Struggling with Project Success? Five Insights Gained from Management Experience
In the realm of project management, the critical importance of recovery parallels the avoidance of team burnout and the pursuit of higher quality outcomes. This philosophy, championed by Sarah Edwards, Chief Product Officer at Kantata, emphasizes a shift away from speed-for-speed's sake towards methods that build organizational resilience and consistent delivery.
Edwards' leadership style at Kantata, a provider of Professional Services Automation (PSA) solutions, focuses on building long-term value by prioritizing steady, reliable progress instead of rushing for quick results. Her approach is rooted in empowering people, designing sustainability in processes, and integrating technology use to enhance visibility, resource management, and alignment with strategic goals.
The key principles for sustainable project management, as outlined by Edwards, can be summarized as follows:
1. **Prioritize Consistency:** Consistency is key in delivering quality and dependable outcomes steadily, rather than rushing for fast, potentially compromised results.
2. **Empower People:** Focus on the workforce and their capabilities to drive projects forward sustainably.
3. **Sustainability in Processes:** Design workflows and project management practices that endure over time, reducing burnout and inefficiency.
4. **Long-term Value Creation:** Emphasize outcomes that contribute to ongoing success instead of short-term wins.
5. **Integrated Technology Use:** Leverage PSA tools thoughtfully to enhance visibility, resource management, and alignment with strategic goals.
These principles reflect a shift towards methods that build organizational resilience and consistent delivery in project management environments. By adopting these principles, project leaders can strive for sustainable success, focusing on quality, efficiency, and long-term outcomes, much like a marathon runner who values consistency over speed.
In addition to these principles, Edwards underscores the importance of a long-term perspective for executives leading major initiatives. Project leaders should anticipate obstacles and plan alternative pathways, considering the team, client, and other variables. Real-time project health monitoring helps teams to adjust their strategies before potential problems occur, and it is essential to ensure the right technology supports project goals, including the ability to audit project pacing.
Client relationships in professional services are seen as marathons, requiring a focus on quality, efficiency, and long-term outcomes for sustainable success. By prioritizing consistency and sustainability, project leaders can foster strong client relationships and preserve team well-being, ultimately delivering projects that are on time, on budget, and of high quality.
[1] For more detailed or direct principles from Sarah Edwards, additional specific statements or publications from Kantata would be beneficial.
Sarah Edwards, the Chief Product Officer at Kantata, advocates for a shift in project management towards methods that emphasize long-term value creation and sustainability, with a focus on finance and technology. This philosophy, embodied in her leadership style, involves empowering people, designing sustainable processes, and integrating technology use, all aimed at enhancing visibility, resource management, and strategic alignment.
In the pursuit of a sustainable project lifestyle, Edwards stresses the significance of prioritizing consistency, empowering people, sustainability in processes, long-term value creation, and integrated technology use. Meaningful client relationships in professional services are built on the foundation of this philosophy, leading to projects that are completed on time, within budget, and of high quality.
