What is Bird’s Eye View: Picture a majestic bird circling high above the ground. With a single sweep of its gaze, it takes in the entire landscape – mountains, rivers, forests, everything unfolds before it. This panoramic view allows the bird to identify landmarks, navigate uneven terrain, and spot potential dangers from afar. Project coordinators can achieve a similar level of awareness by adopting a Bird’s Eye View of their projects.

What is a Bird’s Eye View in Project Management?

In project management, a bird’s-eye view refers to the ability to see the big picture – all the interconnected parts of a project laid out before you. It’s about understanding how all the tasks, resources, timelines, and dependencies fit together to achieve the overall project objectives.

Why is a Bird’s Eye View Important for Project Coordinators?

Here’s why a bird’s-eye view is an essential skill for project coordinators:

• Proactive Problem Solving: By seeing the bigger picture, coordinators can anticipate potential roadblocks before they derail the project. They can identify resource conflicts, scheduling snags, and communication gaps before they become major issues.
• Informed Decision Making: With a comprehensive understanding of the project, coordinators can make informed decisions about resource allocation, task delegation, and risk mitigation. They can prioritize tasks effectively and adjust their approach based on changing circumstances.
• Improved Communication: A bird’s eye view allows coordinators to communicate project progress and goals clearly to stakeholders at all levels. They can explain how individual tasks contribute to the overall success and address concerns from a holistic perspective.
• Enhanced Risk Management: By seeing the interconnectedness of project elements, coordinators can assess potential risks more effectively. They can identify single points of failure and develop contingency plans to minimize their impact on the project timeline and budget.
• Increased Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing priorities and unforeseen circumstances is crucial in project management. With a bird’s-eye view, coordinators can adjust course corrections quickly and ensure the project stays on track despite unexpected challenges.

A Bird’s Eye View in Action: A Learning Experience

The importance of a bird’s-eye view can be best understood through real-world experience. I once worked with a client who had multiple projects running concurrently. We had two designers: one assigned to Project AAA (a website) and the other to Project BBB. Things were running smoothly until bug reports started pouring in for a previously launched website, Project YYY.

Losing Sight of the Big Picture

In an effort to address the urgent bug fixes, I made a critical mistake. Without taking a step back and considering the overall impact through a bird’s-eye view, I instructed the designer working on Project AAA to switch gears and focus on Project YYY. This decision, made without informing the client or considering the impact on Project AAA’s timeline, had consequences.

The Cost of a Missed Bird’s Eye View

The immediate consequence was a delay in Project AAA. When the client inquired about the project’s status and the number of hours logged, it was too late to course-correct effectively. It was only with the help of the project manager that I fully understood the impact of my decision. I hadn’t maintained a bird’s-eye view, failing to notice the potential delay in Project AAA until it was too late to communicate the change to the client proactively during the meetings.

Learning from Mistakes

This experience highlighted the importance of maintaining a comprehensive project overview through a strong bird’s-eye view. In my next article, I’ll share the specific steps I’m taking to ensure situations like this don’t happen again. These strategies will focus on improved communication, proactive risk management, and utilizing project management tools to maintain a clear bird’s-eye view throughout the project lifecycle.