When you plan for “What Ifs” do you include the potential positive outcomes?
A special line in a budget
To manage a major facility project, I needed a detailed budget. It included amounts for design, construction, equipment, permits, and consultants. It also included a line called Contingency.
The banks lending the funds always wanted to see a large contingency, as it made them feel a little more assured that the project would be built without running out of money.
My clients often asked about the ‘health’ of the contingency as they too saw it as insurance to overcome problems and reach the finish line.
Part of my job was to identify what could go wrong
Part of my job as the project manager was to identify potential risks ahead and how much they could cost.
We might find something underground to remove. Or we might uncover hazardous materials to abate. And we might have unusually bad weather delays and need to pay overtime to catch up on the schedule.
But another part of my job was to identify a wishlist
Another part of my job as the project manager was to identify potential wishlist items.
As much as I needed to answer the “What if this goes wrong?” question, I also needed a plan to act when something went right.
When could we switch the order to the higher quality carpet? Or tack on more wireless hubs? Or incorporate public art?
Positives are equally plausible
I was often surrounded by people who considered the “contingency” budget only as a safety net in case of problems and emergencies.
But whenever I could remind them that it was equally plausible that it could fund upgrades and expansions, I felt we gained some more positive energy and excitement for the process and anticipation for opening day.
Exercise for perspective
So here’s an exercise to help you strengthen your perspective muscle:
- Today, identify something you are working on that you really care about. Maybe it’s an article or an event.
- Then, list the various What Ifs that are in your head. It may sound like: “What if I mess up? What if the tech doesn’t work?”
- Then review your list and add some more so there are at least as many equally plausible positive outcomes as negative ones. “What if I give the performance of my life? What if I get asked to write another one?”
- Through the week, watch for new potential outcomes to add to your list.
- At the end of the week, notice what was easy and what was hard, and how you feel about what you’re working on.
