Olympic Curling: A Demonstration in Successful Project Management
The Olympics are officially over. The podiums have been stored, the stadiums have been swept, and U.S. business owners are rejoicing.
With the Olympics costing businesses an estimated $1.7 billion in productivity, owners across the country are understandably ecstatic that their employees will once again focus on their work and not on the medal standings.
That being said, there is one sport that may have been beneficial for every employee to watch after all…
Curling.
And, no. I’m not joking.
While most people simply see a rock sliding on ice, I see project management in action. I see a blueprint by which departments of all sizes can build successful strategies. I see the road map for visionaries.
And, yes. I know I sound silly, but follow the steps of a curler with me and I hope you will begin to see the beauty of the sport that I see.
– If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching a curling match, click here to better understand the basics –
1) Set your target
This first step seems simple enough, but don’t let it fool you – this step is the most crucial. Do you want to guard? Do you want to draw? Would you like to go for a takeout? Maybe you want to try a whole new sport?
Far too often, managers set the wheels of a project in motion without having a clear destination in mind, essentially blindly hurling a stone down the ice just because they can.
If you want to win the gold in curling or in business, you first have to set very clear goals.
2) Visualize the path
You’ve decided that you’re going to draw (get the stone in the target) – now you have to start thinking about what has to be done to get there.
What obstacles are currently in the way? What are the ways in which things could go wrong? Could anything derail your progress along the way? How much initial energy is required to get the stone to the target?
Successful project management requires not only evaluating the obstacles that you see in front of you, but anticipating that which is unseen. If you have a clear goal without a plan to reach it, then you are setting yourself up for failure.
3) Clearly communicate plan with your team
The key to successful communication is over-communication. What if your team knows that you’re stone will be curving to the right, but they are unsure of where is should arrive? Or maybe they know the target but think that you will be curving from the left?
In either scenario, a lack of communication will result in your team missing your target completely by focusing on the wrong things.
Make sure everyone is on the same page.
4) Set the stone in motion
Unless your plan is to forfeit the match, the stone has to leave your hand eventually.
Many times project managers will do all of the necessary work leading up to a project kickoff, having everyone on the same page with a clear direction towards a goal, and then do nothing with it.
At some point, you just have to let that stone go and trust the process.
5) Trust your team to guide the stone to the target
The stone has left your hands and now it’s up to your team to see your vision through.
While you should always be willing to give direction to your team throughout the process, you have to allow them to do their jobs and trust that they know how to sweep.
They have a unique perspective which allows them to see issues as they arise in the moment. Allow them to adjust and fix them as needed.
6) If target is not reached or stone is sidetracked, then regroup and adjust.
Failure is part of sports – failure is also part of business. If you see that your project did not go exactly as you envisioned, take note of the problems and try a different approach.
You may throw three stones before you see the result that you want, but that third stone might just be the one that brings you the gold!
