Yesterday I wrote about the rocky setting of the Costa Concordia tragedy.

Today I want to look at some lessons for project managers.

1. Stay in the Marked Channels When Possible

Lesson 1 is obvious. If you can follow the paths that others have clearly marked, it’s to your advantage to do so… most of the time.

Keep in mind that these paths may be “slower” but are also safer, surer. If they will get you where you need to go in the allotted time, then by all means use them.

In other words, learn from what others have done.

However, not all projects align with proven routes, so….

2. If You Venture Out of the Channel, Use Your Charts

There are times as a project manager you need to take risks, to find a shorter course. I don’t mean this only literally, as in the sense of saving time. For example, in the past you’ve managed projects of type X; now you’re looking at one of type Y. You may not be able to impose a type-X structure on it. Does that mean you should avoid it? No. Rather, read up on other project management ideas. Call on experienced project managers for mentorship or training. Be open about your experience with the team, so that together you understand the areas where you’re less sure about the best way forward.

3. Make Sure You Have the Right Charts

A chart for Puget Sound obviously would be useless around Isola Giglio in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Likewise, project tools designed for one type of project may not be terribly useful in other circumstances.

MS-Project is a great tool for certain types of projects such as building construction, but spreadsheets and index cards might work better for various types of professional (e.g., legal) projects. It depends on the project (and to some extent the project manager’s proclivities and skill sets).

4. If You’re in Uncharted Waters, Dead Slow Ahead

“Dead slow ahead” is the engine-telegraph order to move the ship forward slowly… but not so slow that you lose control. A boat moving very slowly can’t be steered easily; there’s no water flow over the rudder. (No matter what the salespeople tell you, boats do not steer just like cars.) Dead slow ahead is the minimum speed needed to move forward under control.

If you never test uncharted waters, you’ll never expand your capabilities, and there are so many worthwhile projects that won’t get done. If the project is worth doing, then do it, even if you can’t do it perfectly.

Just don’t barge ahead blindly. Get training. Find a mentor. Minimize the risks you understand so that you have time to handle the ones you don’t. Explore the reefs with an inflatable runabout, not your ocean liner.

And post someone on the bow to look for rocks.¹

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¹In other words, assume Murphy is at play on your project — if something can go wrong, it will. Keep thinking about risks, about what can go wrong. Don’t let them paralyze you, but being aware of them can really make a difference when it comes to either avoiding them or minimizing their effects on your project.