Tailored to Fit: The One Project Management Rule I Never Break

Pip Rudhall Hyett
May 23
3 min read

Updated: May 26

Tailored to Fit: The One Project Management Rule I Never Break

If there’s one thing I’ve learned across two decades of projects—large, small, public, private—it’s this: no two are the same. And treating them as if they are is a fast way to miss the mark.

It can be tempting to walk into a new engagement with a ready-made method. A templated delivery model. A tried-and-true framework. But what sets truly effective project leaders apart is the ability to adapt—to read the room, understand the context, and build something fit-for-purpose.

That’s why the one rule I never break is this: tailor the approach to the project.

Context Is Everything

I’ve worked on national regulatory resets where governance was paramount and stakeholder engagement shaped every phase. In many smaller projects, I’ve found that meaningful conversations with stakeholders often achieve more than lengthy reports—building trust and clarity that drive real progress.

Each environment asks for something different. Sometimes, what’s needed is pace. Other times, it’s pause. Sometimes the best intervention is a detailed plan. Other times, it’s a carefully facilitated conversation that unlocks clarity.

That’s where tailoring becomes an art—not just a skill.

Listening First, Planning Second

Every engagement I begin starts the same way: I listen. I ask:

What’s already working?
What’s felt hard?
Where do you need clarity—or courage to proceed?

I never assume the right path until I understand the people, pressures, and purpose. That’s why clients trust me—not just to deliver, but to co-create something that works for them.

Whether it was coordinating a fast-moving COVID response programme, supporting local voices on the Jackson Street project, or navigating complex regional initiatives, the outcomes have always been stronger when we started by listening—then planned from there.

Frameworks Are a Guide, Not a Cage

I love structure. I believe in tools that bring clarity and consistency. But I’m not precious about sticking rigidly to any single methodology. Agile, waterfall, hybrid, kanban, traditional programme governance—I’ve used them all.

The question I always ask is: what does this team need to feel confident and move forward?

In regional projects especially—where roles often span across boundaries and relationships carry weight—flexibility matters. It’s not about abandoning rigour. It’s about applying it thoughtfully.

Tailored Projects Build Ownership

When people feel like a process was built with them, not for them, something shifts. Engagement deepens. Trust builds. And the likelihood of success skyrockets.

Tailoring doesn’t mean making it up as you go. It means starting with principles—clarity, accountability, care—and designing a delivery approach that reflects the reality on the ground.

That’s what I bring to every engagement. Whether I’m working alongside government teams or regional stakeholders, I don’t just turn up with tools—I turn up with curiosity.