Lessons for "making something happen"...

They say chess is a strategic thinkers game with the simple goal of capturing the king. 

The strategies to accomplish this however are complex, with moves and counter moves thought out in advance to make it happen — Some have said chess is the board game of life.

Like chess, every activity that we do has a reason behind it, and that reason is usually connected to another reason, which is connected to another reason, and so on. This ultimately leads us to where we want to go (or get us what we want to get). 

Lately I have become involved with a couple of complex projects and the game of chess keeps coming to mind (as well as a number of lessons). 

With that said, I thought I would take the opportunity to share the lessons I've learned over the years for "making something happen"... 

Have a project plan written down on "paper" or on a spreadsheet — 

Start with the date you've targeted for completion; from there, work backwards with all the activities and milestones that need to be met.

• This will outline all the activities (or tasks) needed, and illustrate how all the activities are interrelated.
• This will quickly illustrate you've identified what is needed to get it done, as we'll as make the complexity clear.
• This will give you the ability to communicate the project, particularly the so-called "devil in the detail".
•  You will have "line of sight" to the resources needed to get it done.

Complex projects will require a team — 

It is the team that will determine your ability to execute effectively. Don't underestimate how important it is to have the right people, as well as the right energy, to ensure they are working in a coordinated manner.

Communication needs to be a dialogue... and ongoing — 

Do not underestimate the time and energy that is needed to ensure everyone is up-to-date with the latest information — Just because you "talked about it", doesn't mean you "were heard". Aa an aside, also remember email is great for transferring information, but horrible for communicating. 

The greatest plans will "fall off the rails"— 

It has been said that the best laid plan will become obsolete as soon as they are implemented because it is now in the real world. This is not to suggest you do not have to develop an execution plan, but rather that things happen so be flexible and adaptable — What you thought would work today, may not work tomorrow. 

Be Patient —

We are notorious for believing things will happen "sooner", "faster" and "when we want them to". The universe more often than not does not share the same feelings as we do. I am not suggesting urgency should not be your mantra, but rather saying that sometimes you need to be patient and wait for things to run the course.

Believe — 

I am not talking about faith here, but simply referring to being confident in what you are doing, and how you are doing it. If you are leading a team this becomes even more crucial as others will look to you when the situation seems to be "heading to hell in a hand basket" — People need to know the course they are on is the correct one. 

Victories can be small, and they add up — 

This definitely occurs with complex projects because there are many activities between the start and the finish. Look at what you have in front of you, work to the best of your ability, and don't dwell on how far you are from the finish line. As they say, "It's the journey, not the destination". This of course all happens within the scheduled timeframes.

Hope is not a strategy — 

Enough said. 

There is one last thing that comes to mind, and that is to start whatever you want to do —

As much as everyone has the finish line in mind, I believe it is just as important to have a start date — You then get to say, "Look at all the things I have made happen so far".

iamgpe

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