Made to Stick
It is a delight to me when I discover that the knowledge available to humanity can be applied across disciplines.
The book Made to Stick, which I am currently reading, is meant to be used as a guideline, without any particular discipline, but only communication and retention.
One day I was driving to work and realized that these ideas could and should be applied to project status meetings. You will usually highlight certain points with the others in the room, whether they are the sponsor, project team, customer, or other members. Different ideas may be more effective for different groups. This book will help you craft and present ideas that make them stick.
Let’s say that you have a risk in your project that you think could be a major issue. You are asking your sponsor for their help in preparing for it. If this is the most pressing issue that your sponsor needs to address, you want them to remember it and to make it a central thought as they leave the meeting. When they think about your project, they should also associate it with the risk they need to take on.
Okay, now you’re holding a status meeting. You will review the progress made over the past period, discuss what is happening now, and discuss future plans. Make sure everyone is aware of potential risks that could affect their work. This is a chance to acknowledge people for their achievements. It would be helpful if they remember that “this project manger appreciates our efforts, and recognizes them for it”. You might also want to identify key milestones and risks that everyone should be aware of so you are notified as soon as possible if anything happens.
It doesn’t matter how many examples you come up with, but it is important to know how you craft and present your message. The book contains many helpful techniques, including those that relate to the content of your message, associations, and other principles.