September 23, 2009

The Silver Bullet

The Silver Bullet.

Definition: creating an action or precipitating a deadline to force the revealing of the true “Next Action” needed, the unspoken restraint, or the name of the ultimate decision maker. This is sometimes necessary when projects are in complete paralysis and there is some as-yet unexplained reason why everyone is gone into zombie mode.

This is so effective it should be used with extreme caution; diplomatic options should be exhausted first.

Example: contractual deadline for installing PCs on the 3^rd floor of location X is rapidly approaching, but you are only getting evasive answers as to when you can start. If contract specifies penalty for missing date, you might have to make a tactical decision to roll the trucks into that facility to force a reaction. The “silver bullet” might be that you inform the silent party that installation crew is arriving tomorrow at 12 noon and will start installing. The answer then comes back loud and clear that there has been a major corporate change and building is being sold and locks have already been changed on the doors. That’s the “silver bullet” finding its way to the truth.

September 8, 2009

Deadlines are your Friends

As project managers, we're all used to the deadline, the burden handed down from some other entity. Sometimes we're not even sure how the date got decided. And mostly we're used to seeing it as a constraint. Indeed a deadline, like a budget, is a constraint.

You don't have unlimited time and resources to get a project done and you must figure out a way to finish it within the looming time frame.

But here's something interesting I've discovered when working in a complex organizational environment - deadlines are your friends! In fact, a deadline can be one of your secrets to success.

Is it because it's motivating? No.

Or maybe because it's part of your checklist of good project management behavior?

No.

Then why? It's because a deadline is your calling card. It's your "Carte Blanche", your James Bond License-to-Kill.

When you have a deadline, you can halt almost all unnecessary work and access almost all levels of senior management, until you get the resources you need - or until someone senior says "enough already! Let me extend the deadline to get you out of my hair."

Ever try reaching two levels of management when you don't have a deadline to get the authorization to get a task moving? Good luck - you know the beggarly feeling. Ever try to get cooperation from a partnering team that has its own set of constraints to deal with? Can you say "mañana"?

Deadlines are good, deadlines are your friends.