Stick to the Plan: Why Changing Course Midstream Can Be Costly
Have you ever found yourself deviating from a plan midway through a project? It can be tempting to change course when things aren’t going as planned. However, doing so can lead to more significant problems, and it can be costly in many ways. In this article, we’ll delve into why sticking to the plan is crucial, why changing course midstream can be costly, and how you can avoid it.
Why Stick to the Plan?
The purpose of creating a plan is to provide a roadmap for achieving your goals. It outlines the steps that you need to take, the resources required, and the timeline for each step. Without a plan, it’s hard to know what you need to do to get from point A to point B. Moreover, if you don’t know what you’re trying to achieve, you won’t have clear goals to work towards.
Sticking to a plan can have many benefits. For instance:
- It Improves Efficiency
A well-planned project can lead to increased efficiency. When you have a roadmap, you know what needs to be done and in what order. This knowledge enables you to allocate resources accordingly, manage time effectively and avoid duplicated efforts, leading to better use of resources. - It Enhances Communication
In a team setting, sticking to a plan can enhance clear lines of communication. When everyone is on the same page, it is easier to understand where the project is, what tasks are due, and how it is progressing. This understanding can help the team to work together in a better way, to identify potential issues, and to proactively implement solutions. - It Allows for Proper Budgeting
When you have a plan, you can anticipate the resources you will require, materials you will need, and what manpower you will need at each stage of the project. You can budget accordingly, which will prevent you from overspending and from trying to source funds midstream. - It Provides A Clear Set of Goals
Having a plan provides a clear set of goals for each stage of the project. A clear set of goals directs the team, enabling the workers to focus their efforts on specific aspects of the project, making it much easier to monitor progress. Also, having goals keeps everyone aligned, motivated, and fosters a sense of responsibility towards achieving the end result.
The Costs of Changing Course Midstream
With all of the benefits of sticking to the plan, why do people still change course midstream? Here are some reasons:
- Unrealistic Expectations
One of the reasons why people change course midway through a project is that they have unrealistic expectations. Often, you may have underestimated the resources or the time requirements for the project. These unrealistic expectations can make it hard to stick to the plan because you underestimated the work or amount of resources required for completion. - Poor Planning
Poor planning can be a significant challenge to sticking to the plan. You may have left out important details, or your plan could have been too vague. Inadequate planning can lead to confusion in execution, which may prompt you to change course midstream to get back on track. - Difficulty in Execution
Sometimes executing a plan can be tougher than you expect. You may encounter unexpected challenges or obstacles that require you to adjust the plan. However, not knowing how to surmount these challenges is precisely why it is essential to have a plan in the first place. - Lack of Perseverance
Changing course midstream requires a lot of perseverance, both from yourself and your team. Often, this is because you may feel like you’re not making progress or may face difficult, time-consuming tasks. In these cases, it may be easier to pivot in a different direction to recoup some progress on the project.
Regardless of the reason, when you change course midstream, there can be many costs:
- Financial Costs
One of the most significant costs of changing course midway through a project is financial. If you decide to adjust your project halfway through, it can lead to more significant resource and equipment allocation, which translates to more significant financial costs. The cost of restarting things from an entirely new direction will be significantly higher than just sticking to the plan. - Loss of Time
Changing course midway through a project can cost time. Typically, you will have to re-start from zero, which can be a significant challenge and time-consuming. This process will prevent you from making progress towards your goals, leading to delays and possible drop in quality. - Team Demotivation
Changing course midstream can lead to team demotivation. Your team will question why you changed direction, leading them to doubt your ability and possibly lose confidence in your leadership. This mistrust can lead to collaboration breakdowns, loss of motivation, and lessened productivity. - Lost Opportunities
Opportunities are sometimes lost when you change course midway through a project. Depending on how much progress you’ve made towards the goal, you might miss out on opportunities opening up. Changing course could mean a radical change of focus that might become out of step with trends and current demands, leading to a loss in potential revenue and declining viability of the project.
How to Avoid Changing Course Midstream
Before you embark on any project, proper planning is essential. Here are a few tips for avoiding changes midway through:
- Define Realistic Expectations
One of the most important things you can do when planning your project is to define realistic expectations. Starting your project with a clear understanding of its goals is key. Defining your milestones and targets will enable you to set achievable benchmarks to see progress, which is crucial in achieving your goal. By being realistic, you will be able to allocate the necessary resources while enabling your team to achieve project goals with fewer obstacles. - Plan Carefully
Creating a proper plan provides a roadmap to reaching your goals. When planning, it is essential to understand every step of the project, highlight potential bottlenecks, and draft alternative solutions beforehand. This process will lower the risks of delays and new challenges along the way, enabling you to stay the course. Do not narrow your focus by basing your plan on existing frameworks or templates; instead, tailor it to your specific project. - Stay Focused
When executing your plan, it’s important to stay focused on each step. By dedicating your resources to the project, it shows your commitment to the success of the project. Stay aware of the goals and objectives of the project, prioritizing the milestones and deadlines to make it a success. Remember, the plan might shift slightly, but you can always adjust that within the timeline of the project. - Embrace Perseverance
Once you’ve started your project, you may face numerous challenges, but give up not, embrace perseverance. Consistently and diligently working on the project will help you stay motivated and boost self-motivation. Having regular check-ins with the project team will keep everyone in line. Moreover, the perseverance you build in seeing things through is critical in most aspects of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is crucial to stick to the plan when working on a project. Changing course midway can lead to increased costs, loss of time, team demotivation, and lost opportunities that can ultimately lead to failure. However, by developing realistic expectations, carefully planning, staying focused, and embracing perseverance, you can avoid changing course midstream and keep your project on track. Remember, it’s alright if you have to adjust, just ensure it is within the timeline’s scope and not a complete overhaul. Ultimately, the success of the project will depend on the steps you take and how well you cope with the challenges you face.