Ian Richardson, Change Architect for Marbral Advisory, says that project management isn’t about controlling everything, it’s about knowing what can’t be controlled and planning for it anyway.
Let’s get something out of the way up front: project management isn’t glamorous – but it is crucial for business success. It’s not the thing that gets plastered across LinkedIn with motivational quotes and high-fives in the comments. You don’t often hear someone say: “That Gantt chart changed my life.” But without good project management, most businesses are essentially trying to land a plane blindfolded, with no idea where the runway is.
At its core, project management is about creating order in chaos. Not in a floaty, manifesting kind of way, but in a boots-on-the-ground, sleeves-rolled-up, “I see the problem and we’re going to fix it” kind of way.
And that’s where we come in.
It’s Not About the Methodology (Well, Not Just That)
People often assume project management is all about processes, templates, and checklists. And yes, there are plenty of those. (You try managing stakeholders, a shifting scope, and a budget held together by good intentions without a decent RAID log.) But good project management is far more than that.
It’s about relationships. Influence. Knowing when to push, when to listen, and when to quietly move things along without making a song and dance about it. It’s about translating chaos into clarity – not just for the client, but for the teams doing the work.
The Magic Is in the Middle
There’s a magical space that good project managers operate in: It’s between delivery teams, sponsors, stakeholders, regulators, and, occasionally, people who have no idea why they’re even in the meeting. We live in that middle zone; translators, diplomats and, more than occasionally, therapists.
We’re the ones saying: “Let’s take a step back,” when things are getting heated. Or “We’ll pick that up offline,” when the conversation veers into the abyss. Or simply: “You won’t be able to deliver that in two weeks unless you’ve found a way to defy physics.”
That’s the work. It’s not flashy. But it matters.
It’s Not About Being the Smartest Person in the Room
A common misconception is that project managers need to know everything. Truth is, we don’t. We’re not the technical experts or the subject matter specialists. What we do know is how to bring those experts together, how to get the best out of them, and how to spot the gaps before they turn into risks with a capital R.
We ask the ‘silly’ questions (which are rarely silly). We sense when something’s off, even if it hasn’t been said. We keep things moving forward when momentum stalls.
We get stuff done.
The Marbral Advisory Approach: Pragmatic, Human, Effective
At Marbral Advisory, we don’t sell one-size-fits-all project management. We bring experience, structure, and calm heads to complex environments. Whether we’re parachuted in to recover a failing project, shaping a roadmap from scratch, or managing a portfolio of high-stakes initiatives, we meet clients where they are.
We don’t drown people in jargon. We focus on outcomes, and we bring people with us. Because ultimately, the success of a project lives or dies by people, and if they’re not engaged, nothing sticks.
And when Project Management is done right, no one even notices. Which, honestly, is kind of the point.
Marbral Advisory is a change and project management firm operating in Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, UK and Ireland. They provide proven practitioners who accelerate and deliver projects and change. Get in touch with the friendly team today or visit their website.
