Project Completion

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Project Completion

Significant events have rousing conclusions. Symphonies, fireworks displays, and mystery novels all end spectacularly, signifying a clear, definable, and absolute finish. Projects, particularly those that are intense or that demand extreme effort, are significant events in the lives of all the team members. They require, no less than does a concert, a sense of finality and a celebration of achievement.

Most projects fizzle out. Even the successful ones wind down slowly as the level of work tapers off, until one day only a handful of people are left to wrap things up. Those who leave before the end of the project are removed from the team and transplanted elsewhere while the work to which they have committed themselves is still in progress. These people need a distinct point of transition and closure.

Some project managers attempt to bring the team together when the project is over. But the spirit and the chemistry are not the same. The people are now involved in different projects, and you will not be able to reconstruct the atmosphere of your project. It might be nice to get together, but it will be a reunion, not a celebration.

Therefore, celebrate the milestones. In particular, schedule a celebration for the completion of the point when many of your people will be dispersing. For example, once the development work is done and only the integration team will be left, hold a party. Call for nominations for the person who overcame the toughest problem, who showed the most tact, who was the best dresser, who maintained the best humor, who was most helpful, who bought the most muffins. Make sure that you let people know how proud you are of them. List and extol their achievements. Present them with project mementos such as T-shirts or pens with the project logo.

You may argue, "How can we celebrate when the project is not over? We still need to complete integration and implementation."

Project Completion

Significant events have rousing conclusions. Symphonies, fireworks displays, and mystery novels all end spectacularly, signifying a clear, definable, and absolute finish. Projects, particularly those that are intense or that demand extreme effort, are significant events in the lives of all the team members. They require, no less than does a concert, a sense of finality and a celebration of achievement.

Most projects fizzle out. Even the successful ones wind down slowly as the level of work tapers off, until one day only a handful of people are left to wrap things up. Those who leave before the end of the project are removed from the team and transplanted elsewhere while the work to which they have committed themselves is still in progress. These people need a distinct point of transition and closure.

Some project managers attempt to bring the team together when the project is over. But the spirit and the chemistry are not the same. The people are now involved in different projects, and you will not be able to reconstruct the atmosphere of your project. It might be nice to get together, but it will be a reunion, not a celebration.

Therefore, celebrate the milestones. In particular, schedule a celebration for the completion of the point when many of your people will be dispersing. For example, once the development work is done and only the integration team will be left, hold a party. Call for nominations for the person who overcame the toughest problem, who showed the most tact, who was the best dresser, who maintained the best humor, who was most helpful, who bought the most muffins. Make sure that you let people know how proud you are of them. List and extol their achievements. Present them with project mementos such as T-shirts or pens with the project logo.

You may argue, "How can we celebrate when the project is not over? We still need to complete integration and implementation."

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