Retrospective 2016

In this episode, Ricardo, in his traditional annual retrospective of the project management scenario, makes a reflection on how to think about the new year: plan but most importantly, do; seeking to maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity.

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Episode transcript

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Hello, everyone. Welcome to the five minutes. Be in touch a guest. Traditionally, when he died that time around December in January, I love to talk about the ear that ask them to an ENT in the year that is beginning. And every time I record this podcast, I try to look back, do the podcast I did in previous years. And it's very interesting because many of them, they repeat the same pattern. So I want to start to saying that 2016 was a year of challenges, a year of surprises, a year of volatility and instability.

And do you know, I don't believe that it was an a special year. I think that we are living trend off more volatility, more instability, more surprises in terms of environment, external environment, much more need for a good stakeholder management, the good communication and a good risk management or a good approach. And if I can tell you, and I can share with you, what I usually do at this time of the year for me is a great time.

I know that calendar is, or just a human creation, but it's a very good time for us to just stop back seat and think about what we do and what we plan to do. Understanding that we are on the driving seat of our projects in our careers. We are in the project managers, all of our own careers in our own projects. So if I were you, what I would do today, I want to give you three quick advices.

The first one is you need to understand that Dawn is better in a perfect, I sat there's a hundred times, but I want just to repeat now one more time, because that was a lot of people think that, or I need to execute this project. Only one, one to have all information. Let me be honest. You will know never, ever have old information. At some point you need just, we start the race with all you have. So it's very, very important. We need to understand that results are what really matter.

The second thing is that with this volatility, this instability mechanisms of more short term planning, they have a very strong momentum. I call this rolling wave planning. Some of the people love to call in a more fashioned way, a giant, but our Giles has a, basically nothing new on the concept. We're talking about that for 30 years and holding wave planning is that how do you can make an, take a look on building things faster, create and some partial deliverers and get and collect results quicker.

So this is what we are talking about. So instead of thinking about the thousand and 17, why not thinking about the fact or squatter or the second part or the third quarter? So this will make much more sharp objectives instead of setting yeah. And objectives, setting targets for your project. For the end of the year, saying what I need to have done by March, which of deliverables I can commit myself to deliver in March and then June. And then September after death is prioritized.

There is no time and money to do everything. And that is today's. Where do you want to do everything? We need to understand what is it we need to bring your it guys priori tax So. Don is better in a perfect thinking on a more shorter, careful in using the rolling wave, prioritized and not want to give you my final advice is to be optimistic. I know many of you who will say, be not domestic for what you do, because we are facing so many challenges, but I want to ask you to think of it.

And one aspect, what is the benefit of being pessimistic? If you told me, okay, I was pessimistic. And then my project was on time. I was pessimistic and Nan, my project finished on budget. I never ever saw a Bessemer and stick movement generating great results. So I advise you to think in a more positive way, because this will create a good momentum in your project and create a wave of optimism.

I'm not saying that you should be blind. We have seen the challenges, but I know to miss is the way you want it. And the challenge is in your project. I think there's because I see recently such a big pessimism in a way and everything. And let me tell you, this was good. I was recording podcasts about being pessimistic, and this will not come up to be a dumb, absolutely anything. And, but getting you more depressed with your project. So think of optimistic, the challenge they exist.

And this is why a project management and project managers exist. I wish you a fantastic year and let's be together with five minutes PM. Podcast see you next week.

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