Expect the unexpected

Posted on March 18, 2024 by David Hopkins

No matter how much you plan you should always expect the unexpected.

No matter how well you think you’ve planned, life has a way of throwing curveballs. I’ve seen this time and again in my work – plans rarely roll out exactly as intended. There is always something that comes up to spoil your day.

You can’t know everything when you start planning. Things change: people get sick, priorities shift, new tools come into play, and sometimes you want to try out different methods. This is why being flexible is key. It’s not just about sticking to the plan; it’s about adjusting the plan as you go.

I’ve worked with some fantastic project managers who get this. They know that to keep a project on track, you sometimes have to bend the original plan. The only time I saw a project really struggle was when we couldn’t change anything – not the deadline, not the tools we were using, nothing. That rigidity didn’t serve us well.

So, the lesson here is to always make room for the unknown. It’s not just good advice for project management, but a good way to approach life in general. Be ready to adapt, and you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way.

Always leave room for the “unknown unknown’s“