People in Projects

Businesses love projects for their well-defined responsibilities, budgets, and decision points. People tend to have a more complicated view on the subject, largely based on personal experience. The word "project" in a professional setting invariably becomes weighted based on business culture. By strict definition a project is relatively benign: any unique and temporary task, be it personal or professional.

Due to this temporary nature, it can be tempting in professional life to "stick it out" until completion of a project. Many people are assigned to teams and put under intense pressure only to return to their more "relaxing" regular duties once the project is complete. This can enable a culture of unsustainable effort in a project environment and relying on recovery from the effort later. Team members who spend all their time on projects and cannot afford this recovery period are especially vulnerable. This is a deeply important lesson for people switching from working on projects to working in projects. 

A sustainable project culture stresses the need to focus on enjoying tasks that energize you and using that to fuel your more pedestrian efforts. Trying to use the same strategy at work as feeding a toddler may seem quaint in our data-obsessed age, but can be an effective reminder to cater to the human element in organizations and yourself. 

The idea that working hard in projects for a short term will lead to a more comfortable equilibrium later can be a tempting mirage. Generally, as your knowledge, skills, and compensation are increasing your responsibilities will continue apace. It's important not to chase a promotion assuming it will lighten your workload. Instead, focus on developing skills that make you better able to manage an increased workload.

Projects fail often, frequently for reasons beyond your control. You need to find value in the work itself rather than strictly the outcomes. With this attitude, there is no discouraging "wasted" effort on failed projects. Just another in a long string of opportunities to learn.