Myth: Loser Projects are for Losers

Losing Project – the Perfect Place to Advance Your Career?

Work smart......or Perish.

Every company, at least in one point of its existence, has had that black hole of a project or contract that seems to suck all profits and resources out of the company, or at the very mention of its name, people wince and say thank heavens they weren’t assigned to that crappy project!

Well, I want you to think about the promising possibilities of being on that project.  Yes, you read that correctly, the PROMISING possibilities. What is the worst that can happen when you put yourself into a “no win” scenario? You meet your expectation and don’t win? Well the opposite can be true, and show your true value and potential to your company.  Here are a few thoughts on volunteering or being “stuck” managing a losing project…….

Unpopular projects or projects with bad track records and reputations can be a good place to demonstrate your abilities an offer a platform for career advancement.

• Know the best case  / worst case scenarios, and present them to the senior management prior to starting the project.  Let them know that you will do everything possible to achieve the best case scenario, but under the circumstances you are starting with a handicap and it will be a challenge to overcome.
• Tout the small improvements or accomplishments early and often, and the set backs even earlier and more often! A losing project will not promote itself or even draw even the least bit of favorable attention, so you must be willing to do it.  Weekly status reports may be the answer.  If they are already being done, maybe daily recaps are needed.  Bottom line, you must promote your accomplishments or else they will be lost.
• Advancement opportunity: Have you bees assistant team lead on projects and jsut can’t catch a break to run your own project?  Well this type of project doesn’t have a lot of competition to run, so it may be the shot you are looking for to prove your abilities and get that Project Manager title, or lead team member status. If there is little competition, and the rationale is that no one wants the project, you can step up as the “team” player, and let management know you are serious about your career.
• Focus on the job, not the results.  If the project is a losing effort, you obviously cannot point to its profitability or other success measures to quantify your efforts.  However, you can measure your success by the improvements you make.  Maybe you make it less unprofitable, or bring in more team members as you increase project morale.  Or maybe it is in the way that you improve communications amongst the team, clients, or participants that gets noticed.  You need to find that special factor that you do well and promote that fact.

Caution: Do not fall victim of being the scape goat! As a new manager or even as an experienced one, if you take on a losing project to demonstrate your company loyalty and ambition, be careful not to get blamed for the project’s poor or unprofitable outcome.  Sad to say, but plenty of people above you will shift blame if they get backed into a corner, and you need to be able to defend yourself. The best way to do this is through proper communications, frequent status reports, and organized documentation.

Summary: Overall, unpopular projects or projects with bad track records can be a good place to demonstrate your abilities an offer a platform for career advancement.  You must be willing and able to do the work, and avoid the pitfalls associated with the project, but this can be done relatively easily through proper communications and self promotion.  If you are looking for opportunities, do not rule out any project based on its reputation,  as the worst project available, may just provide the best opportunity for you in the long run.

Until the next post, keep your eyes out for the next promotion opportuniy, no one else is looking for it for you! The Corporate Sleuth