Managing Projects like an Ironman: Lessons in endurance and collaboration

Hi, I'm Alberto Perez, a Venezuelan Digital Transformation Project Manager. I have a profound passion for innovation, and I'm thrilled to embark on this writing journey to share my life lessons, professional insights, and the constant learning I gain from podcasts, courses, readings, and conversations. Today, I'm excited to kick off this journey by talking about what triathlon Ironman 70.3 has taught me in my Project Management professional career - Both disciplines I love. Triathlon, a sport which helps me stay fit and healthy, while I indulge myself with good food and cooking, another passion I'm sure I will explore in a future article.

In the realm of athletic challenges, few accomplishments demand the resilience, determination, and endurance that the Ironman 70.3 triathlon does. Imagine swimming 1.2 miles, cycling 56 miles, and then finishing it with a 13.1-mile run, a half marathon—all in one go, I know, this is for crazy people. This ultimate test of physical courage is not for the faint of heart, but for those seeking the thrill of conquering their limits, it's a magnetic calling. The Ironman 70.3 race, a formidable fusion of endurance and resilience that tests how strong and determined people can be. Getting ready, it's a long journey that needs a lot of mental and physical work, imagine you trained between 6 months and a year, just to run a few hours. As Usain Bolt said: “I trained four years to run nine seconds, and people give up when they don't see results in two months”.?

Enough about the race, I feel that right now, you are thinking, why is this guy telling me this? Well, in my few years training and racing, I have been able to draw some parallels between project management and this sport. Personally, I think that both disciplines have a lot in common, but I would center this article around five points that are essential for managing your project like an Ironman.?

Setting the right goals and scope is extremely important for project management, it involves ensuring all of the required work and only the required work necessary to complete the project is accomplished. This group process is, in my opinion, one of the most important because it is where you establish all the process management plans. Here, you will spend most of your time, a common error is that project managers do not spend enough time planning. Any work that does not support the needs of the project is Out Of Scope and should not be performed. This concept seems obvious, but unfortunately only 29% of projects are completed successfully. This means 71% of projects either fail outright or are “challenged” - completed over budget, behind schedule, or deliver fewer features and functions than the Customer expected. One of the top factors why project failures is unclear statements of requirements. Imagine an athlete who doesn't set a training plan to finish an Ironman 70.3 event within specific goal time in each discipline.

Being disciplined while working on a project requires adherence to each step of project management: planning, consistently assigning tasks and ensuring that the project progresses according to the plan. It involves maintaining focus on project goals, timelines, and methodologies throughout the project lifecycle. Taking sufficient time for each project management step is crucial for ensuring project success. It's essential to recognize that not every project requires the same management style; some are more complicated than others. Therefore, it's crucial to be critical and define what works for your needs without turning methodologies into a straitjacket, which could lead to unnecessary bureaucracy rather than solving problems or improving specific aspects within a given timeframe. Consider, for instance, finishing an Ironman 70.3. Adhering to a training routine for at least 6 to 8 months, including swimming, cycling, running, and workout sessions, is necessary. Achieving this balance while working and spending time with family and friends requires discipline. This is equally vital in the business world, because it ensures efficient workflows, meets deadlines, and maximizes productivity, which are key elements for project success and client satisfaction.?

In project management, resilience is a critical capacity. It determines your ability to adapt to changes, address issues, and keep the project on course despite obstacles. Resilience is essentially about how you bounce back from setbacks or unforeseen challenges, showcasing your capacity to adjust to changes in project scope, requirements, or unexpected events. However, it's important to acknowledge that while projects may be beneficial for the organization, not every employee may perceive them in the same way. There might be resistance, particularly against cultural changes aimed at improvement. Don't worry, navigating these challenges can be tough, but I assure you, it's worth it. In Ironman 70.3, resilience becomes your best buddy. Imagine you're in the middle of training plan, and you need to adjust your plan due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. For instance, during the Ironman 70.3 Boulder, I faced a challenge when my bike gear broke down at mile 4 of a 56 miles hilly course. The frustration was real, but instead of giving up, I decided to find a solution: Manually setting my bike gear to a medium setting, I resolved to finish the race. And indeed, I did.

Michael Jordan, often called the greatest basketball player, emphasized the significance of his team in his success, living by the belief that 'Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.' This principle extends to project management, where team collaboration underscores the importance of effective communication and cooperation among team members, stakeholders, and possibly external partners. A cohesive team enhances efficiency and fosters innovation, serving as a critical determinant of project success. While the process of team collaboration may involve frustrations and energy from all parties involved, the rewards can be substantial. I believe there are three essential ingredients to a successful collaboration:

• Clarity: We need to be absolutely clear about the purpose, goals, and processes behind our work.
• Engagement: We need to be involved in work that is relevant, important, and absorbing.
• Alignment: We all need to be moving in the same direction.

Team collaboration is invaluable in Ironman 70.3 training. It provides motivation, knowledge sharing, and group dynamics for more engaging workouts. A supportive team offers emotional and logistical assistance, enhancing the overall triathlon experience.

At last, but not least, we have continuous improvement. I would say that this is important in Project Management, triathlon, work, in life and stop counting. In our main topic, project’s management, it involves an ongoing process of refining project methodologies, learning from past experiences, and implementing improvements. It ensures that the project team evolves and becomes more effective over time. This is where all the project management disciplines and abilities converge, where you take everything that you have done and learn from it. In other words, you conduct project retrospectives to learn from experiences and enhance future project processes, defining best practices to every part of the project management. For example, this could be defining a new way to? interact with a stakeholder or adding new AI project manager tools that you can use to maximize efficiency.

In conclusion, the parallels between Ironman 70.3 and project management reveal key principles for success. Setting clear goals, maintaining discipline, embracing resilience, fostering team collaboration, and committing to continuous improvement are essential for both endeavors. These principles, drawn from athletic and professional experiences, underscore the significance of adaptability, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence in achieving success. Ultimately, set ambitious goals, embrace challenges and enjoy the journey, have fun with your teammates during project execution, and celebrate every victory, no matter how small. This will provide the best motivation and strength for future endeavors, and the same holds true for triathlons.

I would like to remind you that projects are not sprints; they are more like marathons or long distance triathlons. To go the distance, it's essential to cultivate discipline during the planning phase for a successful execution. Enjoy the ride!