Nowadays, when even a trip to the store has become a conscious action, it is only after a preliminary analysis of the reasons, goals, resources and the reasons that new projects should be started. Which, of course, requires time, which of course never exists. But no need to become frustrated and sad about the complexity of the approach in advance. Let’s try to gently understand the situation of “Let’s make such a project».

So, you work for an NGO, activities for a better future are your daily routine, and one day you decided to start a new project. Now breathe out, close your eyes and try to find the answer to the crucial question – do you want to do this project – you personally?

Good Old Freud

Any desire can be presented in a form of the three part-structure, well-known by conscious people: Me-Child, Me- Parent and Me- Adult.  The Child shouts: „I want this project, it’s cool and I like it”. The parent looks at the importance of the project, what benefits it brings to the target group. And the Adult says: I can do it, I have these resources and I know how to find the missing ones.

Which part is more important? The correct answer is, as you may guess: everything is equally important, otherwise you end up with an imbalance. Acting out of „I want to“ and „ It’s important” will turn out to be a challenge for Don Quijote. You’ve got money and motivation, but your project leaves people indifferent – the joy of doing will be spoiled.  But it’s a tragedy to make a project without heart: to master grant funds, to make a project, because “it’s a really important challenge», but not to be passionate for project, not to get personal pleasure from what you do – it will be the right way to neuroses, psychosomatics, burnout… All in all, don’t start without the Child…

What Do We Have?

So, you succeed in the reconciliation of your subpersonalities and understood that you want to do this project for sure. Then give a stage to the Adult for checking on the resources you have: rooms, venues, team, networking, equipment… It’s good to get the colleagues, relatives, and friends involved in your inventory check, even if they don’t have any clue about your field of activity… Pushing the envelope will only enrich your vision.

When you calculated that you have one bean bag chair, the laptop, 2 and a half people in the team and 5000 friends in social media in the whole and have estimated in Excel the lack of n Euros, you are ready for the new step, that brings the most fear and loathing to a project manager. It’s fundraising. Call your Parent, we gonna talk about mission and values.

In fact, we will talk about it in the next edition. In meanwhile send us your feedback, comments, and questions. If you are still scared to approach your project without a mediator – we at High Art Bureau GmbH are there for you – to train, to support and to accompany in your creative way.

Your project management gurus Polina Polina@highartbureau.com and Ksenia Ksenia@highartbureau.com