Recalculating the Route: Why Great Project Managers Think Like a GPS
I’ve led many projects in my career. A few went exactly as planned. Most didn’t. And the truth is, no matter how detailed our plans are, reality has a way of surprising us. Deadlines shift. Requirements evolve. Unexpected events force us to change course. I used to get frustrated by that. After all, we spent so much time trying to build the perfect plan — shouldn’t things work out the way we imagined?
Then one day, while driving to a meeting, I missed an exit on the highway. Just a small distraction — but suddenly, I was miles away from the planned route. For a brief moment, frustration hit me. “How could I miss something so simple?” But my GPS didn’t get upset. It didn’t say, – “You should have paid more attention.”
It didn’t freeze or complain. It simply said, calmly and clearly: “Recalculating the route.” And in seconds, it gave me a new way to reach the same destination. That moment stuck with me, because projects work exactly the same way.
The Problem with a Reactive Mindset
When unexpected turns happen in projects, many teams fall into a reactive mode. They focus on what went wrong instead of where they can go next. They get stuck in frustration, complain about having to replan, or look for someone to blame. This reactive mindset doesn’t solve problems — it amplifies them. Time is lost, motivation drops, and a simple detour becomes a much bigger obstacle.
The Power of the GPS Mindset
A GPS doesn’t waste time arguing with reality. When something changes, it adapts. Instantly. Calmly. It doesn’t matter how many wrong turns you take — the GPS never gives up on the destination. When teams adopt this mindset, everything shifts:
- They accept change faster.
- They stop wasting energy on blame.
- They focus on solutions, not problems.
- They build resilience and trust.
- They keep moving forward, even when the route isn’t the one they planned.
Leadership Is About the Destination
As Project Managers and leaders, our role isn’t to guarantee a perfect journey. Our role is to guide the team to the destination, no matter how many detours appear.
- Change isn’t failure — it’s part of the journey.
- A delay isn’t the end — it’s a new turn on the map.
- Replanning isn’t weakness — it’s management in action.
So next time your project takes an unexpected turn, remember: Take a deep breath. Gather your team. And say,
“Alright. Let’s recalculate the route.”
Because the best teams don’t give up when plans change. They adapt. They learn. And they always find their way.
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