You just got the outlook message. You’re part of a new project team. Only thing is, you’re not totally sure what the focus of the team is and what the deliverables are.

Sound familiar?

But here’s what you are sure of:

• Everything about this project is hush-hush
• Some of the people involved have been at it for ages…and they all look burnt out
• You’re not sure about the scope but it’s huge

And here’s the other thing you know for sure:

At some moment, the date and time will be declared. And it will be like flipping a switch. The expectation will be that everything on the project should be ready to go–overnight.

That moment will come. It will be time to rock and roll. Then, all the planning, discussing, alternatives and nice to haves will fall by the wayside. And you’ll have to al put in overtime, nights and weekends to make sure that it goes off without a hitch. Without skipping a beat.

So, what can you do to get ready for the inevitable?

Follow this basic sequence and you’ll be on track to ‘go’ when you get the green light.

Start with the end in mind
Identify clear project outcomes right at the beginning. Be specific. Who does what…by when.

Get it in writing
The biggest cause of project failure is that the scope increases. You know this from personal experience. You’re just about to finish a project and then you decide you need to add photos, change the order of information or write an additional report.

Whoops…you’ve just expanded the scope. If there are 10 people on your project team…imagine the nightmare if everyone does this!
Define the scope in writing and stick to it.

Find out what sponsors really want
Use visual storyboards to map out and diagram specific outcomes, benefits and tangible results. Do this upfront.

It’s a gut-wrenching moment if you wait until you are halfway done to find out what all the sponsors and stakeholders truly want.

Set Up A Strategic War Room
The fastest and easiest way to manage a project and work with all these changing elements is to set up a command center. Many project teams call this a War Room.

But if that’s too militaristic for your taste, call it a planning room. Get all the pieces up on the wall. Use the charts and maps to refine plans, make smart decision and tell the story.

Tell the Same Story
With the storyboards on the wall in your War Room, you’re making it easy to innovate, decide, refine and communicate. Tell the same story to internal teams, departments, vendors and customers.

To find out the quickest and easiest way to successfully take your project from start to finish–use the step-by-step proven process.
It’s covered in detail and FREE in The War room Report.

Let me know how that helps your project planning and project/product launch.