I bet you think this blog is about you, you better hope it is! – Rule 6 Trust and enable the right people.

Projects are built on people, not literately unless it’s to build a human pyramid.  But even the smallest project requires people to do something.  Even with industrialization, informalization, digitalisation and AI, we still require people, if not to input, to be there for the reason of the output.  What these advancements have taken away with one hand they give with the other.

The same is true within your business on a micro level.  You may not need as many people, but you need people and certainly people at the other end for you to supply to.

And people are strange.  Unlike the technology they are annoyingly different, different to you.  They do things differently to you, they act differently to you, they do things better than you and as we will admit more to worse!

But you need them to make your business a success, to make it better although sometimes I bet it feels like they make it worse. 

IDEA

Collaboration and diverse skills are the secrets to success. Even when we introduce tools to enhance consistency and productivity, people remain at the core. We can't make everyone the same, but we must achieve results for our business and projects, ideally without redoing work. Appreciating the differences in how people work can be a powerful advantage, leading to better and more efficient outcomes.

SYNOPSIS

Our challenge then is to ensure that the tasks we assign are not only completed but done to the necessary standard.

SOLUTION

This is where three critical elements converge to create magic: the right people, enablement, and trust. Let's break down each component individually.

Right people – Selecting the right person for the task is vital. It may not always be the best person but rather someone who strikes a balance between skills, availability, willingness, and knowledge to perform the task efficiently.

Enable – We then enable them to do the task.  Not just say go do it.  But give them the information they need, the network to work within to do the task, the time and reasonable resource to get the task done.

Trust – Trust is the final and crucial step. It goes beyond simply delegating and letting them run with it – that's as detrimental as micromanaging. Trust involves providing support, showing interest in their progress, and allowing them the autonomy they need. Effective communication should be maintained to offer guidance when necessary. Trust is built by guiding, not taking over the task.  Never take the task away from them (see rule 7 next week as to why)

This approach allows you to obtain the best results without having to do everything yourself or hiring the best person at any cost. Trusting and enabling the right people is the key to better businesses and projects. It may seem straightforward, but surprisingly, it often goes overlooked – by you, me, and everyone.

So, I hope you think this blog is about you, in a good way!  Just make sure it is to make your projects and business better!

If you want advice or help with improving area of concern with your project management.  Reach out, CS projects is here to help, in a sustainable, manageable way.
 
Thanks for reading
 
Simon