Okay, imagine you’ve crafted the perfect recovery plan for your troubled project. You’ve diagnosed the issues, realigned expectations, and secured buy-in from everyone involved. Now comes the crucial part: execution.

Think of it like this: you’ve drawn up the blueprints for a magnificent bridge, but now you need to actually build it. Execution is about putting your plan into action, brick by brick, line of code by line of code.

But how do you ensure you’re staying on track? How do you know if your efforts are actually making a difference? That’s where metrics come in.

Metrics are like your project’s vital signs. They provide objective, measurable data that tells you how the project is performing. Think of them as your compass and speedometer, guiding you in the right direction and showing you how fast you’re moving.

Before you even start executing your plan, you need to define these metrics with your team. What are the key indicators of success? Is it lines of code written, bugs fixed, features delivered, or customer satisfaction scores? Whatever they are, make sure everyone agrees on them and understands their importance.

Now, here’s the critical part: no excuses when it comes to tracking these metrics. This is non-negotiable. Why? Because these numbers aren’t just about tracking progress; they’re about shifting the focus from blame to solutions.

Think about it: in a troubled project, there’s often a lot of finger-pointing and negativity. People are quick to blame each other for the project’s woes. But when you focus on the metrics, you shift the attention away from individuals and onto objective data.

Instead of asking, “Who messed up?” you ask, “How can we improve this metric?” This creates a more constructive and collaborative environment where everyone is working together to achieve tangible results.

The metrics become your rallying cry, your shared objective. They drive the team’s actions and provide a clear sense of purpose. You’re not just working to please the client or avoid blame; you’re working to move the needle, to improve those numbers.

And here’s the beauty of it: if you’ve chosen the right metrics, the technical results will naturally follow. By focusing on the key indicators of success, you’ll be steering the project towards a positive outcome, one data point at a time.

So, to sum it up, execution is about:

1. Putting your recovery plan into action.
2. Defining and tracking clear, measurable metrics.
3. Using those metrics to drive the team’s focus and actions.
4. Accepting no excuses for not producing and analysing the data.

By following this approach, you can transform a troubled project into a data-driven success story.