LEADERSHIP

12 • LEADERSHIP
milestone, and objective levels. Clearly, if you intend to be
successful, you need to thoroughly understand what needs to
be done, who will do it, and when it will be completed. Like it
or not, projects and initiatives are team sports.
Even the simplest of projects must fit into a larger, more
complex universe of organizational needs, stakeholder expectations,
and workplace considerations. No one succeeds
alone—even superheroes do better with a team. The plan not
only provides a common reference for communicating who
does what when; planning itself is leadership.
Everyday superheroes use the planning process to bring people together,
stimulate collaboration, build engagement, and deepen
their buy-in and commitment. Planning is a prime opportunity to
build a sense of shared purpose, create positive interdependence,
and harvest the wisdom of your colleagues.
And because we don't live in a perfect world, I'd be remiss
if I didn't call your attention to the dark side. Beware! If you
can’t engage your team—or a particular team member—in the
planning process, don't expect attitudes to magically change
when it's time to get to work. Anyone’s unwillingness or inability
to participate in the planning process is a sign you cannot
afford to ignore. Action heroes don't hide and watch, wait
and hope ... they act! Moreover, they act sooner than most
everyone else. Everyday superheroes remain vigilant, ready to
spring into action at the first sign of trouble—while there's still
time to do some good.
3. Plan to Maneuver. Have you ever seen a perfect project?
I certainly haven't. Regardless of the size, simplicity, or
seemingly risk-free plan of attack, stuff happens. Late deliveries,
competing priorities, disruptive events, overwhelming
workloads, and brain-dead colleagues can turn what should be