What Do Project Managers And Lighthouse Keepers Have in Common?

Project Managers VS. Lighthouse Keepers

Yes, it’s time for another overwrought metaphor!

“Please give us another overwrought metaphor in service of a basic concept,” said No Blog Reader Ever. But it’s that kind of Monday, so I can’t resist.

Therefore . . . Project Managers are like lighthouse keepers.

No, really. Hear me out.

We’re not the ship. We’re not the skipper of the ship. We’re not the storm the ship is trying to navigate, and only in our deepest fever dreams do we get to be something as powerful or elemental as the tide. Instead, we’re the light that helps teams navigate through storms, fog, and the all-too-common sense of disorientation that stems from the execution of complex work.

In practice, this means:

* Spotting risks before they become shipwrecks.
* Signaling changing conditions early, so the course can be adjusted.
* Providing just enough visibility that teams feel safe moving forward, but not so much that they stop thinking for themselves.

And what happens when the storm recedes and the seas subside? We stay lit, because no calm lasts forever.

And yeah, sure, there’s room for heroics in project management, but consistency is the name of the game. It’s about quiet vigilance and a sense of duty to the people out there doing the hard sailing. Just keep your light shining and be sure to upgrade your lenses when the time comes.

Okay, I’m done. Now go out there and read “The Foghorn” by Ray Bradbury, one of the best short stories ever written. It has nothing to do with project management and everything to do with lighthouses, and if you’ve stuck with me this far, you deserve a reward!

Have a great week, everyone.