Got Leadership?
Defining leadership is a complex task, but in my experience, there's one trait that stands out above the rest: the ability to create calm out of chaos.
A true leader is someone who can enter a confusing, uncertain situation and bring order and clarity to it. They have a knack for cutting through the noise and identifying the essential issues at play, and they know how to communicate those issues clearly to others.
On the flip side, anyone who adds to the chaos and confusion is not a leader. A leader doesn't shy away from complexity, but they also don't contribute to it. Instead, they use their skills and expertise to help others navigate through difficult situations with confidence and purpose.
So if you're looking to become a better leader, or if you're evaluating the leaders around you, ask yourself: do they have the ability to create calm out of chaos? If the answer is yes, then you're in good hands.
Unfortunately, far too often projects go off track and chaos ensues. Problems further manifest when ill equipped project and organizational leaders react without thinking through their approach, creating more chaos, more confusion and adding to the proverbial snowball that is gaining size and momentum each day.
So here are some simple steps that you can take that will bring order to your projects and get them back on track in case you find yourself in a chaotic project begging for leadership…
Evaluate your objectives: Work with your leadership team to ensure you project's goals and objectives are clearly defined and aligned at all levels of the organization. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same outcomes.
Evaluate your plan: Work with the project team to ensure you have a comprehensive plan that outlines the project's scope, timelines, milestones, and deliverables. This plan provides a roadmap for the project and helps to keep everyone on track.
Evaluate your issues and risks: Work with project stakeholders to identify and prioritize all project issues and risks. Develop plans to solve issues and mitigate your risks in order of priority.
Evaluate your monitoring system: Work with project teams to align on a project performance monitoring system that provides frequent and easily accessible updates to the project team and leadership. This ensures everyone stays informed and issues are promptly addressed.
Adjust course as needed: Accept that your project will change so be prepared to adjust the plan as progress is made or issues are encountered. Learn from both your successes and mistakes and contstantly realign your approach accordingly.