Is Patience a Virtue?

What do you do when a project is stalled or delayed? I know what I do; I keep trying to find a way to make it to the next milestone or goal. I keep my head down and try to be creative. So my question, when is patience a virtue and when is it a way to avoid the truth of the matter?

Reassessing the timeline for a project and making the necessary changes is one way of working through delays, but on the other hand, am I just trying to get by? For me I am sometimes so committed to the "doing" of the project that I miss out on what the intention of the project is. Here is a simple example: I am helping my aged parents clean out a room that was used as an office. When I started this project, my stated goal was to provide space for my father to work in as well as a guest room for future nurses or relatives visiting. I thought it would take 2 weeks. My first milestone was completed yesterday, after one month of sorting. I have made it around the perimeter of the room in a first sweep. I have reassessed this project and have made room for the fact that this will take more time than previously allotted. I have altered the milestones, and have allowed time for issues that will come up that I am not currently aware of. I have however not changed the objectives.

In this case patience has been a virtue, and although I do not have unlimited time, I can extend the timeline. There are precious items hidden in and amongst the old Christmas cards and detritus in the room. There are family stories here. What if instead of this example I was working on a project where the timeline was so incredibly incorrect? What if I realized that the project was going to be a failure, based on these conditions? What if my job was on the line? For me part of every project that I participate in has my own criteria, and my own version of integrity. So despite the possibility that I may loose out personally I think it is important to call a spade a spade, state the breakdown and take it as an opportunity to re-invent the project or shut it down.

Creating space for Project Management in the Arts

Working with artists and bringing project management rigor to their work is like herding cats. Being a PM is like that anyway, but when you bring together a creative team dedicated to listening to their feelings and try to put it into a logical sequence so they can get to where they want to go...well you get the point.

One of the problems I have come across have been working with folks who don't want "the man" to undermine their artistic integrity. Conversely they have goals and dreams unachievable without some kind of structure. So how to create a balance? Really they have gotten to the place they are by listening to themselves using guts and intuition.

It is in the listening that a Project Manager brings to the artists. This is not just hearing what is being said, but really hearing sometimes underneath all the noise what is truly needed and wanted.