A stage win instead of an endless loop

Every milestone counts: What project teams can learn from the Tour de France – guest article by Ralph Hubacher:

Can you imagine yourself competing in the Tour de France? Probably hardly. At least not in the role of a rider. If you work in projects, let this blog inspire you.

Admittedly, I’ve watched all the episodes of Tour de France unchained on Netflix. The two seasons may come across as sensational and emotionally charged, but there are professionals at work here. Not just the well-trained, tough athletes in the saddles, but also the Netflix film crew, who tell clever stories, stage them masterfully and give us a look behind the scenes.

A Tour de France team basically works according to the same principles as a project team in business. Both work towards a clear goal, must react flexibly to unforeseen events and are dependent on good co-operation. Sports director, sprinters, mountain specialists, masseurs, mechanics and much more… a team of specialists needs a clever distribution of roles. In one important and weighty point, however, business projects can take a leaf out of the book of sports teams.

While a Tour de France team celebrates after every stage, aka milestone – be it a stage win or a successful volunteer effort – many business project teams remain silent, even when they have done outstanding work. Successful projects are often taken for granted instead of being visibly recognised. This is a mistake and leads to demotivation in the medium and long term.

In order for excellent project work to be recognised not only internally but also externally, well thought-out communication is required. It should be clear, relevant and inspiring – but not artificially inflated. Not every story needs Hollywood glamour, but it shouldn’t be as soporific as a bedtime story either.

A cheerful greeting, Ralph Hubacher