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As a leader I believe it is imperative to trust my people.  However, it is a well known fact that what we say is not always what people hear.  So while I have implemented a “command by negation” philosophy (taken from my years in service as a Naval Officer, meaning I give the goal and parameters and allow my people to execute and inform me unless I veto a course of action), and believe that my employees and team members will give 110% to get the job done, I have also been conditioned through many years of experience to “trust but verify.”  Part of this process is knowing what to ask, and when, in order to ensure people are on the right track.  Some of the key questions I use at various times during a project or assignment are listed below.  Note that I generally follow the high level question with a more precise question to ensure understanding; i.e. “Do you know what the task is?  Has it been clearly defined?”

Please let me know what you think.  Any additions or thoughts on this list are welcome! 

At the beginning of a project or assignment, while the requirements are being defined:

• Do you know what the task is?  Has it been adequately defined?
• Do you understand the reason for the task?  Do you know what the objectives of the task are?
• Do you understand the scope of the task?  What is included within the task, and what is excluded?
• Do you understand why you are completing the task, and how it fits into the bigger picture?

 Before the task is started – planning:

•  Have you developed a plan for accomplishing the task?  Do you know how you will complete the task?
• What will the task cost?  Can we afford it?  Have you established budgets for the work?
•  How long will the task take to complete?  Have you established a timeline or project plan?
• Have you established scope and budget control processes?
• What resources do you need to complete the task, and are they available? Have you secured the appropriate resources?
• Are ALL stakeholders aware of the project and have they had an opportunity to have inputs?  Have you secured a sponsor and established a working relationship?
• Who will do the work?  Do they know they are doing the work, and has the work been explained?  Have you asked them the same questions I am asking you?
• What are the risks?  What could go wrong?  Is there a risk management plan?
• Do you need any new processes developed?  What management intervention do you anticipate needing?
• Are the governance processes defined and in place?  How are you going to track and report progress?
• Are the governance processes defined and in place?  How are you going to track and report progress?
• Are the governance processes defined and in place?  How are you going to track and report progress?
• Do your measurements tell you if you are ahead or behind program and budget?  Are budget and activity completion linked; e.g. are you measuring both simultaneously instead of independently?
• Have you received all of the necessary approvals to begin?

 During execution – once the work has begun

• How are you progressing?  Are you following the plan?
• Are things going as expected?  Are your change control processes working?
• Are you measuring, reporting and reviewing activities and progress?
• Are you checking to see those customer requirements are stable?  Have they changed?
• Are you regularly updating your risk register and following through on mitigation plans?
• Is there anything I can do to help, or anything I should know about?

 When it’s all done:

• Was the project a success?  How did you do against the deliverables?
•  Did you satisfy any other requirements?
• Was the desired outcome achieved?  Are all of the planned benefits being realized?
• Have you documented the lessons learned for the next poor sucker who takes on a similar “opportunity to excel?”

While this list is not exhaustive, it will make your life easier.  You will no doubt have noticed that there were far more questions in the planning stage than there were in any other.  There is a good reason for this.  In most endeavors, your success is achieved before you begin your work.  Planning is the most critical, and also the most overlooked, element of a task or project.