PMcrunch

Whatever kind of project we are working on, there is a good chance that there is a "thought-leader" somewhere. There could be a thought-leader related to design, related to problem set, or related in some way to the opportunity that the project represents.

Thought-leaders, even if they are completely detached from the project, outside of the organization, and maybe even deceased, actually provide a tremendous ally to us if we know how to leverage them. Earl Nightingale claims to have invented his own personal board of directors from great thought-leader such as Thomas Edison many years ago. He actually, in his imagination, obtained input from these leaders in their various areas for his own activities through researching, accessing writings, applying thoughts directly, and even imagining what a particular thought-leader might say to us or do in a particular situation. This is a unique way of leveraging the thought-leader as a stakeholder.

All projects involve problem solving. Why not try to identify who the key problem solvers might be in your realm of activity? What would they say about how to solve your problem? What have they written or said? What have they done in action in similar situations? Is there a way you might even talk with a thought-leader and actually obtain direct input?

This may seem a little out of the ordinary but it also seems like a creative idea that has some potential. it takes us out of the usual box and into a realm where creative thinking can come up with creative solutions. Learn to leverage thought-leaders on you project.

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John Reiling, PMP
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