A successful project requires someone to promote the benefits of pursuing it, while also justifying the organisation's investment. This is the role of the project champion.
Although you don't formally recognise this person as a project team member, the champion is a true believer in the project's goals and value. As such, the champion can play a crucial role in a project's success.
Project champions often provide assistance in these two areas:
- Advocacy: The primary role of the project champion is to advocate and promote the benefits of pursuing your project. The champion actively seeks project support from management and other organisational leaders. The aim is to ensure that senior decision makers view the project as necessary.
- Roadblock removal: All projects run into barriers at some point. Whether it's project funding, resource allocation, or any number of other issues, the project champion is often able to "grease the wheel" to help get the project moving again.
Application development managers who don't pay attention to the vital role champions play are often blindsided by budget cutbacks, resource reallocations, or priority shifts. This occurs even when the development project can deliver direct value to an organisation's strategic goals.
When, where, who, and how to recruit
You should solicit champions during a project's definition phase. Not only does this provide them with a ground-up approach, but it also gives them an opportunity to rally support from upper management early on.
Look for project champions at all levels of the organisation. I find that a great area in which to cultivate champions is among the project's stakeholders.
The appropriate individual should fit the scope and range of impact, as well as the visibility the project will have within the organisation. Here are the characteristics a champion should exhibit:
- Influence: The individual needs to carry weight in organisational decision-making. That's why you'll find most successful project champions in mid- to senior-level management.
- Proactiveness: This person must be someone who will be diligent when actively pursuing project support within the organisation.
- Relations: Successful champions are skilled relationship managers and bridge builders.
- Rising star or VIP: Many successful champions are current employees whose careers are on the rise or who are already organisational leaders.
Once you identify prospective champions, you should work doggedly to gain their support and enthusiasm. Sit down with them and have a candid discussion about project goals and objectives. Be sure to provide your candidates with the opportunity to suggest enhancements to the project plan--even if the ideas don't bear a direct influence on their primary job functions.
However, don't confuse the role of project champion with that of the project manager. Though the latter is also a project advocate, the project manager's focus is to plan, organise, and manage the execution of the project. The champion, on the other hand, is not a member of the project team but strives to help the project succeed.
When the project comes to an end, be sure to exhibit your gratitude for the project champions' support. Whether you thank them by taking them out for lunch, acknowledging their efforts in a company meeting, or in some other fashion, you want your champions to know that you recognise and appreciate the role they played in the project's success.
You never know--you may need to call upon your champion again before you know it.
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