Cerberus: the three headed dog of project management
Cerberus – that lovely 3 headed dog who guards the underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. So how does that relate to effective project management? Good question!
When you get a new project, there are three clear stages that all require a slightly different mindset: creating, planning and doing. These are the three heads of Cerberus we need to give attention to, think about, tame, carry out to completion so we can escape the underworld, I mean work, and float back into the land of living.
Creating
The creating brain is something that people either love or find intimidating. I am someone who doesn’t see myself as particularly “creative” but I know that this mindset is the most limiting part of the process. I can create and I can be creative and I love innovating just maybe not in the way I see “creative” people doing it. There is no right or wrong way to create; this head is the most liberating of the three – play around with ideas, have fun with it, work through suggestions. If you don’t like going outside the box then don’t, think about how you can make that box the most exciting box there is. Personally, I am more creative and innovative when I know my parameters.
A great way to get this brain working and break through that initial writer’s block is to write down the silliest suggestion you can think of in relation to the problem or project aim. Then start working that through – be silly, take it further, see where it goes. You may find that this is the starting point of your end solution or project outcome. I remember someone telling me at a conference that this was how a company started their brainstorming to figure out how to stop snow building up on telephone wires. Starting with the silly suggestion of “let’s get a bear to shake the telephone poles” and working this seemingly ridiculous idea through logistically, actually ended up leading them to their final, bear free, solution.
Planning
This head is probably my most comfortable. After all, with a natural MBTI judging preference and event management background, I love planning and organising!
I know that having a structured plan does not work, and is not helpful, to everyone. You really need to know what works for you. If you are the type of person who loves to work out a Gantt chart style plan with contingencies, milestones and checklists to even go to the shops for milk then go for it. If that is your idea of hell then that is no problem at all!
If this head is not your most comfortable, then start by answering the following questions:
When does this project ultimately need to be completed by?
Will you need input from others, either in terms of their expertise or sign off on the project?
If the answer to question 2 is yes, then what are their schedules like? Are they prompt at replying and providing you with information/sign off or will they need chasing? If so, how much time should you put aside for this so that you can remain calm?
Can the project be broken down into smaller chunks? If so, what are these and how long will it take to complete each chunk?
What issues could you foresee coming up?
Once you have worked through these, add in some extra time as a contingency for any unforeseen issues, take a step back, then recheck your plan. A plan should give you enough of a structure to support you, ensure you stay on track for the overarching goal and know whom you may need assistance from. But remember, a plan should ultimately be flexible and easily adaptable to change, last minute amendments and unforeseen circumstances.
Doing
You have done the majority of brain work already. You have your ideas, you’ve created a beautiful plan of how to implement them, now…you just need to do it.
This can be one of the hardest heads to complete as you can feel like you’ve done most of the work already. Keep revisiting the creating and planning phases as you start to complete the work to make sure you are adapting to any changes and keeping the project on plan and time frame. Think about your time management techniques to make sure you are not all consumed by your project. If any unexpected issues come up, here are some helpful decision making techniques that may help you in a difficult spot!
Good luck, you got this!