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Here is an incomplete list of secrets of success for strategic initiatives….

Include some “fundamentalists” in your discussion on making things work – the folks who derive lot of energy by asking fundamental questions on any topic under discussion. It is very important to get the truly philosophical perspective that should be managed well in reality!

Seamless transformation comes from the pile of multiple, stand-alone mini projects (with deliverables in every two weeks of effort) – magically rolling into the big one!

Spend lot of time in blueprinting, little time in explaining, very little time in implementing… Execution should be the strategy!

Identify an introvert leader and a team largely comprised of extravert members.

Ensure information overload for the sponsors, fully federated communication with dependent groups and boundary-less communication within team members.

Let there be chaos in ways-of-working within teams, but ensure at least one individual has an undivided responsibility for every important portion/task of the project!

Use a portal for entire project activities right from communication, task planning, tracking & reporting. Abandon usage of email – saves documentation effort, guarantees participation, provides seamless reference and maintains trust & transparency!

Bring external experts with inch-wide, mile-deep experience and sponsors who are mile-wide, inch-deep experts! Don’t hesitate to stand-on-their shoulders – it helps to get a better view + confidence!

Let governance be at individual project level and integrated view with no participation from tactical projects, at the overall level! It is not a roll-up of issues that is important – segregation of roadblocks, if any.

Make sufficient provisions for failures, accidents, reworks and surprises – allow at least 20% of project effort for managing these – whenever they come. Take note of actions and results – so that they come handy for other projects or for totally new set of problems.

When in doubt or at cross roads to begin – start anywhere. Allow solution to emerge. When it does, learn to embrace when it makes sense. Allow anyone to lead. 

Make your own tools – start from any suitable generic set but make sure you build an unique set for yourself to use/deploy/distribute through out. Tools amplify capabilities and even small ones can make a big difference!

Take field trips routinely. Meet and listen carefully to all! Don’t take notes – but act swiftly. Action is the only rewarding gift – not intention.

Leave lot of blank tasks & time on project and individual calendars – Allow new tasks/ideas to enter and carefully add them in order to complete the overall picture – continuously!

Be risk-averse; work long hours but take lot of breaks and eat less, but frequently – always with your team! 

Be proud of what you do. Never talk anything about it. Don’t participate in any awards competition! Keep it simple and close to your heart! Let the flower blossom naturally!

Destruction of the past is perhaps the greatest time wasters in any project. We need not destroy the past. It is already gone! – Think only next 3 steps at every step!

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