Could this project succeed without you?
One of the requirements for Eagle Project planning is that Scouts should have their project so well planned that if they got sick and couldn’t attend and lead their own work days, it would still go off without a problem. It requires anticipation, clarity of vision, and extra effort.
It’s almost impossible for teenagers to do this effectively, but then again, I think it’s pretty tough as an adult, too!
Only rarely do I feel like I could disappear on a concert day without the music-making suffering. Only rarely is everything in my head in writing, so that I could pass it off to someone else. In short: only rarely am I not essential to the success of the projects I’m working on.
And yet, that is the goal. I seek to get better at this with three strategies.
- Rehearse without me, so that if I’m not there, my students have a strategy.
- Communicate the plan in advance, so that even if I’m not around, the people I’m leading know what to do.
- Write Down all the details, so that anyone can reference and take the next step.
I’m usually in control of my presence on my projects – usually, but not always. Taking these steps ensures that those I lead have a chance to succeed if I get sick, stuck in traffic, or am otherwise incapacitated.
How do you prepare for your unlikely absence? Is it worth the extra effort?