Admit it, business is crazy, it’s easy to get swept away by a whirlwind of projects. Everyone starts out so excited.  “Best thing since sliced bread!” they claim.  It will only cost this much and here are the ‘never-changing requirements’!  Budgets creep, features grow, the market changes and before you know it, “Dammit Jim!” you’re neck-deep in a project that feels about as relevant to the company’s goals as Elmo at a Sweet-16 party.

What is worse than working on a project that no one seems to care about or no one seems to know how it will benefit the company?  How do you feel as a CFO watching funds gobbled up by someone’s ‘pet project’ when the company is struggling to meet its strategic goals?  Sound familiar? Well, your company isn’t the only one doing this. Today, we’re embarking on a mission to boldly align your projects with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring your work sets the course for success, not a galactic disaster.

Align or Drift? Buckle Up, It’s Logical.

Imagine you’re building a spaceship. You wouldn’t haphazardly throw on engines, thrusters, and a disco ball all willy-nilly, right? Of course not! You’d have a blueprint, a clear vision of what the ship needs to achieve (and the best area to put the disco ball so maneuvering through an asteroid belt doesn’t cause unwarranted injuries). The same goes for projects. Aligning them with the company’s strategic goals is your blueprint, ensuring everything contributes to a unified mission.  This is key.  The more people working on moving the ship in the same direction increases the chances of the ship arriving at its destination.

You’re Only Competing Against Yourself

Who ensures project alignment? It depends on the size and structure of your organization.  I would say that responsibility falls on the shoulders of the management team who sets the strategy or the management team tasked with carrying out the strategy.  Don’t expect it to rest solely on the project manager’s shoulders.  In some organizations, the PMO or another entity might select and approve projects.  A best practice: review, prioritize, and select projects based on their strategic alignment. Afterall, a company’s corporate strategy unfolds through projects.

Benefits Galore, Beam Me Up Scotty!

So, what are the perks of this interstellar alignment?

• Clarity and Focus: No more swirling around the galactic nebula of confusion. Everyone knows the “why” behind their work, boosting morale and efficiency.
• Resource Savvy: No more resource black holes! Aligning projects ensures precious time, money, and talent go towards initiatives that truly matter, at the right time.
• Impactful Outcomes: Your projects become laser-focused on achieving the company’s goals, leading to tangible results that make a real difference at the right time.  Can you say, “Mission Accomplished”?
• Happy Crew, Happy Mission: When everyone understands the bigger picture and sees their work contributing to it, job satisfaction soars. Think “galactic high fives” all around!

Charting the Course: Engage Warp Drive!

Here’s how to get your projects in sync:

• Define the Strategic Universe: Map out the company’s strategic goals: the big wins they’re aiming for. Identify which projects will take you there and which will lead you astray. Guess which ones take priority?
• Communicate Like a Starship Captain: Clearly articulate the corporate strategy so everyone can determine how their projects align with the goals. Use simple language, avoid jargon, and make it relevant to everyone. Keep in mind, while projects not directly supporting the strategy may exist, those aligned should be prioritized.
• Regular Check-Ins: Don’t drift off course! Regularly assess if your project is still aligned with the goals. As life continues to life, things in our world are changing faster than ever.  It is not unheard of for an organization to have to change course and revisit their goals.  Be flexible and adapt when needed.
• Celebrate Victories: Reaching milestones that contribute to the bigger picture deserves recognition! Celebrate successes to keep everyone motivated.  (Disco ball deployment optional, but encouraged!)

Aligning projects isn’t about rigid control, it’s about creating a shared vision within your organization and empowering everyone to work together to achieve it. A PMO can be helpful, (or not, I know “PMO” is a trigger for some.)  but there’s no pressure.  Just select your projects wisely. With open communication, flexibility, and an eye on the future, you can ensure your projects propel the company towards its ultimate destination: success!