The idea that there is a project that’s adequately funded, fully resourced and given a realistic deadline is a myth. Every project manager has, at some point during a project, wished for more time, more people or more money. Perhaps all three!

However, focusing on what you don’t have can unintentionally create blind spots. There can be untapped and potentially valuable resources available to you that are hidden in plain sight. These resources could make a vital contribution to your project if only you knew about them.

A project’s resources – i.e. time, people, know-how, skills, money, equipment etc. – are often determined by circumstance not choice. The team may be assigned by management. The finance director determines the budget. A customer sets the deadline and so forth.

An essential part of a PM’s job is to figure out how to get the best from the available resources. Wishing for more of this or more of that doesn’t help. However, figuring out what you really do have and how to get the best from it can make a big difference.

For example, a project manager working with a new team won’t know about all their previous experiences and relationships. They may be able to introduce the PM to former colleagues, open doors to new suppliers or share new methods. All of which could prove to be invaluable to the project’s outcome.

Getting the best out of the situation requires a certain mindset, a dash of creativity and a willingness to try new things. The solutions to our problems can be staring straight back at us. However, they are easy to miss when we’re focusing on what we don’t have instead of exploring more of what we do.