Big Project Design: PP122
Are big projects overwhelming? Yep, they can be. I want to share is the process I’ve used to plant churches, create capitol campaigns, manage major building projects, and pretty much everything else in ministry.
Let’s dive in.
Let's dig into the good stuff. So, I had this interesting conversation with Charlie Harper from our community after our talk on Cal Newport's framework. He asked a great question: How do you define a project?
To me, a project is a sequence of work that gets you to a totally new place. I love the book "Start at the End" by Matt Wollert, which aligns perfectly with my work style. It's about taking strategic steps to achieve big outcomes. Projects aren’t just lengthy tasks—they’re transformative journeys. Let's explore how we make these projects work with two vital phases: project design and project doing.
Project Design Essentials
Start at the End:
Adopt what I call the “benefit of backwards” approach. Ask yourself, what's the ideal outcome? Use tools like whiteboards or Post-its and gather a team. This phase is about envisioning where you want to be when all is said and done.
What Would Need to Be True?:
This is my favorite coaching question. It’s about figuring out what conditions must exist to achieve your desired outcome. Dive into specifics—what needs to be true for your team, your participants, and your communications? A solid purpose statement can guide not just your planning but also your communication strategy. Canva is a great tool for creating visually consistent messaging.
Start Breaking It Down:
Transition into doing by breaking everything into bite-sized tasks. Consider how long each will take, dependencies, and who needs to be involved. Make sure to assign specific people to each task to ensure accountability.
The Road Ahead
Next time, we’ll move into step four, where I'll walk you through managing your projects in Trello. It's a fantastic tool for keeping projects visual and collaborative. But we’ll save the nitty-gritty details for after Thanksgiving.
Resources Mentioned
Matt Wallaert Start at the End | Amazon
Peter Attia Outlive | Amazon
Luke Simmon’s Communication Guidelines | Twitter/X
Episodes Mentioned
Using Canva Better | PP97
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