What happens after you win?

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Have You Prepared for Success?

So, you’ve…

  • kicked off your project
  • documented its initiation
  • onboarded key stakeholders
  • assessed risks and locked in a schedule.

But have you prepared for success?

"Success?" you ask. "Surely, if we're successful, we just ride off into the sunset, high-fiving each other while basking in the admiration of our colleagues and clients!" (Actual quote.)

Well, not quite. Success can be more complicated than you think—and if you don’t plan for it, it might just catch you off guard.

Let’s explore a few scenarios:

1. You’re Well Within Budget (Yes, It Happens!)

You’ve been tracking costs like a hawk, and you know your budget indicator will be green. But have you thought about how—and when—you’ll communicate that?

Tell the wrong people at the wrong time, and suddenly, finance may see an opportunity to adjust your baseline, reallocate funds, or introduce unexpected scope changes. Success needs strategy, even in communication.

2. You Delivered Exactly What Was Promised

Hooray! The project is complete, the solution works perfectly, and everything is as spec’d. But did stakeholders truly grasp the full impact of what you were delivering?

Take Nissan’s 2011 award-winning ads. They portrayed their truck saving a passenger plane from crashing on landing. They were made in a documentary style and were beautifully produced, but they were so realistic that some viewers mistook them for real news footage.

The result? A backlash, accusations of deception, and regulatory intervention. Sometimes, even when you deliver exactly as planned, the real-world response isn’t what you expect. Have you thought about that?

3. You’re Ahead of Schedule (A Rare but Welcome Surprise!)

Your team crushed it, and you’re wrapping up early. Now what?

Do you let them relax? Demobilize to save costs? Or tackle those “nice-to-haves” lingering at the bottom of your backlog? And how do you manage this without jeopardizing your secure win?

4. Your Program Is a Roaring Success—Now Everyone Wants In

Suddenly, stakeholders who were previously uninterested want to ‘get involved,’ ‘help with communications,’ or ‘allocate a little cost’ to your numbers. How do you handle this? What’s your party line?

5. Recognizing Those Who Got You There

Let’s be honest: as a PM, your success is built on the hard work of your team. Have you thought about how to ensure they get the recognition they deserve? Have you communicated their achievements effectively? Can you leverage this win for your wider team, portfolio, or organization?

6. The Best Gig Ever… Now What?

Your project was a triumph. But people’s memories are short. In a few weeks, it’ll be yesterday’s news. How do you capitalize on the goodwill before the moment fades? What’s your next move?

Plan for Success, Not Just Risks
As a seasoned professional, you expect to succeed. So while you’re busy planning for risks and issues, don’t forget to prepare for success, too. Because when it comes, you’ll want to make the most of it.

Location: Cambridge, UK

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