijah, and Amelia have been working on the rollout of new software for over 18 months. The project started with great excitement. The latest software will create vast savings and make work much easier. As time has gone on, more hidden challenges have started to appear, and the momentum has started to slow, and now the rollout is going to be delayed.

 

Did you know? While 70% of all projects fail. No one wants to be part of a project that fails to meet expectations, especially when the journey is long. Maintaining the proper focus is crucial—not just any focus but focusing on the right things. When managed effectively, project update meetings can be a powerful tool to ensure your team stays focused and on track. In these meetings, insightful information should become a shared asset, driving project success without requiring anyone to be the smartest in the room.

 

Here are three ways to ensure your project team truly functions as a team during update meetings:

 

Unified Goals: Is everyone aligned with the same objectives? As time goes on, the project’s scope may expand; make sure everyone remembers the project’s core aim—whether it’s rolling out a new product by a specific date or achieving a particular operational milestone. Clarity about the project’s goals allows every member to act as a true stakeholder, capable of assessing whether the current and future paths will effectively progress or derail the project. 

  • Consider clarifying who the customer is, their impact on their lives, and each team member’s role in supporting this impact.

 

Addressing Challenges Openly: Don’t avoid the ‘elephant in the room.’ What obstacles are currently holding the project back? Are specific paths looking like dead ends? Bringing issues into the open fosters an environment of honesty and transparency. Collaboratively brainstorming can spark innovative ideas from other teams, businesses, or industries. 

  • Remember the elevator mirror trick: installing a mirror made people enjoy their ride without noticing its speed. It’s all about clever solutions to common problems.

 

Reflective Practices: Unlike the linear waterfall project delivery method, agile project management involves multiple cycles and continuous feedback. In today’s fast-paced environment, creating time for reflection between cycles is crucial. 

  • Pro Tip: Regularly ask reflective questions to understand both successes and failures deeply. Reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and how to approach the following steps can dramatically improve future outcomes. Questions like “What worked and why?” or “What didn’t work and why?” are invaluable for sparking meaningful reflection.

 

Need help communicating effectively at work? Our Communication Cue Cards can help. 

These handy cards provide a series of thought-provoking prompts designed to elevate your communication skills in everyday situations. Each card offers a clear framework to guide you on what to say, how, and what to consider before speaking. This ensures you cover all essential points and maximize the impact of your daily interactions.

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