Project Management: Beginnings and Pre-Mortem

Daniel Pink’s research shows that we tend to hit a slump in the midpoint of a project or time period where we lose momentum and motivation. The best hope for turning a slump into a spark involves three steps: First, be aware of midpoints—don’t let them remain invisible. Second, use them to wake up rather than roll over. Third, at the midpoint, imagine that you’re behind to spark your motivation—but only by a little. Use this flight at the midpoint of a project to evaluate the midpoint slump, reignite motivation and set interim goals, and identify how much you’ve accomplished.

Research shows that the way a project or an experience ends disproportionately shapes how people remember the entire project or experience. Reflecting on and recording what you achieved can help end projects more positively and may often show that you have completed more than you thought you had. Use this flight, developed by Daniel Pink and based on his research on the importance of timing, as you near the end of a project to identify priorities and opportunities to finish strong and commemorate your accomplishment.

Ask anyone what the main mechanism is for feedback on the job and most will answer: “the annual performance review.” Daniel Pink’s research shows that a myriad of flaws exist with this annual model: first, it’s annual, and it’s hard to get better at something if you receive feedback on your performance just once a year; second, performance reviews are rarely authentic conversations and can often be hollow and formulaic. The workplace is one of the most feedback-deprived places in modern life — at the very time when considerable research shows that regular, specific, actionable feedback is key to high performance. Use this flight to help gauge whether or not your team is receiving the feedback they need to improve, and get helpful ideas on what’s working and how to improve feedback norms or your team.