Project Management as a life skill

Project Management as a life skill

Have you ever planned a holiday yourself? Moved house, or redecorated one? Bought a car? Or even cooked a meal or baked a cake? All of these seemingly unrelated activities have one thing in common. Can you tell what it is?  

Holiday planning usually involves a good bit of research. Budgeting and activities have to be planned in a particular order, like picking what type of holiday you want. Researching the destination, checking the flights, then making sure that you have the accommodation for that time and that all fits within your set budget. Read reviews on multiple websites to decide what the best option for you is. Plan everything, so you don't arrive at your destination with no place to sleep.

 When you buy a car you think about it first. What car you choose will depend on your personality, the needs you have as well as the market availability. You also have a fair idea of how much money you have to spend on it.

Even simple everyday tasks like cooking or baking require checking if you have all ingredients, buying them if you don't, and doing things in a certain order to make sure that it turns out okay. You then have to execute the recipe, monitor the progress, and if things don't go the way they should - change and adapt, like when your yeast doesn't ferment properly, and you have to start from scratch. 

All of the above have to be budgeted for, planned, executed and you have to prepare for adjustments along the way. You deal with multiple people and activities that at the end have to come together to produce a satisfactory result. And this is essentially what project management is. You are already doing it, or elements of it, without giving it a proper name. However, we can all get better at it by trying to apply proven project management processes and methods to everyday tasks.  

I have recently decided to redecorate my kitchen and changing floors in my apartment. It is a fascinating thing to do (if you like cooking as much as I do!) Once I started really thinking about what it will involve, I found myself hyperventilating. What do I do first - the floors or the cabinets? And if the floor, laminate or tiles first? How do I get in all the different labourers, so I don't end up with no floors, or no usable kitchen for weeks? Will I have enough money for what I want? What company should I pick for the cabinets? Even choosing the colour of the cabinets seemed like an impossible task.

 The sheer amount of work involved and coordinating everything was overwhelming, especially for an overthinker like me. I even started to consider not doing it at all. But then I had to catch myself, hold on, you are doing it for a living! You've got this! Stay calm and start from the beginning!

 When you think about undertaking any challenge or change the below Project Management elements may come in handy to think of or apply.  

Business Case - whether you want a holiday, or need a new car or kitchen like me, you need first to decide whether there is merit in your endeavor. This is how a business case starts.

 Budget - this is the next thing you look at. What kind of money am I prepared to spend on this endeavor? Where am I going to take it from? Will all I need to fit within my budget?

 Requirements - what do I need from my new car? What kind of kitchen cabinets do I want? When will I need it done?  

Stakeholder management - you can't do it all by yourself so you delegate to those who can. You will need to find trusted suppliers, labourers or agents who will help you. I had to ask the carpenter who was building my cabinets when it was best for me to do the floors, installations, wall painting. Even though you could probably assume some of these things yourself, it's always best to get a professional opinion. This is why they are the specialists - they know best what works for them. On top of that, you will have to monitor all the activities to make sure all is going as expected - or not.  

Planning - you will need to plan all activities too, so they all come together at the right time. Maybe there will be a sale on the car website that will save you a bit of money? Or the tiler cannot commit to the time you have chosen for the floor? You need to agree to the plan with everyone, so there is a clear path.

 Project Stages - at this point you have Initiated the project, planned it, you are going to have to execute it and then Close it. You will make sure all the requirements are delivered, what needs more work or a follow up. Sometimes you will find that it is best to abandon your project, as it is no longer feasible - maybe you had an unexpected expense and are no longer able to pay for your holidays? 

Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies - there is always a myriad of those involved! What if your holiday provider you booked your flights with, goes bust? With the building works, the carpenter is dependent on removing the old kitchen, the plumber is dependent on the kitchen being fitted, and so on. Even with the best of planning, there is always a risk something will slip, and you need to plan for if and when it does.

 Change management - considering that there are always risks and issues with any project, you need to be prepared for changing the course of action and adapting to it. Delays, change in the requirements, unavailability of the stakeholders or unforeseen problems that are discovered along the way are all contributors to the constant need for change to your plan. You also have to keep an eye on your budget and timeline and adjust accordingly.

 These are only a few of the project management elements. You may need all of them for your project or just some of them, but it is always good to have a framework to work around. You don't need to hire a Project Manager or get a professional qualification in project management yourself to plan a holiday. But having an idea of the way change management works prepares you for success. It takes some of the stress away, so you don't hyperventilate each time you take on a project! 

Anna Horvat

Innovation Lead at Local Government Management Agency

4y

Well written. Congratulations on your new role Maja!

Thoughtful and well written piece that one can relate to 👍🏼

hi Maja, excellent insights and so true, best of luck in your new role

Eoin Mulhall

Director - Advisory Services at PwC

4y

Maja - thank you for the insights, it reminds us of the benefit of project management skills in all aspects of our lives... 

Rose Seller

Senior Manager | Portfolio & Programme Management (PPM) | PwC Ireland

4y

Love it Maja 👏🏼

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