Quick wins are based on SPM’s years of experience working in client environments on large, challenging strategic initiatives, lessons learned and applied, and our knowledge network of right practices. While we recognize one size does not fit all this list of quick wins have been proven to make the difference in achieving results.  Consider one or more of these recommended ways to advance towards a successful initiative delivery.

1. Ensure a working communications strategy is in place. Building a communications strategy and making it part of managing the initiative will improve your chances of keeping everyone informed, involved and accountable.
    
2. Build a strong team by having the right people in the right roles. By assessing individual work styles and approaches to such issues as problem solving and decision making the team has a better chance of becoming a high performing engine for the initiative. While we don’t always get to choose who is on the team, creating team synergy is critical to how well the team will work together to get the work done.  
    
3. Take the pulse of your initiative to confirm it is on track. 70% of struggling initiatives that conduct a health check and apply the recommendations recover successfully. Conducting an objective, third party health check at any stage of an initiative provides an opportunity to confirm not just use of best practice processes but also how they are being applied.  
    
4. Plan the work, work the plan. An effective plan reduces risk, effort , and creates confidence. If you don’t know where you are going, how to get there, and with whom, it is very difficult to know if you will be successful. Often we try to hurry up without knowing whether there is enough time, resources and the right scope of work.  
    
5. Manage sponsor expectations. A project is complete when the sponsor’s expectations are met. Understanding the sponsor’s goals, view of the objectives, what they see as risks, issues, and how they want you to work with them are all critical components of successfully managing an initiative.  
    
6. Risk Management that also considers business risk. Take time to identify and assess large scope issues such as business risk which is beyond the usual view taken by project managers. Create project and business risk contingency and mitigation strategies in order to maintain the speed and agility. Understanding the risk tolerance levels of the sponsor and key stakeholders will assist in identifying potential barriers an initiative may face now or in the future.

Do any of these quick win approaches resonate with you and your initiatives? Would you like to learn more about how to apply these? Contact us to find out how we can help.