Running like a theatre

Complex systems and projects work very much like the theatre.

A metaphor I learned from a friend over lunch, she explained how there are so many different parts running at the same time in both fields, from professionals preparing the work, uniforms and costumes, backdrops and processes, music orchestra and running timelines, lighting, stage preparation and presentations. The list goes on.

For when the curtains open, everything needs to be running in-sync at the Exact. Same. Minute.

Try this experiment and compare one of your projects to theatre work. List the different layers to be designed and orchestrated, make sure the team is experienced, and prepared, and have access to all the needed materials. Design touch points at specific intervals to make sure you’re running progress with each other and ready when the curtains go up. Rehearse the music with the actors, the costumes with stage design and the logistics of getting people and things in and out as smoothly as possible.

What if your next training was from a theatre production company rather than a project management company?

so what you work in a financial industry?

So what if your construction industry does things differently.

Try it and see what happens. You will surely bring delight and you might just be amazed.