Project Management: Endings

Some say that timing is an art, but Daniel Pink knows that timing is really a science. Every project has a beginning, a middle, and an end — and each of these stages can exert an often invisible influence on team behavior. Being more aware of timing and being more intentional about these stages can help your project succeed. The beginning is your opportunity to get your project started on the best foot by setting realistic goals, anticipating any future roadblocks, and identifying a clear strategic mission. This flight will help you unlock the scientific secrets to good timing to help your projects flourish from the beginning as well as anticipate problems that may arise.

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.

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.