When Changes Pop Up

When you’re working toward something important, changes always pop up. A new idea. An unexpected problem. A new technology.

Some changes must be dealt with. Some don’t. Because a change can shift resource requirements, delay the finish line, or crowd out something already planned, think it through before saying yes.

Try this

Before deciding to make a change, ask two questions:

• Does it have to happen? Is it necessary for safety, legality, a commitment, or successful completion?
• Is it realistic and doable? Can you absorb the change with your current time and resources, or can you get the extra time and resources needed?

Example

A team planning a community event kept saying yes to “small” changes, including a raffle, a photo booth, and a local sponsor’s banner. Each one seemed minor. Together, they added five hours of setup and two more volunteers they didn’t have. When they started asking “does this have to happen,” most of the changes didn’t.

From PMEZ’s FINISH LINE approach