How to Tackle a Project That Scares You - The Muse

How to Tackle a Project That Scares You - The MuseHow to Tackle a Project That Scares You My career has been filled with daunting tasks. I graduated with a degree in the all-too-general category of business, which didnt exactly prepare me for any one specific industry. So, when I settled into a career with a healthcare technology company- knowing absolutely nothing about healthcare or technology- I was faced with a tough gig.My boss would pull me into her office and rush through my next assignment Listen, I need you to reconcile our 10 biggest clients lists of providers with their billing before we switch to the new accounting software. Id nod and take notes, but inside, my stomach was turning over with a mixture of fear and frustration. I dont even know where to start, Id scowl. How does she expect me to do this? But the thing is, regardless of whether you know how to do something or not, its part of your job to make sure it gets done. You wont always be able to get formal company t raining, and often, your boss wont be able to guide you through the task step-by-step its up to you to figure out how to see it through. After a good deal of frustration, I eventually learned how to take that completely overwhelmed feeling and turn it into something productive. Heres how.1. Get Rid of Your Negative OutlookWhen youre tasked with something new and difficult, your first thought is likely, I cant do this. Ive been there. Ive sat at my desk with my head in my hands, going through all the stages of an impossible project, from bewilderment (Theres no way my boss really expects me to do this) to denial (This must have been a mistake- I dont really have to do this) to all-out refusal (Ill just tell my boss to give this project to someone else). Eventually, though, you realize that you do, in fact, have to do it- and the sooner you get started, the better. So, kick the negativity, and try to approach the project with the attitude that youre going to use the task to gain skill s, make new connections, and prove to your boss that youre up for anything.2. Start With a Small StepIve learned that the best first step for tackling a seemingly impossible project is to tackle a small portion of the task (and I mean a very, very, ridiculously minute detail).For example, when I was tasked with the provider reconciliation project, my first step was simply hitting the send button on a conference call invite to one of my remote teammates to discuss the task. It wasnt a critical meeting with any of the big players on the project, but it was locked in on my calendar, and it gave me a starting point.Whether its creating the bare bones of a spreadsheet youll use or looking up the phone number of a contact you need to get in tick with, just start. It may seem insignificant at first, but by the end of the day, youll be further along than youd be if youd just kept telling yourself that you couldnt do it.3. Gather Information and ResourcesNow that youre committed, its time to dig in and face the reality of the situation You may not have all the tools or knowledge you need to actually complete the project. But thats OK- you just have to track them down.Sometimes its as easy as finding a knowledgeable colleague and asking if he can help you with the task or if you can pick her brain to learn how to do it yourself. Other times, youll need to recruit an employee to contribute directly to the project or ask for an introduction to, say, someone in the accounting department to get insight into the billing system or a business analyst who can help you develop a report that will give you the information you need. Whatever or whoever it is, reach out and start asking for what you need. Once you take the initiative, youll typically find that people are willing to help and resources are available. And leaning on that knowledge is a much better alternative than trying to do it all on your own.4. Take a Whack at ItSoon, youll come to a point where theres no more prep aration (or procrastination) that you can do youve tracked down resources, scheduled introductory meetings, and prepped your materials. You may still feel insecure about leaping into an unfamiliar task, but while the threat of failure is looming, theres nothing you can do except to go for it. Really, there are only two things that can happen Either everything will go as planned and youll have an accomplishment under your belt, or you wont quite get it on the first try and can move on to step five. 5. Assess and RepeatAfter youve made a first attempt, you have an even more valuable tool available to you feedback from your boss and colleagues. Once youve done something- anything- your teammates will be able to take a look at your progress so far and may be able to pinpoint where you went wrong or where you could approach the project or task differently. Even if you stump the rest of the team and have to approach your boss with your less-than-stellar attempt, bringing something to your boss will show more initiative and drive to succeed than if youd simply protested the project from the beginning. And likely, he or she will be able to point you in a new direction. Being tasked with an unfamiliar project can be incredibly daunting, but when you approach it with a positive attitude and a well thought out strategy, its much more doable than you think. Take it from me.