Skating to Where the Puck is Going

I am fond of the sports analogy.  This is one I like to use.

A lot of times I find that when people plan, they tend to look ahead only a few steps. Once you get there, you plan again, and everyone goes off with the new set of marching orders.I’d rather figure out where the puck is going. The reason why is because just like in hockey, if you skate to where the puck has been, by the time you get there, it’s moved already. So you’re not in control of the puck,  you’re chasing the puck.

What does it feel like when you’re chasing the puck on a project? Often, you feel like you’re always behind the eight ball- trying to catch up with deliverables and milestones that get missed or delayed. So how do you avoid it?

  1. Create a high level timeline with the start and the end. That way you’ll always have the bigger context of where you are relative to the overall project. It will force you to conserve your energy, plan better because you know where the ultimate destination needs to be.
  2. Make sure your reporting looks forward. When you provide status updates on major milestones, also provide the upcoming milestones. Yes, it’s important to focus on what’s happening now…but you need to know what’s coming down the pike to prepare for it.
  3. Give yourself a cushion. People find out when something is due, and they plan up to that end date. Plan to deliver the project early…a couple of weeks. You’ll find that you will either not need the time, or that you will.