When “The Fast and the Furious” first came out in 2001, no one could have imagined where it was headed. Each installment, seven to date, was a new project that required out-of-the box planning, car sequences that defied the laws of gravity and the bold project leadership of Dom Toretto, played by Vin Diesel.
Daredevil driving will rarely be the solution to your project management woes so instead of focusing on Dom’s mad driving skills, let’s take a look at how he managed the Fast Family through their adrenaline-packed adventures.
1. Be there for your team. Develop strong relationships and commitment by being a good team player and knowing when to step in to help your team members.
2. Don't dwell on the past. Whether you find yourself fretting about missing a project deadline or making a game-changing mistake, it's important that you take ownership of your actions and focus on improving the situation.
3. Stay focused. Dom lives his life "one quarter mile at a time." Concentration, whether it's a long stretch or focused in small bursts, is the key to getting work done in time.
4. Diverse teams are winning teams. The Fast Family is a perfect example of how maintaining a diverse team pays off. The ragtag crew is made up of wildly different backgrounds, and as a result, each member brings in a unique perspective.
5. Your family is everything. Whether it be your actual family related by blood, your best friends, officemates, or your current project team, never lose sight of the importance of your family. Keep them on top of your priority list.
What other lessons have you learned from the Fast Family? To read more about these lessons, go to bit.ly/PMFurious7
Kepner-Tregoe Project Management delivers structured and proven solutions that bring clear thinking, direction, structure, and alignment to diverse project teams.
We believe that on-time, on-budget, and on-goal performance is not only possible, it is expected.
