Project Hustles
The wide-ranging impact of scrambling at work
A few years ago I had a young engineer working in my team.
He was bright, a quick learner, and made an impact. When an opportunity came up to work for a few weeks in our San Francisco office, we managed to secure a spot for him. So with another engineer, he packed his bags, and spend the next four weeks working on a short-duration, high-impact project.
And the results were great. Not only did they manage to deliver, but they also returned full of excitement and motivation.
Fast forward to this year, and we once again decided to scramble on a project at short notice. And like last time, the results were great.
We stood up two functional systems in a few days. And what is even more remarkable — some might even argue more important — is the effect it has on the people.
Bonds and friendships are created or strengthened. Everybody becomes more aligned. The purpose and impact of individuals and teams become clearer. All of that even though folks had to put in more hours and make sacrifices.
Why Scrambling Works
It feels like magic. It did for my colleague a few years ago and we experienced it again a few weeks back. Things get done. Relationships develop. Alignment is stronger.
All the company is after is the delivery of the work. But the effects are much greater — the hustle creates a ripple effect.
These short-timeframe, high-impact projects work because — if we are lucky — a lot of boxes are ticked:
- The project is the highest priority
- There is a clear purpose and reason why we are scrambling
- We are working towards a timeline that is both challenging and achievable
- The people who are part of the hustle are willing and have the required skills
These conditions are necessary to be highly motivated and passionate. Which we need for folks to put in the extra effort.
It is the situation every startup tries to get into and stay in for as long as possible. And it is also the reason why lots of people who have been part of an early startup rave about the experience.
The Dangers Of Scrambling
Sounds too good to be true. And for short sprints, it can be. But of course, there are caveats.
For one, this is not a pace anyone can keep up for long. And if we do, we burn out.
Another risk is that after the initial high in motivation, there might be a sharp drop. It happened to my colleague a few years ago. He started to compare every interaction and project to his time in San Francisco. It was impossible for him to feel satisfied again doing ‘normal’ work. Which ultimately got him to part ways with us.
Recap
Hustles are great. Getting a group of people together with a clear purpose and timeline can make things happen very quickly. When used in the right situations it can also create an all-around positive effect on the team and even the company.
The next time there is an opportunity for a quick hustle make sure to take advantage. But set the right expectations and put enough safeguards in place.
