The Hidden Momentum Code: What Great Projects Know (That Others Don’t)

The Hidden Momentum Code: What Great Projects Know (That Others Don’t)

We tend to think of momentum as something that happens once a project is already in motion. But the truth is, momentum is built—or lost—long before anything kicks off. Behind every successful project is an often-unseen code: a way of working that makes progress not only possible, but inevitable.

I’ve spent the last decade helping complex, high-stakes projects unlock this momentum. And here’s what I know for sure: it doesn’t come from flashy tech, intricate plans, or even the right funding. It comes from people, clarity and the courage to move through ambiguity

Progress Starts with People—Not Plans

You can write the best Gantt chart in the world, but if your team isn’t aligned—if they don’t trust each other, understand the goal, or know their role—it won’t matter. One of the biggest myths in project management is that technical precision guarantees progress. It doesn’t. People do.

When I stepped into lead the project on the Commerce Commission’s 2025 Electricity Default Price-Quality Path (DPP4) reset, we had an enormous amount of technical complexity to navigate. But before we did anything else, I made space for connection. I facilitated working sessions across legal, policy, modelling and communications teams. I created visibility between work-streams. I asked, repeatedly: What support or information do you need to move forward? What questions do you need answers to? That’s where momentum begins.

You Can’t Build Foundations Mid-Crisis

Many teams try to “gel” under pressure. But those relationships need to be in place long before things get hard. That’s why I encourage every client to invest in people-first planning: understanding team dynamics, building relationships with stakeholders, and establishing decision-making structures that feel transparent and fair.

This isn’t fluff—it’s strategy. When the pressure ramps up (and it always does), it’s these human foundations that hold.

Know What’s Really in the Way

Here’s a truth I’ve learned over and over again: most project blockages aren’t technical. They’re emotional, political (office politics,) or personal.

It might be a senior stakeholder who’s quietly unsure. A team member who doesn’t feel heard. A partner agency that’s interpreting the brief differently or a lack of trust and understanding. If you don’t surface these tensions early, they’ll fester. But if you do—if you name the elephant in the room and hold space for honest dialogue—you’ll often unlock more progress in a day than weeks of planning ever could.

Clarity Over Consensus

Sometimes, we chase agreement at the expense of progress. But in complex projects, total consensus is rare—and often unnecessary. The goal is aligned action, not endless discussion.

My job as a project lead is to take the feedback, distill what matters, and create a path forward that everyone can walk—even if they’d have preferred a different route. This requires confidence, but also care. People want to be heard. But they also want direction.

Start Before You’re Ready

One of the most damaging patterns I see is the “perfect plan” paralysis. Waiting until everything is scoped, signed off, and perfectly mapped out before taking the first step. It sounds responsible—but in practice, it stalls momentum.

In my experience, progress loves action. I coach teams to test early, move in small iterations, build clarity, make progress with a light grip, and stay ready to pivot. This not only builds confidence, but shows stakeholders that traction is happening—something that builds trust quickly.

Look After Your Humans

Burnout, disengagement, and low morale are slow leaks that can drain a project’s energy. Great project managers know when to push, but also when to pause. They tune in to how people are coping—not just what they’re delivering.

In one of my most intense roles, I introduced simple pulse checks with team members—some weekly, others fortnightly. These conversations focused less on tasks and more on how people were doing and what they needed. We discussed team dynamics, concerns, and importantly, what was working well. This shifted the tone of the project, creating space for real-time adjustments that supported both the work and the people.

A New Chapter, Same Code

Since relocating to Central Otago, I’ve been struck by how many local and regional projects are at that exciting but uncertain early stage. There’s ambition. Vision. But also complexity.

This is where I do my best work— Whether it’s a major regional initiative, planning compliance, regulatory changes, or a smaller business project you’re trying to get off the ground—I bring the same code:

1. People - build trust first

2. Relationships - align early

3. Start - get momentum

4. Clarity - distil complexity

5. Blocks - what’s really blocking

6. Humans - be real

If you’re sitting on a project that matters but needs direction, clarity, or calm—get in touch. Because momentum doesn’t just happen. It’s designed, and built, and nurtured.

And once it’s there, it’s powerful.

Got a project that needs direction, clarity or momentum?

I’d love to hear from you.

Whether you’re in the early planning stages or knee-deep in delivery, we can help you bring your project into focus — and move it forward.

Get In Touch