Working on the end of the project at the beginning is not the first thing on our minds. At least not mine – I have to make a deliberate effort because all euphoria and excitement is focused on getting the project going well for the customer and getting out of the gate on a positive note. But the good project manager keeps the closeout in mind, as well, even from the outset of the project.
Avoid letting things fall through the cracks
So, you fly through the project with enthusiasm and you are meeting deliverables, working with the customer on testing preparation and user acceptance testing, having them review documentation and provide input and you start to see the home stretch of the project and then BAM! The worst – and possibly best – thing happens. Your grand efforts are recognized and a shiny, new, highly visible, mission-critical project gets dropped in your lap. Suddenly, much of your attention gets redirected to a new effort and you may even find that many of your project team members are being pulled in different directions as well – assigned to your new project or other new initiatives that are starting to demand much of their time as well. What started out as a grand and successful project with a great deal of momentum is now heading down the home stretch running out of steam as project team members – and possibly even the customer – are becoming less engaged and are focusing on other efforts….sort of coasting to the finish line. The main problem with this scenario is that a project that was very successful may end up failing if important things start to fall through the cracks...
Avoid letting things fall through the cracks
So, you fly through the project with enthusiasm and you are meeting deliverables, working with the customer on testing preparation and user acceptance testing, having them review documentation and provide input and you start to see the home stretch of the project and then BAM! The worst – and possibly best – thing happens. Your grand efforts are recognized and a shiny, new, highly visible, mission-critical project gets dropped in your lap. Suddenly, much of your attention gets redirected to a new effort and you may even find that many of your project team members are being pulled in different directions as well – assigned to your new project or other new initiatives that are starting to demand much of their time as well. What started out as a grand and successful project with a great deal of momentum is now heading down the home stretch running out of steam as project team members – and possibly even the customer – are becoming less engaged and are focusing on other efforts….sort of coasting to the finish line. The main problem with this scenario is that a project that was very successful may end up failing if important things start to fall through the cracks...
