Mastering Real Project Management: How We Delivered a High Stakes Complex Event for 13 Years Straight

Big Milestones are crucial for driving project success by:

• Establishing key deliverables and outcomes with specific dates.
• Creating natural dependencies without complex Gantt charts.
• Aligning all stakeholders and suppliers towards common goals.
• Forcing urgency and accountability in the project timeline.
• Balancing ambitious deadlines with realistic achievability.

The planning process involves deep collaboration to ensure project success:

• All suppliers participate in defining Big Milestones and deadlines.
• Main tasks are mapped out and durations estimated.
• Timeline feasibility is analyzed through quick assessments.
• Deliberation and refinement occur as a team.
• Result is full commitment from all parties, including the client.

Transitioning from planning to execution involves:

• Breaking tasks into manageable pieces.
• Implementing a weekly meeting system focused on Weekly Goals.
• Balancing ambitious targets with achievable workloads.
• Addressing risks, surprises, and new client requirements.
• Maintaining agility and focus throughout the project.

Relying on common sense in Project Management means:

• Ensuring everyone understands the purpose behind actions.
• Skipping unnecessary practices (like stand-up meetings) if they don't add value.
• Using weekly meetings, real-time Project Management systems, and effective communication tools.
• Building trust through constant connection within the team.
• Aligning big goals with daily actions for meaningful work.

Effective communication in complex projects involves:

• Weekly meetings that drive focused progress.
• A Project Management system providing real-time information.
• Team Communication supporting both asynchronous and synchronous needs.
• Building trust through constant connection.
• Ensuring all team members, regardless of role, understand the project's direction.

Successful Project Management hinges on:

• Clearly connecting overarching goals to day-to-day tasks.
• Reflecting this alignment in the Project Management system.
• Giving meaning to each team member's daily work.
• Constantly reinforcing how individual tasks contribute to the larger mission.
• Maintaining clarity and purpose throughout the project lifecycle.

The key elements of this successful approach include:

• Big Milestones for setting non-negotiable deadlines.
• Weekly meetings for fine-tuning and committing to achievable goals.
• Fast and efficient communication channels.
• Applying common sense to all aspects of Project Management.
• Balancing ambition with practicality in goal-setting and execution.

This Project Management approach has proven its resilience by:

• Successfully delivering the event for 13 consecutive years.
• Navigating various obstacles, including a global pandemic (COVID).
• Maintaining flexibility while adhering to core principles.
• Demonstrating that the system works across different scenarios.
• Proving its effectiveness through consistent results.

The beauty of this Project Management approach lies in its:

• Simplicity and ease of understanding.
• Straightforward implementation process.
• Reliance on common sense rather than complex methodologies.
• Proven track record in high-stakes, complex projects.
• Potential for adaptation to various project types and scales.

Take our FREE Productivity Quiz or buy the ICOR® Journey Book to get started!