How do you influence project outcomes?

1 Understand the project context

The first step to influence project outcomes is to understand the project context. This means knowing the purpose, scope, requirements, constraints, risks, and assumptions of your project. It also means understanding the expectations, needs, and interests of your project sponsor, customer, team, and other stakeholders. By having a clear and comprehensive picture of the project context, you can align your actions and decisions with the project vision and strategy, and identify opportunities and challenges to improve project performance.

2 Communicate effectively

The second step to influence project outcomes is to communicate effectively. Communication is essential for building trust, rapport, and collaboration among your project team and stakeholders. As a project coordinator, you need to communicate clearly, concisely, and consistently about the project status, progress, issues, and changes. You also need to listen actively, empathize, and provide feedback to your project team and stakeholders. By communicating effectively, you can foster a positive and productive project environment, and resolve conflicts and misunderstandings before they escalate.

3 Be proactive and flexible

The third step to influence project outcomes is to be proactive and flexible. Projects are dynamic and complex, and often face changes, uncertainties, and challenges. As a project coordinator, you need to anticipate and plan for potential risks and issues, and take preventive and corrective actions to mitigate them. You also need to adapt to changing circumstances and requirements, and adjust your plans and priorities accordingly. By being proactive and flexible, you can minimize the negative impacts of project changes, and seize opportunities to enhance project value and quality.

4 Collaborate and cooperate

The fourth step to influence project outcomes is to collaborate and cooperate. Projects are not done in isolation, but in coordination and cooperation with other people and organizations. As a project coordinator, you need to establish and maintain good working relationships with your project team and stakeholders. You also need to support and empower your project team members, and leverage their skills, expertise, and contributions. By collaborating and cooperating, you can create a sense of shared ownership and accountability for the project outcomes, and achieve better results.

5 Learn and improve

The fifth step to influence project outcomes is to learn and improve. Projects are not only a means to an end, but also a source of learning and improvement. As a project coordinator, you need to monitor and evaluate your project performance, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your project processes and practices. You also need to seek and apply feedback, lessons learned, and best practices from your project team, stakeholders, and other sources. By learning and improving, you can enhance your skills, knowledge, and competencies as a project coordinator, and increase your effectiveness and efficiency in future projects.

6 Demonstrate leadership

The sixth step to influence project outcomes is to demonstrate leadership. Leadership is not a position or a title, but a behavior and an attitude. As a project coordinator, you need to demonstrate leadership by setting an example, inspiring and motivating others, taking initiative and responsibility, solving problems creatively, and delivering results. By demonstrating leadership, you can influence project outcomes by creating a positive impact on your project team, stakeholders, and organization.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?