I graduated from the Sparck/BJSS Academy in 2023. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to do my best work on complex projects, with support from colleagues.
What is a complex project? I’d say, first, that it’s one with a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty around the scope.
What are we doing, and what are we not? What is our team’s responsibility, and what needs to sit somewhere else? What needs to happen now, and what should be saved for later?
Secondly, there are factors like interdependencies, or constantly changing organisation structures, which can make a project hard to manage and track. These are the two main factors that I’ve experienced in practice but another could be a siloed work environment which leads to a disconnected team.
There are lots of ways to tackle this type of project environment but here are 5 approaches that I found to be the most helpful.
1. Ask for support from your colleagues
Seeking support from colleagues both on your project and off it is the simplest way to move through blockages.
It can feel difficult to do this, especially if you’re early in your career and keen to demonstrate that you know what you’re doing. But the sooner you admit that you’re stuck, and the sooner you ask for help, the better.
More experienced colleagues will often have experienced the exact problem you’re dealing with and can tell you how they solved it. Or they might be able to reassure you that, no, it’s not you, it really is a difficult challenge.
Colleagues might also help you map out ways to prioritise and manage your workload, and point you to resources or tools that can help you build your skills and experience.
At Sparck/BJSS, there’s a strong sense that you’ll be rewarded for asking questions, and asking for help. That sense of psychological safety is really helpful.
2. Accept that you cannot know everything
One of the most powerful things I learned working on my first client project was that as a consultant you are not expected to know everything.
Of course it’s necessary to know important information like:
- who the stakeholders are
- deadlines
- project scope
- what is expected of you
And we always aim to hit the ground running, delivering to a high standard.
But none of that means you need to know every microscopic detail about the project since the date it started. It’s not even necessary to know who every single person is on your project from day one as you probably won’t be working with most of them.
You overall knowledge of the project background will continue to grow with time, especially if you keep asking questions – and keep good notes. Asking questions is good, but if you keep asking the same questions… not so much.
Organising introduction calls with your new team is a great way to fill in any gaps in your knowledge. Come to those meetings prepared with key questions you think will help you to understand your role, the dynamics of the team, and the project scope.
3. Be confident in your abilities
Imposter syndrome can make you believe you don’t know what you’re doing or that you may even be in the wrong job.
I knew that recruitment for roles at BJSS is very competitive, especially for Academy positions. So I knew logically that, having got this far, I was certainly in the right place and was hired for a good reason.
Still, I had my moments of doubt.
I learned to trust in the fact that learning continues on the job – and that’s as true for experienced people as it is for recent graduates.
As you put your skills into practice and your ‘tool box’ expands, so your confidence in your abilities and contribution will grow.
4. Ask for feedback
There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. We all have areas for development and constructive feedback from your team can help to pin those down.
This can help you to focus on what really matters, build your confidence, and increasing the quality of your contribution to the team.
It can also be a way to show initiative and take ownership of your performance. Asking for feedback is a power move.
5. Speak up about concerns
It’s essential to identify someone you feel secure speaking to about any problems you are facing.
In Sparck/BJSS, that’s typically your:
- squad lead – the person who looks after your pastoral care
- professional practice buddy – a more established designer or researcher
- Academy intake peers – people who joined the organisation at the same time
They might just listen. It’s often the case that talking a problem through leads to a solution, without anyone else’s input. Or they might ask questions to help you find a way through the problem.
At BJSS there is a real culture of support and a great community ready to answer any of your questions so make the most of it.
If you don’t have that where you work, you can also look to coaches, mentors, and wider professional communities. (Being super careful about sharing confidential project or client information, of course.)
Final thoughts
Don’t be afraid of complex projects. Once you get through the challenges of onboarding and finding your way around, they can be incredibly fulfilling. They offer amazing opportunities to learn, develop and stretch yourself. And they look great on your CV.
