We often have projects that:
Lack clear direction and information
Drag and lack momentum
Lack expected outcomes and dates
Due to the fact that:
There is a dependency on someone or something
No one knows what to do or who to speak with next
People are inexperienced, passive, forgetful, or busy/preoccupied
Don't wait around...
To drive momentum toward resolution, always proactively establish next steps. Being action-driven will ensure timely delivery, engagement, and accountability.
Here are mindsets to help you be more action-driven.
Always think about what needs to happen next
The goals that the meeting will accomplish
Course of actions and next step to take
Considerations or ideas that need to be explored
Peers and associates that need to review and approve
Finalization and review dates/timelines
Vocally state the necessary actions
Think out loud about the potential actions with your team during meetings
Be constructive, positive, and present opportunities and benefits
Always summarize and iterate on the plan and course of actions before, during, and after meetings
Connect people together
Don't have an answer or know where to start? Figure out who can help you get started
Connect action owners to people who can help with the action (cc/tag people on emails or chat messages)
Pair people together to hold each other accountable and collaborate
Manage actions
Assign an owner to each action based on expertise, competency and interests
Create lists, priorities, and map cc/tag people to actions in emails and other shared communication channels (JIRA tickets, Confluence pages, etc)
Measure the scope of the actions and set the expected dates of completion and reviews
Follow through, follow up
Commit and execute on your own actions within good timing
Show visibility on your progress and lead by example
Constantly check the progress of your team's actions and offer help when needed
Summary
Shift your thinking on how to unblock the project from moving forward
Eliminate dependencies on process, people, or tools to get the correct information needed
Sustaining momentum is critical, remember to keep people engaged and moving
Little steps are progress to resolution
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