Don’t Delay—Start Early for Project Success
Learn how waiting until the last moment can ruin your projects and why early engagement is key to success.
Introduction
Throughout my career, I’ve accumulated over three decades of experience working on a wide range of projects, process improvements, and organizational change initiatives. This case study reflects a combination of real-world experiences drawn from various organizations, anonymized and generalized to offer valuable insights. While some of these observations may resonate with your organization’s challenges, others may not. However, they stem from practical situations I’ve encountered, and I believe they highlight important lessons that can be applied broadly.
Case Study
One recurring frustration I’ve encountered in numerous projects is the tendency for people to delay decisions or actions until the last possible moment. My approach, by contrast, has always been to tackle things as early as possible. The logic is simple: if you address a task or issue right away and discover a problem, you allow yourself ample time to resolve it. However, if you wait until the eleventh hour, you risk running out of time and having no contingency to deal with unexpected setbacks.
This behavior is particularly common in projects, where individuals delay seeking permission, support, or input until late in the process. By this time, external factors such as holidays, illness, conflicting priorities, or resource unavailability can create significant issues. Had you engaged these resources earlier, you would have had more time to plan, more flexibility to adjust, and a greater ability to ensure smooth progress. Early engagement fosters collaboration, enables efficient coordination, and creates space for reflection and improvement.
Starting tasks early also allows for incremental refinement. With an early draft in hand, you can revisit and enhance the work over time, following a cycle of continuous improvement. This approach aligns with concepts found in Kaizen, Lean, and Six Sigma, which emphasize the importance of making incremental improvements throughout the process. These methodologies thrive on the ability to test, learn, and refine as you go. By delaying a task until the last moment, you rob yourself of the opportunity for iterative improvements and experimentation.
Furthermore, delaying decisions and actions undermines communication and collaboration. When you leave things too late, there’s little room to gather feedback, make necessary amendments, or adjust plans. You’re also left with limited time to reassure stakeholders, clarify concerns, or engage in discussions that could prevent potential problems. By the time you realize there’s an issue, it’s often too late to course-correct effectively, and the problems may become insurmountable.
In contrast, early engagement and action foster an environment where ideas can be exchanged, adjustments can be made, and the project can evolve in a positive direction. This early approach supports a culture of learning and adaptability, enabling smoother project execution and better outcomes overall.
Top Tips & Best Practices
1. Start Early: Begin tasks and seek input as early as possible to allow ample time for addressing potential issues.
2. Plan for Contingencies: Delaying tasks leaves no room for contingency. Factor in time for potential setbacks or challenges.
3. Embrace Continuous Improvement: Adopt methodologies like Lean or Kaizen that prioritize incremental improvements to enhance quality over time.
4. Encourage Early Collaboration: Engage stakeholders and teams early in the process to improve communication, coordination, and feedback loops.
5. Allow for Reflection and Adjustment: Delaying actions eliminates the opportunity to reflect, improve, and adjust plans or processes as needed.
6. Build in Buffer Time: Avoid last-minute rushes that leave you with no room to solve problems. Ensure your timeline includes buffer periods for unforeseen issues.
These best practices not only improve project outcomes but also foster a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. Adopting these approaches can help your organization achieve more efficient processes, stronger team cohesion, and greater success in managing projects effectively.
#ProjectManagement #Leadership #ContinuousImprovement #Lean #Kaizen #TimeManagement #Collaboration #BestPractices