I love stories. Just about everything has one. People. Teams. Companies.
Relationships.
Projects.
Yep, your project has a story. And conveniently, most well-run projects follow a “narrative arc” that mirrors the structure of a good story.
The Project Narrative Arc
Exposition – What is going on here? What’s our goal? What’s the problem?
Rising Action – How do we solve the problem? Let’s develop some options.
Climax – We cut through the fog, and the path to the finish is clear.
Falling Action – Execute. Do what needs to be done.
Resolution – Deliver. Walk away successfully.
Understanding where you are in this arc is incredibly helpful for managing a project. It gives you a sense of your progress and highlights where your energy should be focused.
But it’s not just about knowing your position in the story. It’s about comparing that position to the schedule. Misalignment between the two can unearth problems early, before they spiral into delays or mistakes.
For example:
- Your schedule says you should be executing (falling action), but you still don’t have a clear path forward (climax).
- You’re in the rising action phase, exploring options and iterating, but you’re feeling pressure to lock in a detailed plan prematurely.
When you embrace your project as a story, it helps you see the big picture while also keeping an eye on what comes next. It’s a simple but powerful tool for staying on track and navigating the inevitable twists and turns.
What part of the story is your project in?
-Brian Schoolcraft