Marching Orders

Define The Problem

Always start by defining the problem or need being addressed.

• Use the Five Why's : ask "Why" five times until you get to the root of the problem.
• Consider a formal business case as part of a request/ governance process. This helps confirm the problem's criticality and validity.
• Write a mission statement that declares the problem being addressed-the project's reason for being.

Develop A Strategy

Organize for success.

• Build a core team and subteam leads as needed.
• Addressed stakeholders early and often.
• Define and communicate guiding principles.
• Establish processes, systems and tools.
• Maintain momentum; look for sources of motivation.

Strategize on a solution.

• Determine the requirements.
• Analyze the situation, focusing on the critical issues. This may require a preliminary risk analysis.
• Define alternate strategies and select the best one.

Create A Vision.

Craft a clear and inclusive vision.

• If you are not in a position to create the vision, be sure that you understand and can articulate the vision.
• Remember SMART-Specific, Measurable, Aligned, Realistic,Time-bound.
• Build a shared or co created vision if possible. At the very least, consider the perspectives of all stakeholders.
• Find the passionate need or fear that the project addressed. Sell the vision with examples and stories that clearly show the need.
• If cost reduction must be part of the vision, be sure it is framed in context with a long term strategy and combined with positive rewards and other uplifting goals and mile-stones.
  

The Rise to Power

The lessons to be learned from Napoleon's career are timeless just as applicable to modern-day project manager or business leader as to a military general in the nineteenth century. Napoleon's advice is as relevant today as it was two hundred years ago - the value of a good memory and mathematical skills, the importance of being calm and visible, and the virtues of making difficult but informed decisions and selling them accordingly. With this solid foundation laid, we can begin the next leg of our journey and discover how Napoleon used these skills and philosophies to become the ruler of all Western Europe - and how we can use the same skills to assure success for our projects.

Develop A Good Memory.
Increase your memory through association, repetition, and use of a PDA or memory system. It will help you to :-

• build by remembering people's names and interests.
• select the right people for your team by remembering their backgrounds, work habits, strengths, and weaknesses.
• motivate your team by remembering people's individual needs.
• recall small details that might come back to haunt you later.
• make better presentations by avoiding the overuse of PowerPoint as a crutch.

Harness The Power Of Mathematics.
Calculate - do not guess. Increase your mathematical skills by taking statistics classes and learning useful algorithms. This can help you :

• select the right projects, based on calculated costs and benefits.
• produce accurate estimate that consider risk and probability.
• judge quality using statical controls and measures.
  
• determine the impact of adding resources, by calculating the additional communication channel required.
• plan for potential problems using risk-probability analysis.
• make better decisions using risk and decision-tree analysis.
• predict cost and schedule overruns as early as 15 percent into the project using earned value analysis.

Stay Cool and Collected.
Remain cool and collected at all times. This can help you:

• promote a positive atmosphere.
• avoid unnecessary panic by your team.
• inspire others to act the same way.

Go Among The Soldiers.
Be visible to your team, Use the MBWA (Management by wandering around)approach. This can help you:

• inspire your team.
• build trust by getting to know your team personally.
• be available to address questions.
• get a sense of how your team is feeling - their concerns and needs.
• remove barriers that may be impeding your team's success.

Understanding the Futility of Tyranny.
Don't let a position of power trick you into thinking you can go it alone. Appointing a core team can help you:

• balance out ideas and gain various perspectives.
• build trust and respect by demonstrating participative leadership.
• become more efficient by sharing the leadership workload with others.
• implement a 360-degree feedback process. This allows you to
  see how you are perceived by others, make a needed adjustment to your style and grow as a leader and manager.