Running coach Bill Wenmark once said “You should run your first marathon for the right reasons, because you’ll never be the same person again. You must want to do it, not do it because your boss did it or your spouse did it.
In our case, the project manager and the marathon runner are a similar animal, separated at birth and the resemblance is staggering. Let me take you through the key milestones one by one.
Understanding the Scope – Even before the runner has signed up and committed to the 26 plus miles, he has to ensure that he understands what is ahead of him and believes it is achievable. Similary the PM; he must understand the scope of the project and have faith in his and his teams capabilities.
Confirming Resources – Before the start – just like a marathon runner is well fed and hydrated before the race, the project manager has to ensure his equipment is capable of lasting the distance. Has he enough budget and has got the right resources allocated?
Ready, Steady Go! – so the race is on, and like his running companion, the project manager has to pace himself accordingly, concentrate and visualise the end result.
Handling change – halfway through the race, the conditions change and the course gets tougher. The runner has to react quickly and adjust accordingly. Similarly with the PM, change is part and parcel of any project and he too has to react quickly.
Monitoring – it is important for the marathon runner to constantly checking his body. Are his legs tiring, his knees on fire or blisters appearing on the soles of his feet? If so, once again he analyses the risks or the issues and adjusts accordingly. Who does that remind you of?
The run in – so the finish line is in site, and now is not the time to lose focus.One last burst, using the contingency you’d previously planned for. Any mistakes now could ruin months of planning.
You’ve done it! You cross the line to much applause. You accept the praise and feel good inside.
Closedown – But wait…it’s not over yet! You still have to unwind and close the project down. You need to release the resources (take the running shoes off!). You need to assess what could you have done better. What lessons were learned for your next race or project?
So now it”s over and you’ve achieved your goal there’s just one final task to complete – Let’s go down the pub and celebrate – if you can still walk!
Malcolm McNeill is a freelance Financial Services Project Manager as well as CEO of Fabbydoo.com. Additionally he owns car rental comparison website BestCarHire and Motor Home comparison website HolidayCampervan.
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