Fresh Blood

No, no, no...I'm not going all Scott Sigler on you. (Go get Ancestor tomorrow, Junkies!!!)

I am talking about breathing life into that dead project. We have all been there. You are assigned to a project where momentum appears unattainable and you fear the worst. If you are a project manager and this is your project that I am talking about, big red flashing warning lights should be going off for you right now. When the dynamics of a project team go stagnant and the momentum has died off (if it ever existed), it may be time to call in some fresh blood.

Let me make it clear that I am not suggesting that adding new people in the middle of a project is going to solve all your problems. As most of us in the real world are aware, this is rarely an option. Often only projects of the highest priority and visibility have the freedom to infuse their team with "resources" at a whim. Furthermore, this will often be counter productive. What I am suggesting is much more benign that any of this. I am saying simply that the right person can breath new life and vitality into a project. So Mr. Manager, if you happen to find yourself in the sorry position of needing to fill a vacancy on a project that is already flailing, turn it into an opportunity. Do not simply fill the slot with someone who can crank out that code. Take the time to find someone who has a focus on team communication. Experience with agile development practices can bonus points to your candidate. Finding these candidates is no easy task, but they are out there...and if you are having a hard time getting your hands on the right person, just give my employer a ring. I am sure they would be happy to let you know when I will being freeing up. ;)

Someone who is excited to dive in and learn from the team, who has focus on the user community and goes out of their way to encourage involvement from everyone can turn a failing project upside-down. When it works, the change is dramatic. Let us hope that your project is not need of such a "magic-maker"...but remember that it is never too late to make a necessary change.