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Hi Reader,

Are you a planner? If not, no worries—we’ve got your back.

I’m always amazed by how many people struggle with planning. It’s not a bad thing—thinking ahead just isn’t everyone’s superpower.

A good project manager friend

I have a new-ish friend who can barely keep track of what she needs to do in the next hour, let alone navigate the entire month. She’s constantly asking me, “Wait, what are we supposed to do next?”

For example, if we’re going on a day trip together, she’s always scrambling at the last minute, and chaos usually follows.

But hey, that’s perfectly okay—that’s why she keeps a good project manager friend like me around. I help her sort out her next steps, and occasionally her whole life plan.

House build gone bad

This same friend decided to build her own small house a few years ago. The house is built and she’s living in it, but it went way over budget and has ongoing issues. The contractor who built the house was insistent he would build it exactly to her specifications.

One of the warning signs that things weren’t going smoothly was when, during an important work meeting, she was interrupted by the contractor with bad news: the accessible bathroom she’d planned couldn’t be built after all, and she had to make a snap decision to change the design.

Next, she found out the bedroom couldn’t be enclosed and would be a loft instead. Then, the deck had to be moved to the opposite side of the property. And the surprises just kept coming.

Even after living in the house for some time, she’s still dealing with ongoing issues from all the last-minute design changes.

The biggest headache of all? A leaking basement—a true homeowner’s nightmare.

Prevent leaky basements

What if I had been there to help her through those tough conversations with contractors who didn’t understand her vision? They claimed they did, but kept doing things their own way and cutting corners, instead of taking a little extra time to confirm her specifications and plan around it.

It's very possible she might not be dealing with a leaky basement right now.

Leaky basements in companies

I have a project manager colleague facing a similar situation right now. Their company has a major project underway, but they’re trying to cut corners right from the start during the requirements gathering and scoping phase.

And their vendor management process? It’s non-existent.

Businesses face this challenge all the time—with both their teams and their vendors. Project management isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about thoughtful planning, which means investing a little extra time upfront.

This part can really make executives nervous—just hearing the word “planning” seems to send shivers down their spines!

But skipping proper planning might save a little time or money in the beginning, only for bigger (and more expensive) problems to pop up later—kind of like discovering a leaky basement after you’ve moved in.

I think we all know, leaky basements can cost a LOT of money to clean up.

Underplanning vs overplanning

There’s a fine line between underplanning and overplanning. Some project managers go overboard, while practical ones find the sweet spot. Practical PMs know when it’s time to plan and when it’s time to dive in and get started.

Many leaders struggle with knowing when to bring in the right people and which roles they actually need. I wanted to talk about resourcing and roles this week, but—ironically—I got sidetracked by talking about not planning ahead.

So, next week’s topic will be all about how to resource effectively and choose the right roles at the right time. Stay tuned!

How to prevent a leaky basement

To avoid leaky basements after move in, our Pick Our PM Brain session is made for you.

For $250, get a focused 60-minute strategy call with a senior project manager. We'll:

• Clarify your requirements
• Confirm your next action steps
• Suggest a high level plan

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