Starting all over again
I am joining a new project team next week.
I won’t go into a lot of detail, as is the tradition on these pages. But I did want to return to the idea of what starting something new might mean. So under a few, as of yet undecided headers – you find out when I do – let’s look at some of the key factors worth considering (irrespective of the role you are doing).
Is it New New?
Is the piece of work you are starting:
New – It has been considered, planned and budgeted for. They just need a team to jump onto it.
New for you – But others have reviewed it previously and might just need more people or additional skills to support them. What do they know already?
New New – No one had a clue this was needed until it hit them, so you might need to do a lot of breaking or analysing before you even know what it is.
Each will have a different approach. All of them will still need some kind of landing phase to work out what is known, and what is definitely unknown at this stage.
Experience counts for…
Something or nothing. As a Delivery Manager (replace with your own role if reading this, incognito) you will have experience of, well, delivering. However, not all projects are the same. That’s not to say everything is unique, but a straight up Software Delivery LifeCycle (SDLC) build is not the same as a radical business transformation programme. In fact, SDLC in the Public and Private sectors can also be different.
What you need to know going in, is how much of what you bring is relevant?
Why is this important? Well, say with confidence that a team can deliver something with ease, when you have next to no experience on what it is they need to deliver, is only going to get you (and your team) in trouble. Learn and grow where your relevance isn’t directly transferable. Help others learn and grow, when it is.
Can you be arsed?
There are different ways to write the subheading for this section, but what it boils down to is “Is this the right fit for you?”
If not, is there anything you can or want to do about it?
If not, maybe it’s time to consider another option.
The “Can you be arsed?” nature can vary, depending on where you are in your career, and the reasons for the lack of motivation going in.
You might be the next cab off the rank. The gig isn’t best fit for you, but work is work and we just have to crack on. You might have been burnt by a team/leader working in this space, and the 10,000 yard stare hasn’t quite left you. Or it simply might not be “exciting” enough for you. No learning, no growth – you can do it with your hands behind your back.
Again, sorry to disappoint you – but work is work and not everything will be worthy of a CV update. You need to work out how to bring the pzazz when you feel as flat as a busted couch.
Is it too much for you?
Let’s avoid simply categorising it as imposter syndrome. There might actually be genuine reasons why you feel you are not suited to this gig.
The work could be out of your comfort zone. It could be managing a team bigger or a budget grander than anything you have done before. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Go back up to the experience section and try to support the doubts with a simple reframing exercise:
I have never done something like this before becomes Who do I know who has worked on a project of this scale before? What support can they provide?
I don’t have experience of the tools/processes we will be working with becomes How do I get an overview of the work from someone who does? Who can run a session to bring you up to speed?
Take the negatives flying around inside your head and work out the who/what/how that could be the support you need to get up and running. After that, it’s simply a case of doing what you know you can do, until your next bout of doubt.
It’s doomed to fail
Yeah, well… welcome to delivery. Population: Just you.
So work out how to avoid being left to carry the can for something that was unavoidable. Document everything. Discuss most things. Always keep the receipts.
Actually, I am looking forward to the work
Good for you, made up person who rarely exists beyond a certain point of this newsletter. Take that attitude and lead the team to success and glory. We’re all right behind you.
So where am I right now?
I can be arsed. I have the right skills, if not 100% of the experience, and I have a word document open with some thoughts and ideas for when someone asks me if we can do the do.
/END