“When we finish the project, the new territory should be ours,” Lucy started. “The competitors will think twice about ignoring our expertise. The client should have a new-found respect for us.”
“Not bad, for starters,” I responded. “Try something different. Pretend the project is already finished. Close your eyes and visualize that we are one day beyond the closing date. Now open your eyes and describe it again.”
It took Lucy a moment to sink in. I could see her eyes blink hard as she moved into the future. “We have finished the project and the new territory is ours. The competitors cannot ignore our expertise in this marketplace. The client has a new-found respect for us.”
“What is different when you talk like that?”
“When I put myself in the future, all the problems that get in the way and slow us down are gone. All of the hurdles have vanished.”
The power of visualization, to a real time in the future, works to conquer more than problems. It conquers the fear and hesitation of moving forward.
I have tried this to achieve clarity: Write down how you want project sponsor to send out to everyone involved a note about the project and the results accomplished when the project has been completed as per plan. Highlight the results that were achieved and who made big contributions to the results. That brings so much clarity not just to the final goal but the means that are going to make it happen.