The Virtue of Patience in Mini Golf and Project Management
Have you been mini-golfing lately? I recently took my son, and while waiting behind another mom and her two children, she turned to me and said, “Sometimes I want to ask if we can pass the group ahead of us and go on to the next hole.” I replied, “Mini golf takes a lot of patience.” She smiled and nodded her head in agreement.
Mini golf takes patience in several ways:
Patience with yourself as you navigate obstacles and aim for the hole.
Patience with the groups ahead of you who may take their time.
Patience with the groups behind you who might be eager to finish their round.
Patience with your children.
Working on a project similarly requires patience.
Here are a few common areas of struggle and tips for what to do differently:
Patience in the beginning of the project when teams are usually eager to get a jump start on project work:
As a project manager, I help teams slow down to plan activities and set milestones, enabling effective progress tracking. Thoroughly planning the scope, identifying stakeholders, and aligning on goals at the start of the project will help the project to run smoother.
Implement effective risk management strategies early in the project to identify and document potential issues and mitigation strategies in a risk register. By doing so, the project team can avoid major problems. I periodically review the risk register with the team to assess and update risks.
Patience while waiting for email responses:
I set reminders to follow up if I haven’t received a response within 1-5 days. The amount of time between the initial email and when a response is needed depends on the urgency of the topic and person. Reminders in my calendar or to-do list help me focus on other topics and ensure nothing is forgotten.
Daily email reviews ensure I don’t miss important follow-ups.
In cases where a response is not received even after a reminder email, having an escalation plan in place is crucial for avoiding additional delays due to unresponsive communications.
Patience when dealing with setbacks and delays:
Navigating and resolving issues is key to maintaining momentum. I focus on managing the critical path, re-evaluating tasks to meet deadlines. Sometimes tasks can be performed in parallel or additional resources can be added to save time.
Engaging stakeholders regularly by keeping them informed about project status, changes to the plan, and seeking feedback ensures their concerns are addressed and they continue to support the project. This helps to avoid added stress and difficulties.
Just as in mini-golf, where patience is needed while waiting for others planning your next swing, in project management, patience enables the project team to make thoughtful decisions that keep the project on track. By planning, communicating effectively, and proactively managing risks with the help of a project manager, project challenges can be navigated to ensure a successful project outcome. The next time you're stuck waiting on the mini-golf course, remember that the patience you're practicing is a valuable skill in project management too.
Do you need help with managing your projects? Forward Project Management and Consulting offers:
Project planning and tracking to meet milestones and stay on schedule
Risk management strategies to anticipate and mitigate potential issues
Clear communication, ensuring project team members and stakeholders are on the same page.
See how Forward Project Management and Consulting can help your project today.
