Project Management Magic: Creating Gravity

I like fishing, and a few years ago I finally got myself a fishing boat. Nothing fancy - just an inflatable boat with a small trolling motor. It moves quietly through the water, and every time I go fishing, I enjoy the calm beauty around me.

Since my boat isn’t fast, I can easily notice how its speed changes depending on the current. When it goes with the flow, it suddenly glides forward effortlessly and reaches the spot I want much faster than when it has to fight against the water.

It’s the same in life. When the forces around us move in the same direction we want to go, everything feels easier. A sailboat comes alive when it catches the wind. Running downhill is easier than running uphill because of gravity.

In my project management work, I notice the same pattern. When a team moves with the “wind,” “current,” or “gravity” of the project, their performance becomes remarkable. The key is to make sure that this gravity is pulling everyone in the right direction - not the opposite one.

That’s what I want to talk about here: how to create that flow - that kind of gravity - that makes every effort feel lighter when it’s applied in the right direction.

People talk a lot about team spirit, positive energy, team building, and healthy work environments. All of that truly matters. A motivated and connected team always performs better.

Even if the “wind” blows the wrong way, a strong, united team can still find its way forward. But imagine what happens when a well-aligned team catches a powerful wind - that’s when real momentum starts.

So how do we create that wind, that flow, that gravity? What does it actually mean in a project context?

To me, it comes down to a few simple things:

·         Each person feels that things around them are moving in a certain direction.

·         Each person feels it’s easier to do their work when they move in that same direction.

·         Each person sees that others are also moving the same way.

·         Each person can sense and celebrate the results - both their own and the team’s - that come from that shared movement.

For people to understand the direction things are going, communication must be strong. Following a clear communication plan is essential.

Team meetings should be consistent and go beyond individual updates. Everyone should understand the broader perspective - what’s happening across the project, not just in their own tasks.

Project Management Magic: Creating Gravity - PMAID Consulting Group

Daily scrums, for example, are often treated as short check-ins, where everyone focuses only on their own priorities. That’s not enough. The team needs to see the bigger picture - to feel the trends, to sense where things are moving.

Project managers should involve team members in decision-making. Each person brings a unique specialty and perspective. When people feel heard and can contribute to the project’s direction, it aligns their actions and strengthens that invisible “gravity” the whole team can feel.

When team members speak up, others listen, and their ideas evolve together. That’s how collaboration and alignment grow naturally.

Recurring meetings with clear follow-ups also help the team see both successes and challenges. People feel proud of the team’s progress and are more motivated to fix problems - not because they have to, but because they see those problems as shared obstacles.

When you, as a project manager, work with your team, you work as a salesperson. You are selling them the perspective of working together - to deliver on time, on budget, and with good quality.

To make your sale successful, you sell the attitude. As a leader, you demonstrate your personal commitment to achieving that goal. You treat every member of your project team as an equal partner. You look at their pain points, and you search for the benefits that make the project work more interesting and the results more rewarding.

Sometimes it’s about taking the easiest or most boring item from the scope list and delivering it as soon as possible. Sometimes it’s about creating a minimal viable product to gain customer trust and management recognition.

Gravity doesn’t get created in an instant. Sometimes it takes weeks or even months. Persistence is the key. Keep the wind blowing, adjust the direction together with your team, and you will see how the team’s potential strengthens - and the goals that once seemed far away get achieved… yesterday.