Introduction
We all need and thrive on successful projects. But what does it take to get there? There is no doubt that good project management is a critical success factor. But is it really sufficient? I don't think so. I claim that effective project management needs to have a solid foundation in project leadership and teamwork. I have identified 5 leadership principles that build a foundation for project success.
If we all need and thrive on successful projects, what exactly does project success mean? Is project success the successful and timely delivery within budget? Or is it the path to glory? Do results always matter the most? What else does project success mean? And what does it take to achieve project success? Does success fall from heaven? Is it limited to a lucky few that happen to be in the right place at the right time? Is it coincidence? Or can we actually plan success?
There is no doubt that good project management is a critical factor of project success. That is, a project cannot be run without project management, be it formal or informal. You need to have something that holds things together. Underlying is the assumption that we need some form of order to organize and run a project. Someone has to do something. In this sense, project management helps set a frame, providing structure and order to potential chaos. Without this structure a project leads to nowhere; it will most likely fail, if it ever takes off at all.
If you want to generate results out of seeming chaos, you have to build structure that enables creativity, innovation, and results. Project management provides excellent tools to build this structure. They are important and necessary for project success. But are they sufficient? I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I claim that unless you gear them in the right direction, they remain ineffective. If you really want to secure project success, you have to understand what it takes to set the right direction. Project management alone will not do the trick. What it takes is leadership - your leadership.
Leadership is the decisive factor for improving the chances for projects to succeed. Without leadership, chances are that a project will be "just another project."
Based on my own experience in project management and the review of literature on leadership, project management, business, systems, and complexity theory, I have identified five simple yet powerful leadership principles which, if applied systematically, can help you pave the path to project success. They are as follows:
- Build vision
- Nurture collaboration
- Promote performance
- Cultivate learning
- Ensure results
Let's have a look at each principle one at a time.
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Editor's Note
